2 YO, kicks hit pushes 9 mo brother

[Dyan_Nursetobe]

I have many children 8 to be exact ages ranging from 23 to 9 months... lately since the baby has become very active and mobile my two year old son is now displaying what I consider mean behavior, he will kick him, push him, lay on him, grab him around the neck. Even when im watching he will do it right in front of me. I am sure its because he wants attention but we heap lost of it on him and his brother, I am still nursing the baby, and so the baby does get more mommy time then he does. I just dont know what to do, I know he is only two. so if I yell he yells "ill be good" back at me.. so that dont work, I dont want to hit him as that to me sends bad attention his way, I could put him in his room but id have to lock the door to keep in and thats not safe. It makes me angry every time it happens as I feel more like a baby protector then a mom trying to run a house.  is this a phase or is this just signs of whats to come in the future. I dont remember dealing with this kind of jealously when my older kids were little and babies. of course they were only 11 months apart and I think that is the difference they were technically both still babies.

[zazou]

I agree don't leave them together alone. He does appear quite jealous, my nephew was like that with his brother, trying to hurt him etc. Your two year old needs alot of love and attention. Why don't you spend some time with him alone, doing something he really enjoys? Try and make him feel special again. Always explain to him that he's important and his sibling will be relying on him to be his play mate, take care of him etc. Make him feel like he's really important and has a major role in being responsibility for the little one.

Hope it turns out well. Alot of siblings go through these phases. My husbands nephew is 8 and is still jealous of his 3 year old brother but they rough play alot together which has made things better.

[Gina04]

I would start by making sure that your two year old is not alone with the nine month old.  Teach your two year old how to be gentle by showing him how to love on the baby and having him do it with you right there.
He may be a little too young for this but...you could try a reward chart.  Let him know that if he is nice to the baby for the next half hour he will get a sticker/star to put on his reward chart.  If he is mean at all, then he gets an x in that time slot instead of the star.  If he really wants the stars, he will be more likely to show the good behavior.