Two year old hitting newborn

[BaggieBetty]

Help! My DS1 who is three in July is lovely to DS2 90% of the time but then will poke him or slap him hard enough to make him cry. I try and keep him out of harms reach as much as poss but he sneaks up on us. It's not even a 'test' poke but seems really malicious. Trying time out but I'm worried he'll really hurt him one day.

[bubble99]

My DS1 didn't actually hurt DS2 but he did go through a stage of covering him gently but totally with a towel. Toddler logic, I s'pose....'If I can't see him he must have gone!'

Supervise and watch, I know it can be difficult but this sounds like a normal sibling reaction to me. Good luck!

[BaggieBetty]

Oh yes I forgot the cushion over the face bit too. Sob.

[Lact8]

BB, you have my sympathy. DS2 (2) poked DD in the eye on the day she was born then hit her over the head with a big rock when she was about 3 weeks old. A day didn't seem to pass without him doing something to her.

I was on edge all of the time worrying what he'd do next. I did time out with him but also sat him down when he did anything and explained that it hurt her and made her cry. I also pretended his toys were hurt and crying and we had to cwtch them to make them feel better.

DD is 5 months now and he has gone from attacking her to smothering her with love and kisses instead. Still just as harmful to her sometimes but at least the malicious intent has gone

All I can say is it does get better!

[BaggieBetty]

It's so stressful isn't it? As if two kids under 3 isn't a stress enough!

[edam]

Do you ever get the chance to spend some time with ds1 on his own - just the two of you? Obviously you do have to come down hard on anything that is dangerous for the baby, but it might really help the situation if ds can see that you are still 'his' as well, IYSWIM.

[BaggieBetty]

I do try to put ds2 in his cot upstairs as sson as he nods off so we can have 'quality time' together and his behaviour is much better when brother isn't about. unfortunately I'm on my own with them both 90% of the time (daddy works looong hours). Can someone please remind me why I had another baby please?!!!! :o

[wellsie]

I'm expecting baby no2 in 8wks and am so nervous abouthow DS is going to be towards it as he is quite aggressive with our dog and has taken to hitting the baby bump given a chance. Having seen this thread I am some what reassured that this is going to be normal sibling behaviour, guess I'll just have to watch out for those flying wooden bricks Glad to hear that it does improve though.