u/PainfulPoo411

Hello! I could use some advice and direction. My toddler is 20 months and for the past 5ish months he has been occasionally doing something we recently realized was humping.

When this started he would typically do it during/after a hug and we thought it was an element of his hug. Only recently when we saw him doing the same motion on a specific toy did we realize he’s been humping people and objects.

Since then, we are cautious not to encourage him to hump things. When he does it to us, we gently shift his attention which usually works. When he does this during a bed time snuggle, we move him to the crib and give him privacy.

Please feel free to critique our approach here, we are happy to adjust and do the right thing.

Here’s the tricky part - sometimes this happens at night, we move him to the crib and he continues humping a toy for 10+ minutes. If I don’t go in and redirect him he might keep doing it until he falls asleep.

I am cautious not to create shame around this action but I also am fearful that I’m doing the wrong thing for his understanding and development.

Advice needed.