how do i manage a 20 month olds behaviour?

[mummysgoingmad]

Hi all!

My ds is the light of my life, but we are now at the stage where if tell him not to do something he does it anyway.

For example, he has a obsession with dvd's and cds. So he will pull all the boxs out, which is really doing my head in. I have just moved and have nowhere high up to put them of yet. I will go down to his level make him look me in the eye and i say no thats bad and take him in the opposite direction. Sure enough 20 mins later he's at it again, so i do the same but say no in a louder tone. I am getting to the point now where i tap his hand i really dont want to be that mother who cant control her child so she ends up resorting to hitting.

now we have stairs in the new house, we did put a stair gate up but in was honestly more dangerous as he can nearly climb over it. anyway he keeps throwing things downstairs (i live in a cottage flat so it must be driving my neighbours nuts, i went to the door to explain but nobody was in) the minute my backs turned he's doing something he know he shouldn't be (i know he knows he shouldn't be doing it becasue when he hears me coming he hurrys to finish whatever destruction he's caused)

what techniques can i use to manage my little problem? i've tried to distract him but i feel he's now at that age where it works for all of 20 secs. I 've tried placing him in his cot for a minute and a half, but he thinks its a game and i feel guilty.

i am being to up tight or should i really be getting on top of these problems now rather than let it continue?

[Wanttofly]

Children can not be bad untill they are two years old or older. I would just keep saying no. He is testing your response to see if it changes.

Be calm and consistant with him and he will stop when he is fed up of the game.

Its what toddlers do.