Bamboozled by a 2 year old- he runs off and won't stop - he likes being chased-help

[h20]

Any ideas about tis? DS1 never did it, was naturally quite cautious and stuck within a pretty close radius. DS2 is toally different- physically adventurous and very bold - but beyond a joke. He starts running when I put im down or let him out of the buggy and won't stop whatever I shout. I have tried walking in the other direction shouting 'bye' but once he has the bit between his teeth he doesn't care.. I have even hid out of sight for a bit to see what he does.. nothing - not really bothered. Otherwise we are well bonded and he is always happy to see me when I come home etc, running into my arms. Obviously I am bothered because it is dangerous and if he gets a headstart there is a real possibility he could reach a road. Trouble is, casing him seems fun for him. He is actually a little sod sometimes and laughs as he runs. Any suggestions?

[RubyBlueberry]

Definately reins or a wrist strap?

[mrsmaidamess]

Rein him in

[HaroldsHoor]

Of course he laughs, it IS a game to be chased

Reins, he may well squeal but that is preferable to the alternative

Good luck

[PinkTulips]

ds1 is exactly the same.

have never used reins on him.

i just grab him by the hand and walk, bribe and threaten if he runs off... 'fine them ds1, no chocolate/tv/juice for you when we get home if you don't hold my/dd's hand'

if there's any possibility of a road within running distance i have my hand on him from the second we get out of the car til we reach safety... and for all the 'oh but you can't do that with other kids/shopping'; bollocks, i have an dd of 4 and a 2 month olds and usually have all 3 with me to do the shopping.

in superamrkets i put him in the trolly if i won't have a hand free to hold him, ds2 goes in a sling. it is possible to hold his hand and still push the trolly with that hand but it's easier not to have to.

and where it's safe i let him run, that way he gets it out of his system a bit and is more willing to behave when needs be.

[piximon]

I use rucksacks with a parent grab handle and strap with my 2yo dts and have used reins with all mine. I also teach them to hold hands. I prefer the idea of them being safe. As soon as we are anywhere relatively safe I tuck the straps in and let them go free range.

They get used to the idea very quickly, mine actually ask for them.

[h20]

I have got some reins and have just started using them. He does tend to fall over a bit and lie on the ground if he feels I am cramping his style!? but he is getting used to them as I ignore the protests. I just find it such a liability. I was pushing ds1 on a swing in the local park the other day and just had to let go of ds2 for a second to lift ds1 up. In a flash ds2 was gone and heading for the exit. He also heads for the biggest bit of (dangerous, 6ft drop with no gaurd rails) playground equipment for older kids and just keeps trying to go up it everytime I remove him and say no. Pink Tulips, how old is your ds1. Mine is 2 and 3 months and I am just waiting for him to get a bit of sense? I hope it wears off soon....

[h20]

I was laughing to myself the other day as my dog was off the lead in the park and my ds1 was straining at the leash. I was quite good at dog training!! DS1 is untrainable. I was crossing the road the other day and got their leads tangled .

[PinkTulips]

he'll be 3 in july.

dd was a runner too (my mother let go of her hand in town once (after being told 7 million times not to) and she legged it across a busy crossroads ) but she's very well behaved now at 4

[carrielou2007]

Another vote for the backpack reins with parent strap!! My dd is 2.3 and asks to do 'running'. We have lots of cycle paths so we walk on them so she can run and use up some energy. We do the whole 'look we are coming up to a road, what do we do at the road' thing and she WILL hold my hand but she still wriggles to get away.

Even getting out of the door every morning to go to work, any passers by must think I am breaking her arm as she tries to get away from me whilst I am locking the door and wrestle her into the car.

Last week in town I couldn't grab her quick enough (sat on the grass eating our lunch and she was off) and she ran so far and so fast I left the buggy and literally sprinted to catch her. We walk to town 3.9 miles each way so I like her to walk to get lots of exercise/use up energy/then get in buggy so we can actually get somewhere but last saturday she walked the whole way home well running on the reins!

This is only for me, she walks like a blonde angel holding the hand of my childminder twice a day on the school run!

[MrsMerryBunnyGirlHenry]

DS (age 2.4) did this the other day, ran straight out of a cafe and nearly ran into the road. My heart stopped pounding after half an hour.

I now tell him very firmly that he must hold my hand on the street, and that if he doesn't he'll be back in the buggy. I am very strict about this, and it works. It probably helps that we've always been very firm about setting boundaries (but selective about when we set them, IFYSWIM, so he doesn't have a million firm boundaries but those he has are not to be messed with).

[MrsMerryBunnyGirlHenry]

Also don't bother shouting. They'll always ignore it at this age.

Very importantly - if you give a warning, you must carry it out every time, otherwise he won't take it seriously.

Best of luck.

[jkklpu]

You could be me, though my ds2 is only 18mo and just gearing up to be as wilful as yours; ds1 similarly cautious and biddable. Have concluded I'll need reins as well, though instinctively don't like the idea, so will have to work out when they're indispensable for safety.

DS2 ran through 6 open gates during 1 visit to the park last week, so there's no other option for busy places when I'm out with both, I don't think. I should look at product recommendations on MN, I suppose.

[neolara]

My dd was a runner. Absolutely nothing I did had any impact whatsoever. Once in a playground I had to rugby tackle her to the ground with my month old ds in my arms, as she tried to leg it towards the ice-cream van on the road. You should have heard the sharp intake of disapproving breathe from all the other mummies by the swings.

IMHO, you can try consequences, but your ds is still pretty little. He may remember for a few minutes, but my guess is that it will have limited impact in the medium term.

The only thing that worked for us was the passage of time. By about 3 1/2 my dd had stopped running away. I should have got reins really. Not sure why I didn't.

[h20]

Thanks everyone for your comments. Mrs MerryBunnyGirlHenry, I have tried consequences - i.e putting him in the buggy if he doesn't stop when I shout stop, but now he just runs shouting stop to himself! He also now says sorry everytime I put him in the buggy for any reason, so I don't think he has any idea what i am trying to do. Maybe he is too young - ds1's speech was much more advanced and so I could explain things to him at that age. DS2's legs are constantly going the whole time, even when you lift him up. I have to put him in his cot to read him a story as he is just go, go, go like the duracel bunny. Neolara, your sory gives me hope that it will get better, but not for another year...
On the plus side, I have lost weight as I never stop either!!!

[MrsMerryHenry]

I love your positive thinking re weight loss!