Well I know what this weekend holds: time to baby proof! We've done a few things here and there, but our little guy has TAKEN OFF and is now into everything. From computer wires to the TV stand, to our dog's toy bin; I can't keep up with him.
When he's somewhere he shouldn't be, I tell him "no." Do you know what he does? He turns around and flashes me his toothless smile and giggles. He goes for the illegal item once again, then looks at me, waits for me to say no, and smiles. We continue to this theme for a good chunk of time until I can turn his attention on something else - like food.
I think I sound pretty authoritative when saying "no," but my boy thinks it's just plain funny. I'm looking for any insight and/or tips on how to get him to listen to me without thinking I'm the most hysterical person on Earth.
2 comments:
As tiresome as it may be...you should go over and remove him from whatever he isn't supposed to be doing and try to distract him with something else that is okay to play with. Try something he hasn't played with before...like wooden spoons, pots and pans, tupperware, anything that may fascinate him...even if for only a few minutes.
If need be, then you may have to start time outs. For time out you may want to put him in his play pin (this is what we used) or somewhere he can't get hurt, but only for like a minute...then you get him out. If you keep repeating this then he will begin to understand that whatever it is he was doing will only get him in solitary confinement. Unless he likes his play pin, or you don't want to turn it into the naughty spot.
Unfortunately, repetition is key. You will be repeating yourself or putting him on time out over and over and over till you are blue in the face. However you and Daddy (Daddy must be on board with how you handle it!)decide to discipline him...Rememeber - You Must Be Consistant!
On a more positive note - he will grow out of this! It is just a stage. :)
XOXOXO
PS. Babies are fascinated with mirrors. Baby safe ones that is. :)
This is going to sound SO cheesy, but sometimes I parent "Who's the Boss?" style. Allow me to explain...
When I was a kid, there was an episode of that show where Tony and Angela went to parent counseling or something and they learned that the word kids hear most often is "NO!" The "lesson" they had to learn as parents was to try a more positive approach. I specifically recall that on the show, someone was doing something they shouldn't have been doing with a broom (ahem, waving it in the air, that is!). They started to say, "No!" but then they changed it to "Please sweep elsewhere!" Same message, different effect. It resonated in me so deeply that my young 8 year old self immediately recognized this as a valueable lesson to hold onto for later in life.
Fast forward to today, and I try to employ this approach in my own parenting as much as possible. Saying "no" gets pretty tiresome for both parent and child alike! So, instead of "No climbing on the table!" it's "Please get down!" or "Please put it back" when he touches a forbidden object. You get the idea. It's not foolproof, but it makes me feel a little better about being such a "killjoy" when it comes to laying down the law! Maybe it'll help you work out your differences with your little dude too!
Oh, and distractions -- with food or anything else for that matter -- are GENIUS! Capitalize on that as long as you can... eventually they get smart, and that doesn't work as well anymore! Egads!
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