My DS is 23 months & he just loves to hit his 10 year old cousin, Stacy. She is the only person he hits. Stacy is always very sweet to him, plays wth him, shares her ipad with him, etc.

When he does it, he either smacks her on the arm or even on the head & does it with a smile on his face like he thinks he is playing & then immediately looks at the adults in the room for their reaction. Once DH or I tell him not to do that, he laughs & does it again. We'll tell him no, never to hit anyone & to give her a hug & kiss as an apology. Sometimes he will offer her a hug & other times not.

What else can I do? Remove him from her? He doesn't do it to be mean but it seems like he's doing it because he sees how upset we get when he does it.