https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:59:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/9-month-old-getting-aggressive#post-1786926 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:57:32 +0000 QueensBee 1786926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is 16 months and he also does everything you describe. I think he does it to get a reaction from his audience, not because he is an aggressive kid. 9 months is so little! </p> <p>I agree with PP, the best strategy is to give a BIG reaction when he being gentle, and to all but ignore him when he's not. For example, if he puts a toy down on the floor carefully, I make the biggest deal out of it. "Wow, you took such nice care of that toy! Can I see you do that again? What a big boy! High five!" And if LO starts to slap my face while I'm holding him, I'll just say, "Ouch, that hurt mama. Be gentle," and put him on the floor. </p> <p>He's getting a lot better but again, it's still an issue at 16 months! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/9-month-old-getting-aggressive#post-1786921 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:55:13 +0000 Silva 1786921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, I wouldn't worry about discipline him, but rather trying to teach him more appropriate ways of touching others and expressing himself. He is definitely not doing any of this in order to be notty or hurt you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/9-month-old-getting-aggressive#post-1786920 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:53:57 +0000 Silva 1786920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kids don't get the concept of "hurting others" or even understand that others are experiencing pain until they are older....like they just start getting it at age two. So, your baby isn't being mean or doing this intentionally.<br /> It is really painful though....I know the feelings well. We have always just said "gentle please," and grabbed her hand to physically show her how to be gentle. We also practice on baby dolls, stuffed animals, and touch and feel books. If I'm caught of guard and in pain, I set her down to give myself a minute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/9-month-old-getting-aggressive#post-1786913 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:51:36 +0000 Adira 1786913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @hilsy85: he's just exploring and is interested in your reactions. Xander used to come up to me and pull my hair. I've had to stop wearing jewelry around him and keep my hair up and out of his reach. And he'd still pinch me and hit me.</p> <p>I think it's a phase though. At 17 months, he doesn't do any of these things anymore. Now he's at the defiant, purposely doesn't follow the rules, phase. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/9-month-old-getting-aggressive#post-1786902 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:46:45 +0000 hilsy85 1786902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's a bit much to say that he's being mean at that age! It sounds like he's exploring what he can do with his hands, and is testing boundaries/limits/wants to be more independent, and I'm guessing he finds your reactions amusing or interesting, so he keeps doing it. I definitely think 9 months is too young to be worried about aggression. </p> <p>For me, whenever LO did anything like that while I was holding him (whether he bit me or scractched me or hit me) I would put him down immediately and walk a few feet away, and say "That hurt. Please use gentle hands". Of course, this necessitates a lot of "showing" what gentle hands are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/9-month-old-getting-aggressive#post-1786855 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:31:29 +0000 MrsTiz 1786855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>*Not sure if "aggressive" is the appropriate word here but not sure what else to use*</p> <p>LO has started obviously trying to hurt us as of this week and I don't know how to handle it. He would do things before that would hurt, but it seemed to be on accident..now there is no doubt about it haha</p> <p>He will reach up for your face and grab your lips/eyes/nose/facial hair/nose ring/etc and rip the shit out of it. He gets this look on his face just before he does it, so you know it's coming..but it's also obvious that he's doing it to be mean. </p> <p>When he's on your lap and decides he doesn't want to do XYZ anymore he will throw himself backwards as hard as he can into you..usually hitting me full force in the throat, chest or face and it seriously knocks the wind out of you sometimes!</p> <p>Then there is the dog..oh, the poor dog. He will reach out and pet her face for a second and then YANK. She has no idea what's going on so she gets scared and takes off.</p> <p>Whhhyy is he doing this!? I don't know how to discipline him for that other than a firm "No!" and pulling his hand away or setting him beside me vs. on my lap. More than once I've grabbed his arm out of reflex because no matter how often I cut his nails..those suckers are <i>sharp</i>.</p> <p>Anyone else deal with this? Did it end? How do you stop it!?<br /> I thought he was just doing it to me and DH but he tried to rip my sisters nose ring out this weekend and today tried to gouge my dads eyeballs out.</p> <p>wtf kid! </p>