My 14 month old adjusted triplets are getting to be hazards to each other. It started with our boy who was experimenting with hitting everything and the girls heads were just another surface to bang. He even started banging on their heads with toys which of course has left bruises & lots of tears. Now the other girl is doing it too and my meek/mild girl seems to have a bulls-eye painted on her poor little head. I think they've learned quite well that hitting gets my attention (even bad attention) so now they will even hit their own heads to see if I'll come.

I have tried each of these things for a few days at a time: saying no & redirecting, a firm hand squeeze with a no, a time-out in an exersaucer, even swatting the back of the hand that is hitting with a firm no. I have tried ignoring the hitter & comforting the one getting hit all to no avail. I cringed the first time, I tried the hand swat at the suggestion of a friend who has 5 very well-behaved kids, but to my amazement both the girl & the boy think it's funny! They often think "no" is funny, although they have cried a few times. They have even cried when they saw the other one crying from getting hurt, but it doesn't seem to stop.

Most of the time, they really enjoy each other's company & can even play & giggle together so I'd hate to constantly separate them. The babywise book I read says they are capable of learning "no" at this point. What am I doing wrong? Any ideas or suggestions? Did other moms deal with this?

GGB Triplets Born 32 weeks Nov,2010

Janet

Okay here's a quick update....I've started using this technique & it appears to be helping a bit. When someone starts to hit, I grab the hand that is hitting & pull them backward to the floor with a "no hitting," but no eye contact. If they're standing, they're pulled to sitting & if they're sitting already, they're pulled to laying back (on carpet only). They don't like it & they fuss a bit, but it doesn't hurt them. It immediately stops the behavior, saves the one that's being abused from further hitting & allows me then to comfort the one that's getting hit. It also has the added bonus of causing them to direct to a new activity as they try to roll over & stand up. If a toy is involved, that gets taken away as I pull them to the floor.

If anyone has any better ideas or suggestions I'm eager to hear. If this works, I'll be so happy! I know consistency is key. Some people have suggested time out in a playpen, but they're so used to being placed in things alone that to them its just another fun place to be. Someone mentioned focusing on them saying "sorry," but they're not even saying any coherent words yet so I think that's a way off.


GGB Triplets Born 32 weeks Nov,2010

Janet

Am I really the only one with this problem? Sigh....
Yesterday, my son whacked me in the eye with a plastic phone while on my lap, laughed when I said no, took the toy away, and covered my eye in pain, and then turned around & started trying to hit me in the head with his hand. He's had a cold for two days so I was trying to give him some TLC. He's not a monster & is so sensitive & sweet in other ways....but I get SOO frustrated with him. Help?


GGB Triplets Born 32 weeks Nov,2010

Janet

I have the same issue but my ggg triplets are 2 1/2! I have been struggling with how to stop the hitting but nothing seems to be working. Super frustrating!!

Mom of GGG trips+4
born at 32.5 weeks
Sept 11. 2009
Jasmyn-3lbs 6ozs
Jaidyn-3lbs 13ozs
Jordyn-1lb 10ozs

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