Oh no!

[NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown]

My 19 month old has just learnt how to open and close doors (has already previously locked himself in the flat) and turn on light switches (can't reach high enough to turn them back off yet though) - add on to this he's only just learnt to climb and is loving that skill, loves banging cupboard doors open and closed (they've got childproof locks on but it's only a matter of time before he works them out), is hanging off the towel rail, pulling the toilet roll holder off the wall, and learning to talk quicker than I ever imagined possible - all fantastic stuff but I'm 36 weeks pregnant and he's wearing me out!

So... What can I expect next? I don't want him outsmarting me and ordering stuff online on my debit card or something ;-)

Take the lock off the bathroom door.

Child gates everywhere - my DS never managed to work out how to open those, or climb over them.

I suppose you don't have to worry about toast in the VHS machine anymore....

Put the keys for the doors and windows somewhere he can't even atempt to climb to. Bitter experience.

And put away the nice food somewhere high......

If its any consolation, mine, at 3.4 still can't open the stairgates or child locked cupboards, but gets to everything else.

Enjoy him. Can you take him to a playground to climb things there?

The bathroom lock can be undone from the outside with a coin, we tested that last night!

We thought about stair gates but 1) I don't think I could listen to the screaming when he wanted to get in somewhere (I like the idea that he has relatively free reign over what I consider to be his house too) 2) he'd learn how to undo them in about a week anyway and 3) he's obsessed with opening and closing gates/doors etc at the moment, that would drive me mad!

I've moved all the window locks to high windowsills and he's only allowed food at the table/snacks sitting down with me right there so hopefully I don't have to worry about it finding its way into odd places!

I absolutely do enjoy him nextphase he's so much fun, however unfortunately going to the playground involves chasing him around in circles, moving him away from kids on swings before he gets booted in the face, lifting him off the slide (climbing up when children are trying to come down), moving him away from the roundabout (older children push it so fast he cries but seems to forget that until he's on it) and stopping him escaping/opening and closing the gate 100 times. I do take him there but try and limit it to about once a week because I literally don't have the energy to do it any more at the moment. I can't really bend down any more and he is really heavy. Hopefully once the baby is here we'll be able to resume more strenuous activities!

I forgot to say he's also learnt to throw and is throwing everything he can get his hands on. Trying to encourage throwing of soft things (teddies, cushions, rolled up socks and balls) and discourage things like the remote, plastic toys, saucepans!

He's also going through a hitting stage.. I think it's little bursts of testosterone or something.

Unfortunately his latest word is "funny" which he repeats whenever he's doing something cheeky, it's so hard not to laugh.

This stage is hard but so much more fun now he's communicating and learning new stuff, I just find it difficult to keep one step ahead of whatever mischief he's going to get into next, he's so much smarter than his mama!

Seeline - the modern equivalent is oatcakes in the DVD player I'm looking at you, DS2

Aah the toddler years, dd is 2.5 and tantrums are mercifully waining. Ds is almost 5 and we have had our fair share pf testosterone bursts! If I can give you any advice it would be to make sure he cant get anything dangerous knives, chemicals, tweezers lol and nail clippers and anything you dont want on the carpers toothpaste, sudocreme. Otherwise just let him get on with it. Be consistent with discipline, fruitful with praise and enjoy the little monkey (and naptime!)

Nope, not food finding its way to odd places, but him getting it out of the cupboard, and taking one bite out of each item to test them out.

I hear what your saying about the playground. Is there a structured tumble tots (not that I've ever been) or similar so that he can run around in safety with minimal imput from you?

Or can you make an assult course round the house - we used to get the pop out tunnel out, crawl through that, throw 5 bean bags into a hoop, wriggle under the blanket, and then climb the mountain of cushions pulled from the sofa. And repeat. Then get them to tidy up afterwards?

Boys are fab - do you know if your expecting another one?

discourage throwing anything they really don't understand the difference between what they can and can't throw (speckling from bitter experience after SIL thought DD to throw Teddies, then she would just throw anything)

lucky we don't see them that often and it didn't take that long to train her out of it.

at 18 months dd2 could get over/out of anywhere. she is dc3 and just for her we had to put gate across open plan kitchen (she kept turning on the gas)
change bathroom door handle so she couldn't open it (she kept flushing things down the loo), and hide all crayons, pens etc.
now at 4 she is a delight (a monkey, but a delight)

'I forgot to say he's also learnt to throw and is throwing everything he can get his hands on. Trying to encourage throwing of soft things (teddies, cushions, rolled up socks and balls) and discourage things like the remote, plastic toys, saucepans!'

This is a very risky strategy! I'd go with a blanket ban on throwing things in the house tbh. He isn't going to be able to distinguish between throwing something hard and soft for quite some time. Even if he does, do you want your newborn getting smacked in the face with a cushion/teddy?

I'd also try and keep a lid on the hitting with a firm 'no' and move him away if he doesn't stop. I know he's only tiny really, but once they get the habit it's hard to break and then they get bigger and the baby comes along and he's a bit jealous and before you know it it's a massive problem.

Nora oh no! What a little monkey!

Mummypig Ha nap time, that golden hour (if I'm lucky) I've been napping with him for the past month or so, I need to recharge my batteries!

Nextphase Yes we have a soft play at a local family pub, I spent the whole time we went there last week chasing him round the tables of people eating lunch and trying to keep him away from the fire exit, I seem to have given birth to a little ball of energy! The adventure course sounds a great idea but will have to wait a few weeks I fear

Not sure what we're having this time but I suspect another boy, we'll see.

Migrill don't you just love family? Mine seem to love to give DS their phones for a 'look' - I've asked them not to now as he throws a half-hour strop when they take them back, much easier to not give it in the first place. Thanks SIL for teaching him how to open DVD cases ;-)

steppemum I'm sure it's just a matter of time before he's doing all that!

I need a sit down!

Oh Batman that's not good to hear, am I being really naive to think he can learn the difference? He seems to be getting other things I'm teaching him - albeit slowly!

No I don't want DC2 getting beaten up but I do think a certain amount of jealousy and 'acting out' is inevitable - my plan is to give DS lots of time with me while DH is on paternity leave and hope he learns to be nice! I'm pretty sure the hitting is an extension of 'rough play'/trying to show affection more often than frustration - although obviously that comes into play sometimes too. He's learnt really well how to be gentle and is constantly saying "kiss baby" and wanting to kiss and stroke my tummy, just hope it lasts once s/he is here (I fully expect it won't!)