How can i stop my 2 year old from hitting his 7 month old brother without making him feel jealous?

Answer 1

He is definitely trying to find ways to get your attention, be it positive or negative, it’s still attention. He is also trying to feel powerful. He was the center of your world and now he has to share your time. I’m sure he is feeling jealous. It’s very normal. Start giving him some extra love and attention. When the baby is sleeping, read him a story, do an art project together, have him help you make a snack or prepare dinner. You can also have him help you with the baby. He can pick out the baby’s outfit, get the baby a diaper, get the bath wash for the baby’s bath. He will feel proud to help and feel proud to be a big brother.

Please don’t hit him back when he hits his brother. Hitting him back will only reinforce the message that hitting is okay and will not teach him to problem solve on his own. When he hits his brother, rush to his brother and empathize. “Ouch! That must have hurt!” Give the baby some kisses while shutting your oldest son. You can also be overly dramatic about this. When he goes near his baby brother, pick the baby up and say “I can’t have you around him. I’m worried you might hurt him.” He will not like not getting attention for this. You may also, when he hits his brother, take him gently to an area away from his brother where there are little distractions and day to him “When you are ready to be gentle to your brother then you can come back with him.” Do not set a time limit (you controlling your son). He can return when HE is ready to control himself.

Empathize with him when he has calmed down. “I can tell you were feeling very (upset, hurt, mad, angry, sad, frustrated). What can we do about that?” Do some problem solving and give him words to use. He will then learn to better express himself.

Help him to feel powerful by saying thing like “You did that by yourself! You can climb super high! You stacked every block! You used so many colors on you picture!” These are intrinsic motivators rather than extrinsic rewards ("Good job," stickers, candy).These phrases are great ways to help your son feel powerful, gain confidence, and show attention in a positive way. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

He needs a 2 minute time out every time this happens. However, I would take special care that he is not alone with the baby at any time or in the position that he has the opportunity to hit. Even at 2 he has the potential to hurt a 7 month old and it is your job to protect the baby. Be very consistent with this punishment. Make sure to have some time for the 2 year old without the baby if you can. This will make him see that he still has quality time with mom even with the new baby.

Answer 3

Easy! Every time he hits another, allow him to feel the same. It has nothing at all to do with jealousy. It has everything to do with not hitting him on command. There is no reason, and if he does, he needs to understand that it is not permissable. If you allow it for any reason at all, all reasons are the same. Treat it like a dog or puppy biting, you would not allow it, and this being a chid should be treated the same.

Oh and all the rest of you above me that seem to think that no hitting of your kids for parenting reasons is a good thought, you not breathing is a better thought. From the time of our inception discipline has been a growing pain of life and we all learned basically the same way. You hit your kids to imply something or to enforce or restrict some behavior. Just because you do it does NOT i repeat NOT give a CHILD the same right!!!!!!!!! If you are a strictly non-hitting parent, then you are the main cause of shootings over Ipods, and the like. Discipline your kids and Teach them right and wrong. This part was not intended for the asker, but rather one or two above me. If I have offended you in this, Well OK. My point is made then.

Answer 4

Timeout is good, but doesn't work out every time.

I would try to make my 2 year old feel important and grown up. Talk to him, He is old enough to understand. Tell him he needs to take care of the little baby the same way mommy takes care of him. The little one can't do a lot of stuff and he needs to help him learn. Also, get him more involved in taking care of the baby. Like ask him to bring you the diaper/bottle/whatever and be patient and give it some time. He will get over it eventually. But don't get mad at him. Anger triggers anger

Answer 5

If your 2-year-old hits your 7-month-old,what happens in the 2-year-old's life?Do you hit him?!If so,why do you expect him not to hit others?If you don't hit him,who has showed him that hitting "is a good way to solve your problems"?Have you given him an example how to calm down?Think about these and if everything is OK,then pay more attention to your 2-year-old,talk with him,explain him that you're so glad to have an older child,tell him that it's not OK to hit his brother but he can caress him.

Answer 6

Little kids will always feel jilted when the new baby comes...but the best thing to do is to make time for him so that he sees the new baby isn't taking his place. you can also cheer him on by letting him help you do things for the baby..."Thank you for getting the baby a diaper...I'm so proud of you for being a good big brother...ETC ETC" little kids love the feeling of being wanted. But just telling him to stop or yelling at him for hitting isn't going to help your situation...Let him assist you with the baby, even let him sit down and hold the baby for feedings or rocking to sleep. He just wants to know that he isn't being replaced.

Answer 7

Don't worry about "jealous". Even a two-year-old can understand the idea that you don't hit people or pets because it isn't nice to hurt someone else.

Answer 8

Explain to the 2 year that it hurts his little brother when he hits him.

Answer 9

My daycare provider tells the child that's hitting that it's not nice and then pays lots of attention to the child that was hit or picked on. Then when the other child is nice she praises that child. Teaches them they won't get attention by being mean and they will get the attention they want by being nice.

Answer 10

get your 2 year old help u with his younger brother or spend some time with ur 2 year old has he probly feels left out