https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:20:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939562 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 16:23:03 +0000 StbHisMrs 939562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>M is doing this, she hits her brother, her sister, the little girl at the baby-sitters, and me, she doesn't hit her Dad though. It's also escalated to pinching, and two days she bit her brother on his behind. My problem is all the kids hit her back before I can run over and diffuse the situation.</p> <p>I do believe in positive reinforcement, it shows such a big impact, remembering isn't so easy though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939510 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 15:55:04 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 939510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do what you do at first... hold her hand, and say "no hitting!", but then I'd redirect and show her the "correct way". I would say, "gentle", while taking her hands and demonstrating a calm pat or caress.</p> <p>She doesn't really hit anymore, but there were a few months there where I was worried about it too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939489 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 15:46:12 +0000 lamariniere 939489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, time outs have worked well for us, even when DS was a young toddler 14-16 months. I make him stop, explain to him why what he is doing is bad/unacceptable and send him to the corner if necessary. When he is allowed to get up, he has to appologize. It works for us. </p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: we use good behavior reinforcement too and I can tell that DS is proud of himself when we compliment him on positive action. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939242 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 14:29:14 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 939242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Oh, gosh, I have that same struggle. It's those moments where I sit back and exhale and watch the girls share or something. As soon as I feel that relaxed feeling, I'm like, "man, I should be praising someone right now!"</p> <p>Our big praise for M right now is "good listening". I've seen noticible improvement in her listening since we've been using that one. For Lala it's alsways "good sharing!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939165 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 14:12:16 +0000 Mrsjets 939165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stop him by grabbing his hand and sternly say "we don't hit" and then gently caress his face and say "we're gentle with our hands". It seems to work about half the time, the other half he is tired or hungry or very frustrated and then I usually try to fix the underlying issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939163 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 14:12:01 +0000 looch 939163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: you know, I struggle with remembering to reinforce the good behaviour. Sometimes I just don't think to do it. Any tips? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939154 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 14:08:27 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 939154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ignore, reinforce when she's being gentle and never model hitting behavior. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939149 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 14:06:32 +0000 aprk 939149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hold her hands and say "I won't let you hit." Every time. <a href="http://www.janetlansbury.com/2012/09/biting-hitting-kicking-and-other-challenging-toddler-behavior/" rel="nofollow">http://www.janetlansbury.com/2012/09/biting-hitting-kicking-and-other-challenging-toddler-behavior/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939133 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:58:03 +0000 googly-eyes 939133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: that's what I was going to suggest.</p> <p>Edit to add that you don't have to stay away but I wouldn't grab her hands since that hasn't been working and she might not get why you're grabbing her in the first place. Also, if this is done aggressively at all she can pick up on that.. I wouldn't count this as aggressive behavior in a 15 month old though, so walking away or putting her in an area with something else to do is probably easier and more appropriate than trying to deal with it head on for now... Sorry, it sounds difficult. I know this is all easier said than done too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939117 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:51:44 +0000 VanillaBean 939117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wholeheartedly agree with Mrs. Pen. At such a young age, it is hard for children to communicate what it is that they want verbally so most of the time, it is going to be physical. I used to coordinate an infant- twos programs and we use a lot of redirection with our little ones. In this situation, I might suggest you put her down and give her something to do with her hands that is appropriate. Perhaps a wooden spoon that she can bang on a pot with or a hand rattle of some sort. As noted above by many bees, you don't want to give into negative attention but since the behavior is inappropriate, it is import to replace the negative behavior with something else that is positively appropriate for her age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939110 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:49:21 +0000 lavender 939110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD (16 months) has started hitting and pulling hair at daycare. They are suggesting doing a time out for her behavior. So far she's had two time outs...I'll let you know if it works in a couple of weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939096 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:43:44 +0000 Mrs. Pen 939096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that at this age, even the negative reaction encourages the behavior! the only success I've had with curbing my 17 mos olds biting, is ignoring him and walking away. I pay no attention to him, and walk away to show that I won't play with him while he does that. It has helped lessen it, amazingly enough. I don't walk too far, but far enough to discourage the act. If he follows me, then I take that time to start a new game/activitiy with him. I do think it's important to enforce rules and boundaries but at this age it's hard to communicate that in a way they understand! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939092 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:42:51 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 939092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I'm going through this, too! She thinks it's so funny, and it doesn't help when she says "Oh noooo" in the cutest little voice. I'm going to try @mrbee's approach next time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939089 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:41:22 +0000 Weagle 939089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in this stage too. Today she hit me with her favorite wooden spoon. Sometimes it helps if I just restrain her hands while telling her, "No hit." A lot of times she just laughs at me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939084 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:40:08 +0000 Modern Daisy 939084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, do timeouts work that young? Or another form of punishment? I don't know when they are old enough to understand being punished.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939080 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:39:02 +0000 looch 939080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Redirection. If I am holding him, I put him down. I also say "keeps your hands to yourself" as opposed to "don't hit." For some reason, it seems to make a difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939079 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:38:53 +0000 Raindrop 939079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry no advise either.</p> <p>@keiki_mama: My LO (16 months) thinks headbutting is the funniest! ^_^ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939077 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:38:42 +0000 mrbee 939077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to immediately put the kids down when that happens and walk away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939075 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:37:27 +0000 Adira 939075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe try doing a timeout if she repeats the behavior after you say no? Not really sure if they work with her age though... haven't had to deal with this yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939054 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:33:17 +0000 keiki_mama 939054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice but it's the same deal with my LO (also 15 months). He also thinks headbutting is hilarious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939052 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:32:06 +0000 loveisstrange 939052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Ignoring it just makes her think its okay and she just keeps doing it. I've tried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939051 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:31:20 +0000 Mrsbells 939051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe ignoring it may help? Some kids laugh when they get a big reaction </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stopping-a-15-month-old-from-hitting#post-939047 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:30:36 +0000 loveisstrange 939047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Im not sure how to go about this. C is 15 months old and thinks its HILARIOUS to whack people in the face and head. We've been grabbing her hands and firmly saying "No, we do not hit" and she will crack up laughing at us like it's the funniest thing in the world. She thinks its a game.</p> <p>Its gotten to the point where she hits really hard and she has even scratched my eye doing it.</p> <p>How do I stop this behavior? Im lost. </p>