How to say no to an 11 month old?

[BigweeBigwee]

I used to be able to say no or uh to my DS and he would stop what he was doing wrong or about to do - sometimes even bursting into tears because I had said it!

Now he just ignores me totally and continues on with what he was doing.

I try to keep no and uh to a minimum and only use them in circumstances where it is not safe (eg power points etc). I also try to distract him with other things or move him away from the danger but that doesn't help him understand what he was doing was wrong because he'll just go back and do it again later.

I know he's too little to completely understand right from wrong but surely there is something I can do. I know he knows there are words when I don't want him to do something because he used to respond to them!

[~Emmylou~]

It's really hard at this age because they can get into so much trouble and they do kind of understand "no" but mostly it goes in one ear and out the other.

I've always found distraction works best at this age - it's a pain and does require some creative thinking to keep being able to distract them 5000 times a day.

In another six months or so you'll find "no" starts to stick a bit better.

[BigweeBigwee]

It's really hard at this age because they can get into so much trouble and they do kind of understand "no" but mostly it goes in one ear and out the other.

I've always found distraction works best at this age - it's a pain and does require some creative thinking to keep being able to distract them 5000 times a day.

In another six months or so you'll find "no" starts to stick a bit better.

6 months!!!??? :eek:

[~Emmylou~]

Yeah and then they turn two and become selectively deaf to the word all over again :laughing:

[ShadyCharacter]

I would just keep distracting and moving him away... he is too little to understand. If you take him away from the power point every time he goes near it and keep saying "We don't touch those, danger", he will get the message eventually. If you keep removing him, THAT is how he will learn that what he was doing was 'wrong'.

And remember, the more you say "No", the more you have it screamed at you during toddlerhood ;)

[kezabelle]

As everyone else is saying - distraction! :) Say no or uh uh or whatever and move them away to somewhere else saying 'it's hot' or whatever. Also, minimise how many things you have to say no to - then it gains more meaning. Keep a few non-dangerous things down and try that. then gradually reintroduce things as he gets older and learns the meaning of the word.

[missie_mack]

I read somewhere (and have just started putting into practice) that when they hurt themselves to use a particular word like owwies or ouch for example. So when they go near something that will hurt them you refer to it as the same word and while not now (sadly) eventually they will come to relate it to other ouchies and avoid it.

Dont know if its better in theory than practice. But I live in hope... otherwise my kitchen will be forever tired up and barricaded lol

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

I NEVER said no to my DD now 14.5 months...I always used ah ah, disstracions and directional stuff - anyhow in the last couple of weeks if she doesnt want to do something she says na na na na na ... so they still say it whether you do or not :eek: She actually is pretty good at not doing stuff if I ask her not to, but like all children forever willing to push boundaries when she in the mood :)

[Myztik]

I would just keep distracting and moving him away... he is too little to understand. If you take him away from the power point every time he goes near it and keep saying "We don't touch those, danger", he will get the message eventually. If you keep removing him, THAT is how he will learn that what he was doing was 'wrong'.

And remember, the more you say "No", the more you have it screamed at you during toddlerhood ;)

:thumbsup: just what I was about to post..

[Pixie]

I do the sign for Danger and say danger and it works really well, and after a while they lose interest in things and move on to something else like emptying the pan cupboard!

Speaking of which I have made a cupboard in the kitchen just for her she loves it full of pans and tupperware and utensils.

I think at 11 months they can understand no or whatever weather they chose to listen is something else!

[BigweeBigwee]

I try not to say No at all because his name is Noah. So I started using Ah and then realised it is the end part of NoAH!!!

I just think the meaning of Noah is naughty boy!

Thanks all, I will just keep distracting him as tedious as it is!

[bindiloo]

My dd is 15mnths and understands the word no but it doesnt always work or sometimes i smack my hands to gether loudly to get her attantion and she usually smacks hers together and walks away distracted then with clapping her hands.lol

But she has started to smack me in the face when im holding her or even just sometimes if i go to kiss her and she really hits me hard and the more i rouse on her and tell her its naughty the more she does it or just smiles at me.
Im at a loss as to how to discipline her for doing it because if i give her a smack then she just smacks back more thinking its what you do but telling her it wrong doesnt seem to be working at the moment either.
Sorry for going off track i just started rambling and couldnt stop. hehehe:rolleyes: