Hello!

My two year old is very loving and sweet but he hits all the time and thinks it’s a game even when we growl at him or smack him. Please I’m at my wits end. I am about to have a second baby and I don’t want him to accidentally hurt his little brother.


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  • Be firm and consistent. He’s young he will grow out of it, so don’t stress too much


  • Don’t smack your child when you want to teach him not to hit.
    Take his hands and tell on a low neutral tone: no hitting
    When he hurts someone, teach him to say sorry or kiss/hug to make it right when he can’t talk yet.
    Or use a playpen or a corner for a little time out


  • Use repetitive clear language. Stop. That hurts.
    Pick him up and put away a few meters from area he was. Say. That hurts. Leave him there two minutes.
    Be firm, not angry, don’t hit him back then it’s just saying, hitting ok.

    Show nice touching. Like when he hits, say ouch and show him how to pat someone’s arm very gently, like his or your own. Oh nice. It’s role modeling positive actions.


  • I have a 2 year old and a 6 month old and he was hitting his younger brother when he was born, we worked out he was jealous. So every time he hit anybody he went straight to his room for 2 minutes then was allowed back out, sometimes he would do it again so straight back to his room. He now knows and understands no hitting. He has rarely hit anybody but when he does it straight back to his room. We don’t yell at him or anything just straight to his room. We try to ignore the bad behaviour and encourage the good behaviour, good luck!


  • Trying distracting him with objects ,sometimes I be told our it hurts &don’t Like it ,smacks that is .Good old naughty spot may help


  • My youngest son used to hit but generally it was only me. I didn’t smack but I found if I hit him in the way he hit me if caught him off guard. Not sure it was the only thing that stopped him but made him think about what he was doing.


  • I’ve been having the same trouble with my 2 year old and he does think it’s a game also I will try the cuddles and see how I go. Unfortunately mine is also swearing because his dad swears every second word :( it’s so embarrassing. I know they grow out of it because I have 2 older boys but it is taxing. With the new baby just say we have to be soft and gentle with the baby and give baby lots of kisses.


  • I think every toddler goes through the hitting stage I used to say no no hurting loving here cuddles only or using your words not hands, eventually they get over it


  • I fixed this in my house by saying cuddle and then cuddling now instead of getting a smack my toddler yells cuddle and its a much better result however sometimes we have mishaps but they still learning :)


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