Pinching

My son has taken up pinching himself and me if he's being held when he gets in trouble. It hurts because he has those pointy little toddler fingers and can really latch onto the skin. When he does it, I tell him to stop pinching me because it hurts and put him on the floor and ignore him... But then he starts doing it to himself (if he isn't already doing it) and I say not to because it's silly.

He's almost 17 months old if that helps... Any ideas on how to stop it would be much appreciated  

I would probably pinch him back once to show him how it feels.

Watching my lo is 13 months and has learned to pinch

do you continue to ignore him when he does it to himself and you say not to?

i would just ignore him after i put him down. let him pinch himself. if it hurts him, he'll stop.

Quoting khigh:" I would probably pinch him back once to show him how it feels."

He obviously knows how it feels if he's doing it to himself.  

Quoting khigh:" I would probably pinch him back once to show him how it feels."

Nope. He's a copycat and even when I give him a light tap on the back of his nappy to break his focus while he's doing something he shouldn't after repeated warnings, he turns around and starts slapping me and screaming "NO!"  

I wouldnt have said anything and tried holding back any "ows!"

The reaction is probably what is getting him to continue.

I would probably pinch him back at this point...

Dd is 16 months and is doing the same thing!! She left a huge scratch on my face and neck today. She just goes in for the double grab and won't let go.

We've done the same punishment but doesn't seem to work. She cries and then pinches herself. I don't really want to pinch her but it might come down to it. It hurts and she's leaving marks on us and everyone else! The worse part is she Hates having her nails cut so now her defence is to pinch you while you're trying to cut them to protect yourself haha

Quoting Javi's Mami*[Bazinga!]:" He obviously knows how it feels if he's doing it to himself.  "

Someone else pinching you does not give the same pain/reaction in the nerves as you pinching yourself. Try it sometime. Have someone else pinch you and then pinch yourself. Your brain interprets each signal differently.

Quoting JessieLeeAnne:" I wouldnt have said anything and tried holding back any "ows!" The reaction is probably what is getting him to continue. I would probably pinch him back at this point... "

I usually warn him to stop and then if he doesn't, I ignore and he goes on screaming and pinching until he realises I'm not paying attention. I just got a double handed attack from him for closing a door to a room he isn't allowed into and flat out ignored the situation and he screamed for a minute and now he's watching Play School so that seemed to work.... Maybe I'll just keep doing that   But my poor leg! At least I've shaved them. When he does the arms, he rips the hairs out too  

Quoting Bettinas:" I usually warn him to stop and then if he doesn't, I ignore and he goes on screaming and pinching until ... [snip!] ... I'll just keep doing that   But my poor leg! At least I've shaved them. When he does the arms, he rips the hairs out too  "

Ouch!

I have a 20 months old and she will pinch, slap and bite, I am at my wits end with her, she will get a hold of her older sister who has long pretty hair and yank big chunks out because she wanted what she had or something stupid like that, I have started time outs with er, she is young but it works well, I just sit her in a chair away from every one else, and make her stay for a few minutes, after her time is up I will either have her apologize to me or her siblings, I have gave her a spanking for it before but I find that she responds better if I remove her from the situation and get her mind off of what is bothering her to the point of frustration and time out is so far the best solution...hope this helps, good luck!

Quoting Bettinas:" I usually warn him to stop and then if he doesn't, I ignore and he goes on screaming and pinching until ... [snip!] ... I'll just keep doing that   But my poor leg! At least I've shaved them. When he does the arms, he rips the hairs out too  "

He is not to young to apologize for hurting you, I would have him do that at least, he will soon start to understand consequences for his actions

I pinched DS back and it worked for a few days. I do it back everyone and then, I make sure it hurts though or he will do it back to me.

My son has been in a hitting phase since he was that age. Nothing worked except me fake crying whenever he hit me. I had to play off his sympathetic and compassionate side.