What does one do when your little one (15 month old) keeps scratching you and others in the face?

Question

My little niece, Cate, out of nowhere will scratch and pull hair. It is difficult to know what triggors her aggressive behavior. Most times, when she does this stuff, she is sitting on someone's lap, or sitting near her brother and/or sister. I babysit a lot for my sister's children (6 yrs., 3 yrs. and 15 months) and I just do not know what to do. She seems oblivious to timeout (in her crib) or to any sort of discussion on "nice touches". Anybody have any good, constructive ideas? I could really use some help. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

It isn't that she's being aggressive most likely. Babies that age just do stuff like that. My daughter (the sweetest baby and child in the world) went through the phase of smacking my face whenever she got the chance.

Sometimes they think its funny. They get a reaction, and babies do things that get a reaction. Even if the "victim" doesn't say anything he/she is usually shocked (which is a reaction).

All you can do is realize she is in a phase of doing this. It only lasts a couple of months. Don't let her sit near her brother or sister. If she does it to you while you're holding her or close to her hold her little hand in your hand and without a lot of expression or emotion just say, "No. You don't do that." If you were holding her at the time put her down and don't say any more about it.

You're right - she's too little for time-out. She is too little to be interested in "nice touches".

When you're babysitting don't make a big deal about the baby, but just encourage the other kids to play somewhere different than where the baby is. You could say something like, "You know what... I know she bothers you when you're playing so why not play in your room for a while."

Answer 2

mirror her behaviour to her

I mean don't HURT her

hold her hands and let her know there is zero tolerance for this

Is she aggressive when she does it...or very nonchalant?
that is a teller of motivation


Have you tried just catching her mid swipe and just holding her captive and letting her know this is not acceptable?


Biting, hitting and pulling hair are common misbehaviors in preverbal children. When a toddler lashes out, she's telling you in the only way she knows how that something is bothering her. The problem may be that she's tired, bored, overexcited, confused, frustrated or hungry. Whatever the problem, there's no need to worry: Biting and hitting are not signs that your child is a bully, maladjusted, "bad" or angry, nor are they signs that you are a bad parent. Think of your child's behavior as a form of communication. Learn to "read" the behavior by asking yourself, "What's going on here?"

5 Ways Not to Respond to Biting, Hitting and Hair Pulling

1. Don't bite back in the hope that it will teach her a lesson.

2. Don't send your child to her room for a time-out. This will only make the behavior more attractive as the commotion created makes her feel more powerful.

3. Avoid lectures.

4. Don't suggest your child hit a pillow. You want to teach your child to solve her problems rather than vent her feelings.

5. Don't ask your child to explain her behavior; focus instead on solving the problem.


If she is aggressive, she is angry. If she is nonchalant, is is colder, more accepted. crueler and calculated

It does not matter, at this age you stop it.

7 Steps to Ending Biting, Hitting and Other Physical Offences Once and for All

1. BE PROACTIVE. It's more effective to redirect a youngster than it is to punish her after the fact.

2. BE THERE. Don't give a biter opportunity to get in trouble. Stay by her side and intervene when you see trouble coming.

3. BE ATTENTIVE. Respond to the "victim" first. Apologize for your child.

4. BE CALM. Your child will learn more from this experience if she is reprimanded in a firm but neutral voice.

5. BE FIRM. Set your child an arms distance away and say to her, "Don't bite. Biting hurts."

6. BE REALISTIC. Have confidence in your child's natural goodness and in her ability to make positive changes -- but expect change to come about slowly.

7. BE APPRECIATIVE. Praise your child whenever she handles herself well

Answer 3

After she does this, grab her hands firmly, look her in the eye, and tell her "No!!" Then sit her away from the person or group. She should start to realize that this behavior is unacceptable. Do not spank her, she has no way of knowing why she was spanked at that age. This is just a form of aggression and it will pass if you downplay it. Don't repay aggressive behavior with more aggressive behavior. It makes no sense. Hope this helps :)

Answer 4

the reason why that's 365 days and 20 lbs is because little ones are more desirable suseptible to whiplash in a ahead dealing with position. In severe situations, a well being care provider might want to advise that you turn them round early, even though it infrequently occurs(i have said it w/ my well being care provider because my daughter is 8 mo old, 21 lbs and 30 inches tall already) you ought to save her decrease back dealing with for thus long as she suits conveniently. I also reccommend cosco's scenera(do not use their cribs although, lol), that's totally fee effecient round 40-50 funds and works both forwards and backwards. it really is likewise an particularly prevalent automobile seat, so there'll be more desirable upload-ons and covers more desirable accessible. sturdy success and wait till she hits that 20 lb mark a minimum of :D

Answer 5

Fifteen months is a little young to really have a discussion about much of anything. When she engages in this behavior, make a loud noise (like yelling "Ow!!!" really loudly), and grab her hands to stop her. She'll quickly get the idea that what she's doing is not acceptable. It will take longer for her to understand that she is able to hurt you.

Answer 6

Give her a swat on the butt, and tell her that we dont hurt other people and especially not adults....Good lord, thats what butts are made for...nobody spanks anymore and this is why we have rotton kids. I know everyone is trying to be a good parent, but there were 4 of us and my parents spanked us when we did something wrong..and yes they started when we were young, by the time we were in kindergarden we knew better than to act up and the spanking all but ended. I know it's your sister's kids, but If and when My nephew acts up and does things like that to me, i'll give him a swat and explain to him what he has done.

Answer 7

um...this sounds like it could be a psychological thing....or a feeling of being unwanted (which can be felt at a young age)
maybe she should see a doctor...or psychotherapist...

but...you could always try popping her hands (to startle and sting lightly..not actually hurt b/c she's so young) when she scratches and pulls hair and just say no.
and you can sit her away from everyone else
instead of just putting her in her crib
if she's still in the same room, but not allowed to be near you b/c she did something bad (pull hair, scratch) then it'll make her upset..but it could get the point across

Answer 8

She's young... my boy does the same thing (he's almost seven months) and so far, the best response is to YELL. This startles him (but not so much that he cries, or anything) and he stops. I have also pretended to cry loudly, which I think he understands - kind of. Also, both my husband and I now wear our hair in ponytails!

Hopefully this will pass. In the meantime, try to see it coming and DUCK.

Cheers,

Samlet

Answer 9

IF , they could only talk ! and when they start they could moderate .
I was on the long distance and my mother TOLD my 14 yrs ago baby to pull my beard . right away she did . untill i asked her not to she would do it and think it was funnie !
just a posible answer that you would give benifit of doubt and ask .

Answer 10

DEAR
IT IS TIME FOR A OPEN HAND SPANKING JUST A FEW POP ON HER BOTTOM IF NO ANSWER REPEAT THE TREATMENT AFTER 2 TWICE SHE WILL GET THE MESSAGE TRUST JUST 2 TIMES WILL DO IT YOU WILL SEE A NEW CHILD APPEAR IN FRONT OF YOU I PROMISE YOU
TAKE CARE