Toddlers start hitting around seven months old when they realize the baby is staying. It's emotional, not mean. Give them a job to feel important, or a cushion they can hit instead.
So many parents have this experience. I know I did, and it's really hard. What happens is very often when the baby hits 7 months plus, the toddler suddenly realizes they're here to stay and they feel terribly jealous. Often that's when the jealousy really starts to kick in, and it is hard to navigate. Hard as it is, we have to remind ourselves that when children hit they're expressing an emotion. So here are two things that can help. One is that we give the toddler a role. They're in charge of certain things. That can help them feel good about themselves. And the second is we could give them something that they can hit, a cushion or something like that. It won't go away immediately, but please know that hitting is normal and toddlers can ultimately stop themselves, but when they're that little, it's really hard for them. Comment below if this has been your experience.
