A mom writes in asking for advice about her 14-month-old daughter. She says that her daughter has recently started smacking her hard. She doesn’t do it to her father or anyone else. She has tried to curb the behavior on her own, but she needs some help.
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A member of the community asks:
“My 14-month-old has started smacking me hard. She doesn’t do it to her dad, but all day long, she’ll do it to me and pull my hair. I’ve been telling her, no, but she doesn’t understand that. I know she’s still a baby, but I don’t want her to do it to other children; she’s never around other children, but with her only being around me all of the time, I want her to know hitting isn’t okay. I tell her no sternly, and she laughs. Or I try and distract her with a toy, but she just laughs and continues to smack. Any suggestions on how to nip this in the bud? TIA!”
– Mamas Uncut Community Member
Community Advice for This Mom Whose Toddler Has Started Smacking Her
To see what advice the Mamas Uncut Facebook community has for this mom in need, read the comments of the post embedded below.
Advice Summary
The community offered this mom in need a lot of great advice. Read some of their responses below.
“Don’t allow her to hit you, don’t give it much attention aside from preventing it, really praise her good behaviour and look for those opportunities where u can praise for being kind and gentle, etc.”
“I read too fast and thought you said 14 year old. I was like you better slap her back into next week! Lmfbo.”
“I used to cover my kid’s hand with mine slap my own hand and say no-no.”
“My son used to hit. Himself, too. What worked for us is saying more than no. Telling him “that’s not nice” “that is hurtful” and encourage with “let’s show love” “we love each other” etc. and give a big hug, rub their back/arm.”
“When my daughter was that young I took her hand and put it on my cheek….telling her to be gentle. Always be gentle! It worked for me. I wish you the best.”
“My 16-month-old went through a phase like that a few months ago. I’d firmly grab her hands and say no every time she did it, after a while it worked. She stopped hitting.”
“I scream like super loud. Loud enough to her attention and then I fake cry lol.”
“Start fake crying and tell her ‘ouch, you hurt mommy. That wasn’t nice.'”
“What I do is cry/sob really loud, covering my face with my hands right after it happens until it upsets my little one to where he stops being mean to me. Sometimes it works. To where he even gives me a hug. Want him to know it hurt me and my feelings.”
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