My 22 month old has started kicking during diaper changes. He laughs and thinks its funny. Each time he does this I explain that it hurts when he kicks and put him in time out. It seemed to work for about a day but then he started kicking again. I put him in time out each time and make him say "I'm sorry" but he kicks again at the next diaper change. I can see he's testing me.
Oh, I hear you, my son will be 2 at the end of May and he does the same thing some times. Really, I just tell him no, hold his legs, and isort of ignore it. He has gotten better, so I can tell you it will immprove, but then he will move on to another habit, so welcome to the 2 year old phase!! He is my 3rd of 4 kids, but my first boy, so this is very different!! Good luck ~A.~
He is testing you because it is his job in life to do that. At this age he may not understand the time out or link it to the kicking.
tell him to hold still and stop kicking, when he does it again, then swat his leg, and swat him everytime he does it, and he won't think it is funny anymore. don't yell or make faces, just swat him and tell him, I told you to stop kicking.
when it is not funny and the feedback is negative, he will stop. but right now you are making a big deal out of it and he is liking the attention and reaction he gets, so he won't stop because it is to much fun.
when it is no longer fun, and he gets a swat everytime he will change his mind about what is funny.
good luck,
L.
There is a great book for toddlers called "Feet are not for Kicking" we love it...and my daughter is 22 months too and occassionally kicks when she is frustrated/tired/mad. They can definitely understand the book and it gives info on what feet are for such as running, jumping, etc...and also what to say. I got the book on amazon.com but I'm sure you can find it locally.
It is a phase my son did it and now my daughter does it, what I do is tell them that kicking hurts and that we don't do that. And when I do get upset and they see I'm mad they do the same. Time out is a good alternative and you will just have to keep doing it and telling them that it is not ok. He will stop eventually. I know it is very frustating! Just stick with it. Good Luck!
