Heaters & the curious bub

[renfrog]

hey everyone

I'm looking for some advice, as the weather is getting a bit colder now we decided to get the oil heater out, (we bought a good one thats not meant to get as hot as other ones but its still v. hot by my standards) but we have a very curious 14month old & we tried to explain that it was burnies & ouch but as we found out she thought it was a game so now were not sure how to introduce it, there is nowhere where she cant get to it and putting it on after she goes to bed isn't really practical so do we let her find out on her own that its hot obviously still trying to explain that it is hot & will hurt.

so has anyone else found a soultion to this problem :confused:

[camstar]

I used my high school drama experience for this one. We had a fireplace and she to thought it was a game, probably cause I'd chase her when she went near it. So I put on a show for her and even got her to kiss my "burnt" fingers better! Words like "Hot", "Ow" and "Hurts" helped to as she'd heard me say these words and seen the reactions that went with them. Good luck :)

[Chickadee]

My daycare provider seems to have done half the work for me, bless her. We've just moved and I was concerned that the oven door is now within reach, and gets quite hot when in use. But the first time Chloe (17 mos then) went near it I only said "No, Hot, No touch" in a sharp tone and she pulled her hand back. Obviously she's been warned before at day care.

We went down south a few weeks ago and had a wood stove in the cabin. I was worried about Chloe since I know there isn't one at day care! But I repeated the warning and she avoided it. Once it really got going, the heat it was throwing off seemed to deter her without any further warning.

I agree that you can't let it turn into a game. One thing that always works around here is Daddy's BIG voice. Not yelling, but low toned and serious. A warning like that from dad always deters Chloe from something that she has turned into a game with me!