Little sod (13m) is being intentionally naughty...

[BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead]

He keeps opening the tortoise tank and taking down DVDs and opening drawers and playing with the buttons on the side of the TV, and moving the surround sound speakers and playing with wires and plugs and everything he shouldnt! He normally listens to "no" and is generally good as gold, so I've not really had to deal with this before!

Now I'm not well (not quite flu and pregnant) and he's being an absolute nightmare.
I guess he knows I'm not well and is playing up cause of that?

But what do I do?
I move him away and 10 seconds later hes back doing something he shouldnt

WIBU to put him in a cage?

[bebemoojem]

remove him from said objects and replace it with something he can do...
don't touch those buttons play with this buttony toy and then praise when he does play with it.

[hester]

"I move him away and 10 seconds later he's back doing something he shouldn't"

Yup, that about sums up about the whole of their second year on the planet . Not fun when you're fluey and pg, but it's going to be this way for a while yet, I'm afraid.

[And just a little whisper to remind you that he's not actually trying to annoy you, but you know that, don't you? ]

[cyb]

Move all those things out of his reach. He's not being naughty, he;s a baby

Give him a load of saucepans and some wooden spoons

My d used to love a net of onions to play with for some reason

[GalloweesG]

I'm not sure whether i would count that as intentionally naughty, more inquisitive and just generally 13 months. He's looking for stimulation by the sounds of things.

While you're not well everything seems magnified and coping with a lively child might seem insurmountable but an interesting toy that he hasn't seen for a while or some bowls, saucepans and wooden spoons to bash about might help.

[GalloweesG]

X posts re the saucepans!

[colditz]

he's bored.

[LIZS]

You give him attention when he does it. He's not being deliberately naughty but achieves an interaction by doing so ! Move the dangerous stuff well out of reach (beyond his current capabilities and some) and let him fiddle with the relatively harnless things like dvds lower down. It loses impact if you remove him everytime, rather than just when you really need to. Distract him when he starts to do something unsafe. You could use a travel cot as a playpen if you are finding it hard going and need him somewhere safe.

[HarlotOTara]

Can't be intentionally naughty at 13 months but hope you feel better soon

[BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead]

Oh great, now he's pooed! Can't stomach changing him, have been constantly sick for the last two days. Luckily DH is here so he can do it! :(
I do know hes not doing it on purpose though I'm sure I saw an evil glint in his eye hes just normally much more interested in things that dont have the potential to hurt him... And like you all said, its magnified cause I feel like shit myself

cyb he loves onions and potatoes, likes to rearrange them in their baskets in the kitchen [hgrin]

[KnitterNotTwitter]

I think that at 13mo they don't have the intellectual capacity to be intentionally naughty - it's more likely he's bored and enjoying the entertaining game you're having. Suggest you go out somewhere - swings or somewhere really stimulating like the room settings at a B&Q or Ikea for an hour or two!

[NormanTebbit]

He's not being naughty. He needs alternatives. Get him in the kitchen or bedroom with toys. Let him play in the bath.

He doesn't understand naughty at this age. He is a walking baby. You need to distract him.

[NormanTebbit]

Well if your partner's here get him to take him out.

[BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead]

He has taken him out already, they came back early cause it was raining and it still is. No car so cant just pop to ikea (unfortunately [hwink])
Gonna do tea then bath, hopefully he'll be okay then as he'll be properly occupied :)

[SheCutOffTheirTails]

The interest in things that don't have the potential to hurt him was never likely to last.

1 year olds are exhausting - fully mobile, complete lack of cop on.

I've done pregnant with a 13 month old, it's not fun.

Is it still early days? Can you look forward to second trimester?

1 year olds and their boundless energy and marauding destructiveness are much more fun for the non-pregnant. This is your husband's time to shine :)

[Northernlurker]

It's pretty horrible to describe your BABY as a little sod. It's going to be a long pregnancy unless you get a grip. The main thing with babies/toddlers is to distract them. If he is getting to things he shouldn't, well that's your responsibility not his. Have you been out with him today? You HAVE to get out even when you feel crap. Fresh air is good for both of you and makes everything easier to cope with. Presumably he still naps? Make sure you nap when he does.

[NormanTebbit]

Things I've done:

Blowing bubbles

Filling a washing up bowl with soap suds

Play-do

Finger paints (you have to be emotionally strong for this)

Den under table

'football' in the hall

(I also utilised Cbeebies when I was pregnant with toddler)

[Northernlurker]

x posted but see your dp has been out but came back because it was raining? Buy wellies and a raincoat and go out anyway or you will find this wonter very, very hard.

[iMemoo]

Try to chill a bit. It's only going to get worse.

[Meglet]

I've called my DC's little sods under my breath on many occasions.

1yr olds can be handfuls and being pregnant at the same time is hard going. I had a playpen for DS when I was pregnant with DD and it made life a lot easier.

[SirHumphreyAppleby]

On the upside, they do eventually start listening to instructions, there will come a point when you can reason with him. Until then don't take it personally and try not to get wound up.

[BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead]

shecutoff I'm already 2nd trimester. Morning sickness was much easier than this (not that I expected pregnancy in general to be easy!) Its only the last two days that I've been struggling and I've been that ill.

Northern thank you (really, not sarcastic!) I needed that a little bit! I know I need to get a grip, I know that its not his fault that the TV/tortoise/whatever are very interesting and in reach. Just feeling rather sorry for myself really.
I'm using little sod in an affectionate way though, I'm not angry at him!

[Northernlurker]

Have you seen the doctor or midwife if you are being so sick at this point? Might be an idea to get checked out?

Ask DP tp move the tortoise TONIGHT is it's too big for you to manage. You have to cut down on the flash points - and yes a playpen is not a bad idea. I'm very gald to read you're not angry with him

[Northernlurker]

Lord, my typing is siht tonight!

[wahwahwah]

Sounds normal to me. They are exploring at that age. Wait until he discovers the kitchen bin (queue brand new - unopened bottle of expensive perfume, Cartier watch, and god know what else being 'posted').

I cleared out a bottom cupboard in the kitchen and filled it with tupperware for him to destroy.

Get a guard for the DVD player - it is cheaper that finding things osted i there - I know someone who had one of those huge bars of chocolate popped into the front slot of their video recorder! Unwrapped, it melted...

[BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead]

My morning sickness had passed Northern this appears (though I've been told it cant be) to be a reaction to the flu jab I had a few days ago...
Not sure where tortoise can go... I'll have a think...

wahwah too late for that one, I keep finding bottles and toys in there now (luckily the babygate is between living room and kitchen so I can keep him away)
My mum tells me I used to feed the video biscuits cause it looked hungry. The dvd player etc is quite far back on the unit so he's not bothered with them luckily yet