How do you handle hitting?

My girls like to bash each other over the head with whatever happens to be in their hands if they get too close to each other. One twin is more aggressive than the other but they are both guilty. Sometimes I think it's just a reflex and othertimes it's because they are mad. What do you do at 17 months? They don't really get what they are doing yet. DH thinks the hitter should be punished. All I do is say sharply No Hitting and if I am close enough grab the hitters hand. I also comfort the injured twin giving her a lot of attention.

Lately if I turn my head for one second, the taller twin is banging the other with a toy so hard I can hear it from across the room. Help!

 

I think you are handling it the right way. Punishment at that age, I found, was not affective, they didn't get it yet. I would say "No hitting" and take away the toy they used to hit. It takes a while but they will get it. :hug: Maybe get them helmets for protection? :lol:

 

With our boys we take the toy away and say no hitting. And when we take it away I mean it is put in the box in our kitchen and they don't get it back that day. I have also noticed that there are certain things that they ALWAYS use to hit, so those things have just disappeared for the time being. We do toy rotation anyway, so they'll get them back at some point, but for now I try my best to head it off before it happens and say NO.

 

I also just tell them "No hitting" with a stern tone and remove the toy. I used to give them a warning, but now i just remove the toy. Usually Kiefer is the hitter, but Cameron has been known to pick up a toy and hit on occasion. Usually, he does it when he's upset or having a tantrum, but sometimes he does it when he thinks it's funny. He thinks it's funny when Kiefer gets in to trouble for hitting me so Cameron wants in on the action. Sigh.... This will take a while, but they'll get it.

 

I would say "Nice touch" while moving that baby's hand on the other one in a gentle stroking fashion.

 

we consistently say "no, sir" when we want to teach an action that's not acceptable. i take the toy away and if the boy in question simply picks up another toy to hit again, i repeat "no, sir" while moving him away from his brother. they're too young for discipline, so at this point we're just trying to teach what "no" means and emphasize the command by removing their access to the thing they shouldn't be doing. they seem to make the connection because they look at the thing they were doing, then us, then point at the thing and complain loudly.

 

These days DD is the more aggressive one and I stop her hitting and explain why it isnt acceptable. I said hitting is not nice but giving kisses is and she actually kissed her brother today! If a toy is involved, we remove it immediately and they understand. Punishment isnt effective as they are too young to comprehend and arent yet in control of their emotions. I just keep repeating no and explain why. It seems to work for us.

 

With hitting, we would say "No hitting, that hurts!" And if it was over a toy, that toy would be removed. We have also done TO's for hitting, for about a minute.

 

Thanks for your replies. I think I may have to try 1 min. time outs for my taller twin. She really bashes her sister hard. Tonight while I was making dinner she got a bottle of salad dressing out of the cupboard. Bang onto sister. Later she got a glass pot lid. OMG the minute I turn my back she manages to find something big and heavy to clobber her with. She actually bruised her sister's forehead.

 

Oh man my sons have a bad hitting problem one more than the other, but they both do it. I tell them no no be nice, but sometimes I do this then DS hits me. I am just not sure at all about what to do about that..