quick clicks

twins today articles

twins today q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Expert Q&A

	By Susan Bartell Licensed Psychologist

I have twin boys, 21 months. They are always hitting each other. Usually the oldest twin will hit the youngest one, and then he follows his lead. How do I stop that from happening?

You'll be happy to hear that this behavior is not terribly unusual amongst twins. They are exploring in a way that may not feel great to you but is actually teaching them about cause and effect.

That being said, you shouldn't let it just continue. As soon as you see it happening, I'd suggest that you say a loud and firm "NO HITTING!" and then immediately separate them (e.g. put them in high chairs for a couple of minutes).You may need to do this several times a day at first until they start to get the message. They are very young and probably won't easily get the concept of "time out" being related to their behavior, but you should be quite consistent, because hitting can easily become a troublesome habit and a way to solve problems if it is not dealt with when children are very young.

View more Q&A by this Expert