I need some suggestions - 18 mo hitting and pulling hair

[yellowbrkrd]

It's like a switch flipped and suddenly M is a moody toddler and I have no idea what I'm doing. He is throwing tantrums over the craziest things, and if we are near him when he gets upset he hits us and pulls my hair.

He'll also start purposefully hitting his head on the wall/cupboards/dresser/whatever is near by. Is that normal?

I started reading the Positive Discipline book, but I need suggestions now. Please help?

[hrp22]

Wait it out. Lots of patience. That's my only advice. We did lots of time outs but I don't think it stopped behavior at that age, but now I can tell when he's getting ready to hit and can usually nip it in the bed with a time out threat. Otherwise, I think it was just an age thing. I don't hit him, he had never seen physical abuse, no day care etc. So, it was just a natural thing in my opinion.

Around 24 months it got better. I hated the 15 mo-24 mo stage. He was mean and threw tantrums all the time.

[yellowbrkrd]

Thanks. I know it's normal, but I just worry that ignoring it will tell him that it's okay to hit. At home, if he hits me I say "we don't hit" and walk away or put him down, but in public it's a little harder.