We are experiencing some very challenging behaviour atm from DS (19months). He frequently hits, bites and pinches us and our dog if given the opportunity. He will push and hit other kids too if they get into his space at the park or daycare but the problem is more with us really. Robin Grilles book is good and we have moved more into the empathy guidance (it makes me feel sad when you hit me) and consequence of actions rather than just the directive 'stop/no' etc. If it is just rough play we use 'gentle hands'. Sometimes it is when he is angry but for the most part it is very random. For example a common time that he may hit DH is in the morning when he comes in to our bed for his morning milk. All is calm then 'whack!' on DH's head. We have never smacked him and although we use firm voices we don't tend to yell either although that is becoming more and more difficult for DH who is the most common target. We don't want to use time-out unless there is a real safety concern but have been stopping whatever activity we are doing and making our feelings clear and putting some space between us. Often he doesn't seem to care at all. Is it possible we could be over crowding him? He is an only child but does get time with other kids (1 day at daycare, parks, play centres, playgroup etc) and DH and I sharecare so he gets a lot of one on one time with both of us. I really am at a loss both because we don't know when (or if!) it will end, but more importantly what feelings he is having that triggers this.
Any suggestions?!?!