8 months old

[carliex]

my 8month old daughter has started hitting me and nipping me! she knows she is doing it becus she does it when you are trying to put her in her pram or anything eles she doesnt want to do! she also paddys really bad screaming and kicking me, should an 8month old be like this? i tell her NO but she doesnt understand it and carrys on gettin worse! what am i sposed to do with her? its really gettin me down!

[andy-hughes]

All little ones do this, it's a phase they go through, and part of them learning a sense of self.

When she hits, because she will be fairly slow, you need to grab her hand befofe it makes contact, and hold it firmly. While doint that, put your face close to hers and say "No, that hurts!" in a loud voice, and make suree she breaks eye contact first. If she cries, don;t comfort her, she must learn that this is not acceptable. After a few days, maybe weeks, she will get the message, you need to be consistant and patient, and make sure that everyone else who has regular contact with her does the same, or she will simply transfer this action elsehwere.If she kicks, simply move out of range and ignore her completley.

Likewise tantrums and screaming fits - simply act like it's not happening. Be firm when strapping her in, and the ignore her completely. When she stops, kneel down and give her a kis and a cuddle and dry her eyes, and then carry on chatting to her as normal.

She will get the message that tantrums don not attract attnetion - which is their purpose - and she will stop them.

It takes patience and consistency, but she must learn that you are in charge.

This is the start of 'boundary pushing' that is a vital part of all child development, and as long as you put a firm policy in place ahd stick to it, she will learn that you are the one who has her own way, and she will be happy with that.

It's so easy to give in, when she screams in a supermarket and people look at you, but be strong, and make her back down - it will give her security, and make a happier child as she grows up.

It's not easy - but child-rearing never is!

Good luck!

[Sqad]

How about a sharp slap across her bare arm and give her something to think about?

[ummmm]

At 8 Months sqad?

[sara3]

Andy V Sqad.. hmmmmmmmmm............

I'm with Andy on this one!

[Sqad]

ummmm....get um early and teach them early.

sara....if you have any sense, you should always side with Andy.....a bit long winded at times, but modern and up to date.......whatever that means;-)

[Sqad]

It seems somebody disagrees with me, so instead of putting their opinion, they just ban and report mine.

[ummmm]

How come my answer went?

[Sqad]

ummmm.....obviously not the site for debate.

[ummmm]

I only said 'at 8 months old'

It must be an error. They talking about far riskier topics in S&C....

[4getmenot]

just put it again

[sara3]

hmmm... my answer has gone too! are we in trouble?

[Sqad]

All back again.....we have been reprieved.

[AB Editor]

Sorry About that guys, G.NOME got a bit over-excited and removed some responses which were intended to be light-hearted (or so we assume Sqad!)

All the best,

Spare Ed

[Sqad]

"sqad skulks away, bottom lip drooping, into a dark corner".........................again!!

[sherrardk]

Of our five children the worst one for doing this was our youngest daughter (she is one of twins) - she had (and still has to some extent) a terrible temper on her from about 6/7 months old. We used to put her on the sofa (supervised!) until she calmed down. She still has the odd moment of temper (accompanied by banging her head on the floor in a very dramatic fashion) but she is calming down. However, she seems to have traded having a bad temper for extreme acts of danger (she is the most dangerous of the five) and a quite impressive range of 'dirty looks'. I'm sure things will get better as your daughter becomes less frustrated at not being able to do things and you develop a range of techniques for dealing with her behaviour.