Please help! baby ignores 'NO' - don't want to smack

[hippmummy]

My DS2 is 13mths old and I'm unsure about how to get him to leave things alone.
DS2 pulls out CDs, switches computer/TV on/off, pulls over drinks,turns of the washing machine. We've had to move things out of reach, which we never had to do with our first son.
Its a shock to us as DS1 was very compliant from an early age and a loud firm 'NO' or 'DONT TOUCH' was enough to stop him in his tracks. DS2 doesnt even flinch if you holler!
I don't like smacking and never needed to before, but I tried a short sharp tap to the hand, and it didnt bother him so I'm not prepared to carry on.
We do all the positive reinforcement too - I dont just spend the day shouting at him
I know touching is just what babies do, so please tell me if I'm expecting too much of him. Our DS1 was so good that I think we've been spoilt - but its driving me crazy!

[vitomum]

basically you have to endure it until he is old enough to understand. You have to police him and move him away or distract him. it will pass.

[Miaou]

Hmm. Do you get down to his eye level, look him in the eye and say "NO" in a firm, low voice? I am guessing yes from what you said.

All I can suggest is that you physically stop him everytime he goes to the videos/computer/tv/etc and repeat "NO" whilst looking at him. Very time-consuming and annoying but can't think of anything else to suggest !

[bananaloaf]

i have a 8 month old who is up and about and into everything. driving me demented nothing i can go at the moment as the wee lamb just gigles at me when i say no in that frowny way

[Blu]

It's what babies do - you're expecting too much of him!

[juuule]

Gentle 'no' each time and remove from the 'scene of the crime'and/or distract. Too young for anything else.

[Twiglett]

you're expecting too much of him

well you did ask us to tell you

[MaLady]

Make an area that's safe for him to play in using for instance the hallway outside kitchen as his play area with other room doors shut and a stair gate in the kitchen doorway. Or just safety proof your house put stuff in front of your washing machine when he's around so he can't reach it to touch it - don't put drinks where he can reach them, of course he wants them as he sees you and his big brother with drinks all the time, he is trying to be like you but he doesn't have the skill or knowledge to hold the cup yet without spilling its contents.

I found the best thing for my sanity in your situation was to go out to the park for most of the day with food and drink in my bag. He's still a baby and doesn't know he's being 'naughty'. Good luck, you sound like a very patient lady.

[Donbean]

hehehehe! I know what you mean, mine always went for the volume button as well on the TV so it was full blast before i could get to it.
Thankfully he grew out of it but in the mean time we made every thing inaccesable.
Lockable glass door tv cabinet, small match box taped over the on/off button on the washer, no drinks within reach,turn the box of the computer with the on/off button round to face the wall.
Its all a pain BUT thankfully short term.
You have to choose your battles and IMHO there is absolutely no point in smacking, shouting or getting stressed about this, just move it all.
HTH x

[hippmummy]

thanks for all your comments, sensible ladies!

I did suspect we'd have to ride it out as he is just too young. Should know better than to compare 2 offspring who are completely different.

Off to re-arrange the living room x

[Morgan]

If it's any consolation my 9 month old is the same - and ds was a lot less interested in stuff so learning the hard way!!

[MrsForgetful]

distract him, substitute with appropriate activity and if all else fails do what i did...fit a luggage strap around video to preven him ejecting tapes!(also had a strap round fridge and washing machine!)

all being well...he will learn...but i believe at his age- he just has to learn- and one day the penny drops....babies don't do things to be naughty...but to learn.

we have toteach them 'cause and effect'...and continually repeat NO...with no obvious benefit...but one day he will.

[terramum]

IMO 13 months is sometimes (like you say your didnt have nay trouble with your other LO) too young to understand that some things are ok to play with & some arent. All he is doing is what comes naturally - exploring the world around him & finding out what happens if he does things. Only way to go is to baby proof everything by moving eveythign you dont want him to touch out of his reach (& keep an eye out when he gets taller ) or stopping him from accessing rooms which contain things you cant move.

If that isnt possible for some things then distraction works much better than saying "No". It can get to be only word you say otherwise. For example - DS loved getting things out of my kitchen cupboards & playing with them. Great if it was the saucepans or tupperwear but not so great if it was things like my slicer or made of glass. I move some things around & gave him his own cupboard (which was always called Xs cupboard) which had all his cups, plates & my tupperwear in it. If he made for another cupboard I would say somthing on the lines of why dont you play with Xs cupboard to reinforce that it was that one that he could play with (& avoiding the negative reference to the stuff I didnt want him to mess with). Seemed to work as he rarely touches the other cupboards to this day. (hes 29 months now)

[chelltune]

My DD is a little older, she is 22mths but for a while I have found she takes more notice if I use the BSL sign for bad while telling her not to do something.

[Philomytha]

My one-year-old is just the same and has been for a few months now. Everything is fair game as far as he's concerned, and my strategy has just been to baby-proof everything I can and ride it out. If I say NO he thinks it's funny, if I take him away he crawls back faster than I can blink, and he seems to have a retentive memory for interesting things and dogged perseverence. I've tried to teach him to lie still for nappy changes and to come to me when I call him, but no luck with either so I'm guessing he's too young to be taught to understand instructions yet.