How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

DS will be 15 months soon. He has taken to hitting DH and I when we do something he doesn't like (change his diaper, put him in his carseat, wipe his face, etc). How do I teach him that hitting is bad? I try taking his hand in mine and saying "no we don't hit". Usually he laughs at me or hits me with his other hand. How do I get him to understand that what he is doing is not acceptable?

TIA!

Re: How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

Im going through the same thing with my DS who is almost 15 months as well! I'd love to know the answer because he's now not only hitting DH and I, but also close family and friends

How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

Im still trying to get it through to my 21 month olds.

How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

I tell our little guy 'hands are for gentle' and then I rub his arm or hand to show him... That usually works for all of 6 seconds
Lol

Re: How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

The thing that has always worked for me since the boys are little is to take them as soon as a bad behavior is done, and walk them into their rooms and in the crib. I sternly tell them "NO" to whatever they did "no hitting, no screaming" etc and tell them they need a time out.

It has always worked with us, and they have never ever had an aversion to sleeping in their cribs at night because of it (people will say don't place a child in a time out where they will be sleeping) but i don't buy it. It works fine, they don't associate their crib or bed with a "bad place", the time outs aren't long but to be separated from where the fun is happening works. If i had to repeat it and keep walking them into the room a few times, eventually the behavior STOPS.

Good luck!

Re: How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

Dd is 11.5 months and starting this. I sternly tell her "No, we don't hit. That hurts Mommy." and then I put her down and take my attention away from her for a few minutes.

Re: How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

I am having the same exact issue with my 15 m.o. dd! would love to hear advice too. Its especially frustrating to me because she hits me way more than she hits dh! I am stern with her too, I don't know what it is!

Re: How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

Time outs were extremely effective with DS. He started hitting me around 15 months old. I tried ignoring it, redirecting him, firmly saying "no," etc. None of those things worked. I only had to put him in time out a few times. Then, the threat of a time out was enough to get him to stop hitting. Luckily, it was a short phase for him.

Re: How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

Thanks. I think I'm going to try the time outs (at least when we are home). Hopefully that will convey the message to him.

Re: How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

Re: How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

We say "no hitting " or "do nice" and then show her how to be gentle. she isn't really at the stage where she hits out of frustration , it's more playful.

Re: How do I teach my 15 month old that hitting is bad?

Seriously... I don't think your kid will understand what you are saying. DS still lacks empathy at 22 months.

For us, we taught SOFT petting & he got over the hitting phase as quickly as it came.

When he hit kids, I apologized and said that he was a baby and didn't know better. I remember when he was 16 months, his cousin (5 yrs old) called him a "bully".

BTW: we did try "time out" and he totally didn't get it. Thought it was a game. He'd do something bad INTENTIONALLY. Will try again when he's older.

Message edited 6/22/2012 11:13:59 AM.