Swearing - 18 month old - advice please

[xmummy]

Hello

My 18 month old DS said the F word, at first we were unsure whether he was saying it, but now it is clear. He has not said it at home very much, but for the last 3 days has been repeating it with increasing vigor at nursery.

It is obvious that he has either picked it up from us or nursery (we have consciously tried not to say it, but it is evident we have - we are of course being extra careful now!)

We have tried the approach of ignoring, and saying alternative words, so not to make a big deal out of it, in the hope that he will get bored and move onto the next word.

Can anyone advise on methods that have worked for them, as the Nursery are getting concerned that the other children may copy (I have also advised them to take the same course of action that we are doing)

Look forward to hearing from you

[lulumama]

are you sure he is saying the f word

when DD says 'look' or 'fork' it sounds very much like the f word

he does not know he is swearing !

[Nemo2007]

agree with lulu dd1 is 23m and sometimes when she says look it sounds like F word. It can be hard for them when first learning to speak to get their toungue around letters.Am surprised at the nursery as they should know it is speech rather than behaviour.

[xmummy]

yes, unfortunately the nursery said he is saying F it and F off - kindly they say he sometimes uses it in context and out of context and can clearly see he does not know what it means

[CranberryMartini]

DS says shit a lot. Turns out he's saying LID (current obsession).

[Currypowder]

I agree with lulumama.

My DS was saying the f word about that age, it was indeed 'look'.

He proceeded along to bugger which turned out to be burger.

Just waiting for the next one ...

[xmummy]

Thanks for all the tips - maybe you are right, I am at home now full time for the next few days so I will see if I can tell

[gigglewitch]

you are not alone.
yes, check out the context / situation and try to change the word for him, we found that pronouncing a similar word clearly (and repeatedly!) worked as a great diversion / substitute that DC happily took on.
now we have three very articulate children and when DD (23mo) pronounced 'oh, bo11ocks' when she dropped her cup in Granny's car, it was most difficult to use any of the above advice

[xmummy]

That is great advice - thanks so much, will give it a try if he does say it again - thank you

[BroccoliSpears]

When my friend's dd swears, my friend 'miss-hears' her.

Child: FK!!
Friend: A fork? I'll just get you one.

Child: ST!!
Friend: mm... says "baaaaa" doesn't it?

[xmummy]

Love it!!!!

[smartiejake]

DD1 (very articulate from extremely young age) had to be persuaded that my mum was actually saying "oh badger it"

[mistypeaks]

we were convinced dd1 was saying the much hated c**t word. we wracked our brains thinking where she could have heard it . . . turns out she was saying good over and over again. she thought she was a good girl. phew!!

[Cashncarry]

LOL at this thread - when I first went back to work, I left then 15 month old DD with her Dad the first week. One evening that week, I saw her drop something and say just whispered under her breath "Oh fffffck". I only had to give DH "The Look" and he looked suitably ashamed I also been reliably informed that she's misheard another child saying "fork" and said in a very shocked Hyacinth Bucket type voice "Don't say Fck, that's very rude"

In answer to the OP's request for advice, I would say ignore, ignore, ignore. We did with DD and she soon stopped when she didn't have an open-mouthed in shock audience!

[xmummy]

Thanks so much everyone for the fantastic advice me and my son's dad had a real chuckle at the examples too - definitely think ignore and say an alternative word is the way to go - fingers crossed!

Thanks everyone!