Help with a 14month old

[tayahnkai]

Need some tips and advice of things you have tried with your toddler. I have read through the thread re discipling without hitting but it applies more for over 2 (as do a lot of strategies that I know). Distracting him with something else will last for 2 mins if I'm lucky!!!! I use no and stop (uh uh), to which he will turn around and tell me no or stop and continue to do what he was going to do. He likes to throw his food, not just off his chair but across the room - an no its not a sign he has finished cos he will pick up something else and eat it. Its usually a sign that he does not want that particular food but it changes daily. He also likes to tip/shake his drinks out on everyting. Usually it is only water but :hair:. I can't deny him drinks. Oh and his favourite is to put things in the toilet. Which ok I can shut the door (which I do most of the time) BUT I have a 3yr old DD who is learning how to TT and can't reach the door handle to get in.

Just a few examples (sorry long post)

I have resorted to putting him into his cot only while I fix things/clean things or calm myself down. It is never for very long. I have tried just putting him in his room, but he wont stay there. I don't want to shut the door on him - can't imagine what he will do!!!

Help please.

[Aroha0509]

I think you're on the right track with putting him in his cot. It's sort of the time-out scenario, rather than putting him in his cot, maybe put him in a playpen with no toys. He'll work out fairly quickly that being put in there is no fun and only happens when he's not doing the right thing. I did this with my 2.5 yr old and now as soon as time-out is mentioned she apologises and cleans up her own mess or stops doing the wrong thing and that's the end of it. That's really the only suggestion I have. Putting them just in their room I found didn't work very well because all of her toys and books are in there so she'd just find something to play with. But if you put them in an empty playpen, they can still see you so they don't get frightened but they don't get anything to play with either.

HTH

[tayahnkai]

ah thanks. I wasn't sure if I was being too mean but really is the only solution that keeps him safe and out of the way. I use time out for my DD (3) but wasn't sure the he would understand until he was older. I don't have a playpen but that would be even better cos I hate to leave him alone in his room. Although he would prob just climb out!! I don't remember having to discipline DD this early but she never got into everything and climb everywhere. I could always and still can reason with her.

[Aroha0509]

DD2 is much more relaxed than DD1 was, we've had to be very creative with her! I just find having her in a space where there's nothing to do but sit, but still being able to see me means that she gets the discipline but I'm not frightening her so we get the best of both worlds.. lol..