Jacob is 16 months old on Sunday and he has started hitting DH and I. He has never hit anyone else, and he only ever does it when one of us is holding him. We're at a loss as to why he does it to us but not others, but are quietly relieved IYKWIM? I guess I would prefer that he hit us than other people or other children.

But we're at a loss as to what to do about it too. We have tried saying "no" firmly and telling him "we don't hit people Jacob" but he quite often does it again as soon as you say that, or he will start crying hysterically and hitting himself as well as us! (He quite often will hit himself with frustration and anger).

The other thing we have done is to not say a word or react at all, and have put him down straight away (he only ever hits if he is being held by one of us - he never walks up and just hits IYKWIM?)

Having said that, we have worked out a couple of reasons for these outbursts - tiredness and hunger!! If he is tired or hungry, that is quite often when he will lash out like that and get himself really quite upset. So those are factors for Jacob. I think the other thing for Jacob is fear - if he is being held by one of us and he thinks we're going to put him down into a situation where he's not feeling comfortable, then he will hit us.

I know none of that has helped you Sandra, and it's a different situation as Jacob is only hitting us, not others, but I just thought I'd share. I'd been meaning to post about it before now actually! LOL