Does Your Baby Fight with You?

This is a developmental phase.
Many more phases to come.

Many babies do this.
Even if they were raised in a cave on a mountain.

However, if you inadvertently respond to her as being "such a pistol"... then sometimes a child, after hearing themselves being called that a lot or regarded that way a lot or overhearing themselves be described that way to others, the child will then 'be' that way, sometimes.

Just sayin' that because, I've seen lots of kids, actually behave the way they are described/called or regarded as. Even if just in jest.

Cause & Effect. Totally normal developmental phase (like dropping food -does it ALWAYS go down? How about with my eyes shut, with banana in my hair, left hand, right, hand, etc.-, or crawling, walking, talking).

We did our first timeouts at apx 1 year, lasted for a month or so and then we cruised until age 3. I aimed for tears. Empathy is a *learned* trait in most kids. It doesn't hurt HER to hit, kick, bite... but she sure gets a great reaction from it. So I made sure that each and every single time he hurt someone on purpose HE got upset over it so he linked hurting others with feeling badly.

It's an experiment in cause and effect. She is just seeing what happens. Hmm...I hit mommy and she says Ow! What happens when I pull her hair? At her age, any reaction is entertaining.

I think they accidentally find out that the pulling of hair, slapping or kicking gets them some attention and that's why they continue to do it. It wasnt something she saw being done, she just discovered it and is now on a roll. Try not to react, but redirect.

What are you doing to give your baby a NEW attitude while she is still a baby?

Blessings

Sounds like a typical baby. My son is the same way. He's 10 months and do those exact same things. He even fall out when he cant have his way. We just say, NO NO, BAD BABY with a serious facial expression and we tap his little hand. But all he do is laugh at us and keep on doing it. I guess eventually one day he will understand what NO means.

Babies don't see it as fighting. When they first start interacting with those around them, they are very little and fairly weak. How cute is it for a newborn to grab your finger or hair? But they get stronger very quickly and suddenly the little pats and tugs become yanking and hitting - and they don't know that they are hurting you. They are doing exactly as they have done before and now instead of being cute it's something that is painful/negative. Redirect her. Give her things to grab that don't hurt (and soft balls/toys that can't hurt anyone/anything when she throws them or hits with them). Eventually she will learn to be gentle, but it's not something she can really understand right now.

she's so little. can you not just hold her hands down, say in a firm voice, "NO. we do not HIT." and then direct her to something else? if she's not getting positive feedback from it (squeals, shrieking, laughing, other big reactions), only a firm rebuff, she will see that it's not a positive thing to hurt someone. PUT A STOP TO IT NOW OR YOU WILL DEAL WITH MUUUUUCH WORSE!

My DD did... and we didn't allow it. (she is turning 1 year next week. O_O)If she hits us, pulls hair, bites, or anything like that we would first correct her by stopping the action and telling her "we don't ____". If she tried it again, she would get put down, told again "We don't _____." and ignored (we would keep an eye on her, but not give her any attention) for a minute or two. Long enough to know that we weren't going to play with her if she was going to do that. They don't see it as fighting or being mean, but they can be taught what is and is not acceptable behavior. She still tries to push her limits of course, but she has learned that if we tell her "we don't ______" after she tries something, she won't try it again. (usually. lol)

It worked with our animals too. She used to run up to the dogs and grab handfuls of fur, and yank. Or just start pounding away on them. (poor, patient dogs. lol) We would always immediately stop her and help her pet them nicely and say 'Nice hands! We have to use our nice hands to pet the doggie.' If she tried hitting them again, she was taken away from them and not allowed to play with them again for a couple minutes. Now she walks up to them and pats them nicely.