Fighting babies

[shonda]

My daughters are 16 months old and they seem to be always fighting! It was fine at first. I would just take whatever they were fighting over, they would cry for a minute and that would be that, but now they are into biting each other and pushing. One had a huge bump on her forhead after her sister pushed her off the bed, and today one could have broken her neck after being pushed off the couch. I had problems with my oldest daughters when they were younger, but I don't remember them fighting this young. (They might have been this bad, and it traumatized me so bad I blocked it ou!) Is there anyone else having this problem so young and if so, how do I remedy it?

[Littleape]

I know exactly how you feel! My twin daughters are 20 months and they started fighting about 12 months old. I hate to say it but it will get worse. I found that teaching them to tell each other they were sorry when they would hurt the other one really helped a lot. I would put the one who was pushing in timeout, explain why she needed to be nice to her sister, then she has to apologize to her sister and give her a hug before timeout could be over. It only took about a week of making them do this before it eased up some. Now they still fight (luckily we have not gotten into the biting stage) but they know the consequences and they have gotten some better. They will even tell the animals sorry if they accidently drop a toy on them or something. Hope this helps!

[shonda]

Thank you for your advice! I will try putting them in timeout, but I have a heck of a time getting them to sit in their high chairs for two minutes!

[Littleape]

My girls absolutely hate going into timeout but I make them stay in it even when they are screaming. I don't set a timer but I won't let them get back up until they calm down and are not crying/whining anymore. It really works if you stick with it but they have to know that you won't back down.

[craftyashley]

Could they still fit in an exersaucer? That is our time out method of choice. They can't escape! I have a biter, and when she bites her twin, it's time out for that baby!
They are super small at 19 mos. and can still fit in the saucer without being able to climb out or injure themselves.

[veronica4x4]

mabe try a time out in thier beds. or try to get them to do somethin away from each other hope this helps!