Why do toddlers hit their moms?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 10, 2026
Their reasons for hitting are innocent enough—and they usually fall into one of these categories. She's trying to communicate. Like everyone else, toddlers get bored, hungry, tired, and overwhelmed. The difference is they lack the verbal skills to communicate these emotions, which can make them even more frustrated.
How do I stop my toddler from hitting my mom?
What should you do when your toddler hits?
- Restrain them physically. Your instinct may be to physically hold your toddler back when they are trying to hit others. ...
- Remove your child from the situation. ...
- Discuss alternatives. ...
- Redirect. ...
- Provide emotional support. ...
- Prevent hitting before it begins.
What does it mean when your toddler hits you?
Toddlers are short on both language and social skills, and when they play together they can easily become frustrated. When they lack the ability to express what's wrong in words, hitting and other types of aggression sometimes result. It is developmentally normal for toddlers to hit.
What do you do when your 2 year old hits you?
The thing to do is to gently, calmly move their arm away from the person they are hitting, so they can't hit again. You can let them try. Just keep their arm from landing on you or anyone else. Mild words like, “No, that doesn't feel good,” or, “I can't let you do that,” might be helpful.
Why does toddler only hit one parent?
Turns out a lot of it has to do with her age. Experts say it's typical for toddlers to make the parent who's with them the most their main target for bad behavior.
37 related questions foundWhy do toddlers reject their mothers?
They just mean that they are struggling with learning to control their emotions and their behavior. If you don't take it personally, then you aren't likely to overreact or overly dramatize the rejection. You can just accept that this an aspect of being a toddler.
Why does my 2 year old only want Mommy?
It's not uncommon for children to prefer one parent over the other. Sometimes this is due to a change in the parenting roles: a move, a new job, bedrest, separation. During these transitions, parents may shift who does bedtime, who gets breakfast, or who is in charge of daycare pickup.
Can a 2 year old have anger issues?
Toddler can become angry when they encounter a challenge, are unable to communicate wants, or are deprived of a basic need. Some common triggers for angry outbursts or tantrums may include: being unable to communicate needs or emotions. playing with a toy or doing an activity that is hard to figure out.
Why is my 2 year old so aggressive towards me?
The bottom line is that when a toddler is aggressive, it is an important sign that he is out of control and needs help to calm down before any teaching or learning can take place. Staying calm yourself is the best response as it helps your child calm down more quickly.
How do you discipline a 2 year old who hits and bites?
What to do instead
- Give a short and sweet verbal correction like “no hitting” or “use gentle touch.”
- Provide an immediate consequence, usually removal of attention or desired item for a short period of time. ...
- Model your own ability to tolerate frustration by remaining calm. ...
- Don't take it personally.
How do you discipline a 2 year old who doesn't listen?
- How to discipline a toddler who doesn't listen.
- Get down to your toddler's level and make eye contact.
- Find your toddler's intentions.
- Give and follow through with consequences.
- Pick your battles.
- Give your toddler a choice.
- Explain the reason.
- Praise your toddler when she does what she's asked to.
How do you discipline a toddler?
10 Healthy Discipline Strategies That Work
- Show and tell. Teach children right from wrong with calm words and actions. ...
- Set limits. ...
- Give consequences. ...
- Hear them out. ...
- Give them your attention. ...
- Catch them being good. ...
- Know when not to respond. ...
- Be prepared for trouble.
How do you discipline a 2 year old child?
How to Discipline a 2-Year-Old Child
- Ignore them. This may seem harsh, but one of the key ways of responding to your child's tantrum is to not engage it. ...
- Walk away. ...
- Give them what they want on your terms. ...
- Distract and divert their attention. ...
- Think like your toddler. ...
- Help your child explore. ...
- But set limits. ...
- Put them in timeout.
Why do toddlers hit when excited?
Surprisingly, toddlers also might hit as a way to say hello, according to Klein. “It sounds odd, but as toddlers explore and get excited about other people, hitting is a way to make a connection, to get noticed,” she explains. “They're not very socialized, so toddlers need guidance to learn other ways to connect.”
Why is my child aggressive towards me?
the most common of them, impulsivity and poor decision-making can lead to behavior that's interpreted as aggressive. These children often don't consider the consequences of their actions, which may come across as callous or malicious when they're really just not thinking.
Why do toddlers hit their heads?
Most toddlers who bang their head do it to relax. The rhythmic motion helps them feel comfortable. They'll often do it as they're falling asleep, when they wake up in the middle of the night, or sometimes while they're sleeping.
How do you deal with a violent toddler?
Strategies to handle aggressive behavior in your toddler
- Keep your cool. Difficult though it may be, strive to not freak out. ...
- Make it short and sweet. ...
- Repeat the rules. ...
- Discourage aggressive play. ...
- Limit exposure to violence. ...
- Know your toddler's triggers. ...
- Offer a physical release. ...
- Give it time.
What are signs of behavioral problems in toddlers?
Signs and symptoms of challenging behaviour
- defiance (e.g. refusing to follow your requests)
- fussiness (e.g. refusal to eat certain foods or wear certain clothes)
- hurting other people (e.g. biting, kicking)
- excessive anger when the child doesn't get their own way.
- tantrums.
What is normal terrible twos behavior?
Both parents and pediatricians often speak of the “terrible twos.” It's a normal developmental phase experienced by young children that's often marked by tantrums, defiant behavior, and lots of frustration. The terrible twos don't necessarily occur right when your child turns 2.
How long does the hitting phase last in toddlers?
The hitting phase doesn't last too long…but it won't just go away on it's own. You'll have to work on it every time you see it or it might stay and get worse. What is this? My kids have all started hitting somewhere between 18 months – 2 years.
Is aggression in toddlers normal?
Aggressive behavior is a normal part of emotional and behavioral development, especially among toddlers. Almost every child hits, kicks, and yells; toddlers and even preschoolers often bite when they're overwhelmed by strong emotions.
Can toddlers sense pregnancy?
Sadly, the answer is no. Even though it's a beautiful idea that our little ones are so in tune with us that they can sense the hormonal changes that pregnancy triggers, there is no scientific evidence to show that toddlers can sense other babies in the womb.
Can a toddler be too attached to mom?
Children can't be too attached, they can only be not deeply attached. Attachment is meant to make our kids dependent on us so that we can lead them. It is our invitation for relationship that frees them to stop looking for love and to start focusing on growing.
How long should a 2 year old be from mother?
Toddlers can be away from either parent for 2 or 3 days. Here is an example of a typical visitation schedule for a toddler.
How does an angry parent affect a child?
Children react to angry, stressed parents by not being able to concentrate, finding it hard to play with other children, becoming quiet and fearful or rude and aggressive, or developing sleeping problems. You should never physically hurt or punish your child, no matter what they have done or how angry you are.