My kid has started hitting and biting especially when frustrated or teething. It’s overwhelming, and I’m unsure how to handle it calmly. This is just a phase right? Or should I do something so he doesn’t grow up doing it? I feel like I’m doing something wrong, but I don’t know what. It’s been a tough few weeks, and I’m at a loss for what to do.
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I feel you! My little one went through the same thing a few months ago. I think it’s a phase that most toddlers go through when they’re learning how to express frustration or pain, especially with teething. It’s tough, though. Hang in there!
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Do you also find that sometimes your kiddo seems to bite or hit out of nowhere? There’s no clear trigger and it’s so confusing! I’ve tried redirecting and even giving my little one a teething toy when they seem to be getting frustrated, but it’s hit or miss. Anyone else have any thoughts on what actually works?
I know exactly how you feel. My daughter went through a phase like this around the same age. It was so hard to watch her act out, especially since she’s usually so sweet. What helped us was staying consistent with a calm but firm NO every time she hit or bit. I would hold her hands gently but firmly and say: “no hitting. we don’t hurt people” and then offer her something else to do, like a toy or giving her a hug. It felt like it wasn’t working at first, but over time, it really did get better. This phase shouldn’t last forever. It’s all about teaching them boundaries, and it takes time.
Ugh, my kid thought biting was the answer to everything when he was teething. I ended up wearing long sleeves to avoid being smacked on lol.
It’s just a phase. My son was a biter for a while, and I was so worried, but it didn’t last long. Now at 3 he’s completely outgrown it. If anything it taught me how important it is to stay calm but man it was sooo hard. They’re just trying to communicate, and as their language skills grow, so does their ability to express themselves without hitting or biting. You’ve got this!
My first went through a hitting and biting phase around that age too, and it was honestly exhausting. One thing that helped was keeping things consistent and offering alternatives to biting and hitting when it happened. I would try to teach my little one that if they felt frustrated, they could squeeze a pillow, hug a stuffed animal, or even just come to me for a calm down moment. It’s important to address it gently but firmly each time, so they understand that hitting and biting aren’t okay, but their feelings are. Also, if teething is the issue, those little cold teething rings really help, anything to soothe those sore gums! Eventually, with patience and lots of redirection, it passed. You’ll get through this, and soon enough, it’ll just be another funny parenting memory!