{"id":"ef447b35ace7d363a7e6101c2e7f8d6e","slug":"i-need-some-advice-my-15-year-old-has-begun-biting-and-hitting-we-try-to-tell-he","question":"My 1.5 year old has begun biting and hitting","answer":"The research is clear: when parents stay steady and consistent instead of matching your toddler's intensity, behavior actually improves over time. Yelling, grabbing, or physical punishment backfires and tends to make hitting and biting worse.\n\nAt 18 months, your daughter's brain is still learning how to handle big feelings, so repetition matters more than a single correction. Each time it happens, keep your response the same: stay calm, set the boundary with words, and redirect her to something she *can* do with those hands—squeeze a toy, pat a pet gently, clap. The gentleness in your voice and touch teaches her how to manage emotions better than any words alone.\n\nBetween moments of upset, soothing touch and your calm presence actually rewire how she responds to frustration. So the patient, consistent approach you're already using is building her capacity to manage anger—it just takes time and repetition. You're doing the hard work that matters.","sources":"[{\"title\":\"Child discipline practices and their relationship with suspected developmental delay and aggressive behavior in early childhood: a population-based cross-sectional study in Lao PDR.\",\"journal\":\"Journal of epidemiology\",\"year\":\"2026\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42002951/\",\"score\":0.77},{\"title\":\"Nail tic disorders: Manifestations, pathogenesis and management.\",\"journal\":\"Indian journal of dermatology, venereology and leprology\",\"year\":\"2017\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27320768/\",\"score\":0.76},{\"title\":\"Maternal positive responses to a distressed infant simulator predict subsequent negative affect in infants.\",\"journal\":\"Infant behavior & development\",\"year\":\"2019\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30670294/\",\"score\":0.76},{\"title\":\"Parental Discipline Techniques and Changes in Observed Temper Tantrum Severity in Toddlers.\",\"journal\":\"Research on child and adolescent psychopathology\",\"year\":\"2023\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36547795/\",\"score\":0.75},{\"title\":\"Child Distress Expression and Regulation Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.\",\"journal\":\"Children (Basel, Switzerland)\",\"year\":\"2022\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35204895/\",\"score\":0.75}]","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-07-07T10:42:50.574Z"}