How to implement 'NO'

[knittynoodle]

Nephew is starting to get into everything. Hes 1. I tell him No, pick him up and remove him from the situation, but family just say No over and over again in varying tones of voice.

Im unsure either technique is working! How old are babies before they can begin to understand the concept of no, and how is best to implement it?

Exactly how old is he? We started with the Naughty Spot from about 14 mths.

With 11mo DD we've done what you're doing. They understand no from about 9-10 months.

Whether they obey is another matter

If you consistently say No while stopping him from doing it, he will gradually learn thet the sound goes with the action. It may be a long time before he obeys you, but he will at least start to understand what you mean.

Just saying "No" without doing anything else will not teach him anything. They could just as easily say "frog" to him every time - words only have meaning because we attach them to things/people/actions, and a baby isn't born knowing that "No" means anything particular. Thats why babies can grow up speaking whatever language they hear.

But it takes ages for them, even when they understand what you mean, to see any reason to not do just what they feel like doing, as thats the strongest pull on them!

DS has just started understanding NO. But we have done what you are doing from very early, I.e. removing him from the situation with a stern no. He is now 8.5 months but we started at about 4. You need to match the action to the words and be consistent I think.

Your technique - repeated and repeated WILL work. Your family just saying NO will not !