15mo hitting (urgent help, please)

[Heaven]

I have found that if I just say 'No, don't hit' it sometimes works but not as well as if I let them know why. So with DD1 obviously I can tell her why and she understands, but with DD2 I have to show her iykwim.

[Charlotte91]

I'm trying the "be gentle" and teaching her rub my face instead of beating me up. She will rub my face and then start hitting again. All with a smile on her face.
She tends to come up to me and pull my shirt up and touch my belly button (she's facinated with belly buttons at the moment, mine and DH's. She unfortunately doesn't have one, just a flat scar). She understands rubbing my belly gently and saying "aww, bebe" which is so cute.

So, yeah. "Be gentle" and teaching her to rub my face is starting to work.
She's started hitting the cat, so I really think it's just a development thing.

"Don't hit, DD" makes her hit more. If she doesn't stop hitting after 2 warnings then she gets put on the floor.
It's so hard.

[meow]

"Don't hit, DD" makes her hit more.

Yep, you'll find at her age she doesn't hear or understand the "don't" in a sentence. So telling her what TO do not what NOT to do is best, just as you're reminding her to "be gentle" and "gentle hands" etc. Also show her that you understand her so she feels less need to lash out "I know, that made you feel mad/sad/upset/frustrated etc" with a face that shows how she feels to give words and validation to her feelings.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I went through this and honestly ignoring DD was the only thing that worked. If we were cuddled on the lounge and she hit me i would pick her up (not saying anything) put her on the floor and walk away. I would sit on another chair and not look at her.

If i talked to her, yelled or told her to be gentle it just made it more fun.

Its a horrible stage, i really hope she grows out of it soon