https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 14:07:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2122983 Thu, 26 Mar 2015 15:38:54 +0000 reverie 2122983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>bumping for prime time. any other tips out there? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2122046 Thu, 26 Mar 2015 07:04:36 +0000 Modern Daisy 2122046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ds is 19 months and we started reading hands are not for hitting and doing time outs. It's only been a few days and while he hasn't slowed down the hitting, i can tell he's thinking about it now. We are doing our best not to yell or seem upset. I don't even know if he's old enough for time outs but this has to stop! He knows hitting is bad and I just can't have him doing this in public. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121997 Thu, 26 Mar 2015 01:22:01 +0000 AggieDaze 2121997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@reverie: it is really tough and embarrassing! And - I often feel like people (typically the mom of the kid being hit) are watching how I handle it which is frustrating because I'm never sure what works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121929 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:37:27 +0000 littlehunny 2121929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@reverie: we just started reading little dinos don't bite and little dinos don't push (there's also little dinos don't hit), but I just got the books yesterday so no difference in behavior yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121923 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:18:26 +0000 reverie 2121923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AggieDaze: time outs do nothing here either. I think he is just too young to get it. He has started suggesting he go to time out when he isn't misbehaving! haha. I just ordered that book, hopefully something clicks soon! I know they say a lot of kids go through it, but it's really tough when yours is the only one you see! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121920 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:14:44 +0000 reverie 2121920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charlotte: I skipped story time today to hand out with my friend and her twin 14 month olds. The first thing he did was hit the little boy. I felt like crap, but at least it was a friend who totally got it vs. a random person at story time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121914 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:09:47 +0000 charlotte 2121914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@reverie: I could definitely see the dog thing because our lab is SO sweet with LO that he may have learned there aren't consequences if you go and pat your friend in a not so gentle way. Our dog just looks at me like "what is this little person doing?!" </p> <p>I'm sorry your are going through this! I felt like the worst ever at play dates etc. (He hit my husband's boss' daughter!) but every mom reminded me that they pretty much all have their moments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121911 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:08:43 +0000 AggieDaze 2121911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@reverie: the dogs thing makes sense. That was a big issue for us for about a week. He kept hitting the dogs. We'd put him in time out, and then he'd hit the dog again within 5 seconds. </p> <p>When reading the book, there is a picture of a dog. I started adding a line re: hands are for petting dogs gently and would show him. I really think that may have helped too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121909 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:06:36 +0000 reverie 2121909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He is really responsive to books, I hadn't thought to try that! The unprovoked hitting is the most stressful thing we have dealt with. The leader of his music class said that sometimes children with dogs have a harder time with the no hitting concept b/c I guess they are used to petting / touching dogs. Bleh. This is awful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121907 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:05:24 +0000 AggieDaze 2121907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is about a month older and has been in this phase recently too. While we are still experiencing it, the one thing I've found most helpful is reading the book "Hands are not for hitting" (there is also a teeth are not for biting) My son now has it memorized and does everything in the book - waving, hugging, brushing teeth, etc. He also says "no no" everytime it says the phrase "hands are not for hitting." After obsessively reading it, we started to integrate the sayings into our discipline. When he hit, I'd hold his hands very firm and say hands are for hugging. I'd then make him apologize and give a hug. So far, this has been the most impactful for us. Time outs backfired and seemed to encourage it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121905 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:01:16 +0000 charlotte 2121905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO went through this in a bad way between 18-20 months. I think it was only about 2 months. Teeth are not for biting and hands are not for hitting helped a lot. I started trying to give him choices in the situations I could control like " we are going to change your diaper. Do you want to walk or be carried?" That + getting some words seemed to solve it (for now!). Instead of hurting other kids now he says "BYEBYE girl" etc. I think it really was a classic case of not being able to express himself yet. I remember it as our most challenging / "I'm never having kids again!" Phases but looking back it passed quickly.</p> <p>Edited to add I just re read and saw that yours expresses himself well so that is half the battle. I would try giving two acceptable-to-you choices whenever you can! I read once to let them think they are the boss that way and it really works well for us. Like "we are leaving the park after you do one more thing. Do you want to do the slide or the swing?" Etc etc. I also let him do random things like if he is reluctant to go upstairs after dinner "do you want to put the milk back in the refrigerator by yourself?" And he's all about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121901 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 20:54:17 +0000 littlehunny 2121901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following! We are going thru this right now too and my boys are 2y 4m. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121895 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 20:50:14 +0000 BandDmommy 2121895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son has gone through a biting phase and sometimes relapses. I have no advice because I've tried everything. Do you have the no biting/hitting books? We read those and constantly encourage LO to use his words. It really really sucks. I'm so sorry you are going through this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hitting-biting#post-2121851 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 20:19:10 +0000 reverie 2121851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It appears I'm in the thick of a biting / hitting / pulling / tugging and general aggression phase. </p> <p>It is awful, embarrassing and hard to navigate as a parent. My LO is 21 months an so so so great in so many ways, but I'm currently pretty frustrated / afraid to take him out in public for fear of what he will do. He is very verbal and is able to express himself very well. He hits me (bites / pulls etc) when he doesn't get what he wants or is over tired. </p> <p>Recently he has started swatting / pulling at peers without provocation and that is really stressing me out. </p> <p>I think we're dealing with some teething, he has been very sensitive in the cheek area but I don't know for sure (he already has 16 so we're just waiting on 2 year old molars).</p> <p>HELP. what worked for you? how long did this phase last?<br /> I do "time outs" (I remove him from the situation and talk to him about why we aren't where we were etc) and try to stop him from hitting if I can catch it in time. My husband sometimes brings out a pillow when he can tell the baby is angry for him to hit, but that doesn't seem to do much. I'm really sad about all this and hope this phase is done tomorrow! </p>