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Original poster

Help me to "guide" DS2.10 please...

220 replies

mm22bys · 28/03/2007 09:21

Hi,

I lost it this morning with DS2.10.

Main issue is he helps himself to food in cupboards and fridge.

I tell him not to - take him down from bench and get him the food he wants - this morning it was toast.

Then I had to have a shower and I could hear him help himself to fridge again, this time he wanted yogurt. I told him to wait. Got back in shower and next thing I know DS is crying and there is yogurt all over the floor and walls.

Told him he was naughty and tried to explain that that is why I told him to wait...

In meantime I notice toast is still uneaten so told him to eat it. He threw it on the floor.

That's when I lost it with him...

He then ASKED for cheese, so I got it for him. He threw that on the floor so now he is in his room.

Help please! What am I doing wrong? I probably should not have left him unattended but what else can I do? I asked him to tell me if he was hungry, and I got him what he asked for, and still it all went wrong....

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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Twiglett · 28/03/2007 13:11

HotXMum .. I've been nice too .. I was responding to the 'I don't come here to be insulted' in the standard and accepted manner

kind of like "Call me a taxi" .. "You're a taxi"

but I assume that's too daft

Anchovy · 28/03/2007 13:11

We had a gate made for a wide, open plan-ish area: it was a god send.

Yes, we had latches on all cupboards and drawers DD could get into AND we left a couple unlatched with some interesting things she used like and were harmless (mainly tins). It was a good diversionary tactic.

I wouldn't leave a 2 year old alone while I had a shower either. My need for cleanliness is not as great as my concern re what my 2 year old could get up to. If I did leave Ds alone while I put DD to bed at that age, I would put a video on and make sure he was in a secure area. I think it you are leaving them alone at that age you have to make sure everything is secure.

bozza · 28/03/2007 13:11

We had cupboard locks on 3 cupboards - the one with booze etc in, the one with the washing machine stuff (that one is still on but is coming off because the kid's wellies are in there although DS can open the lock himself) and the one with cakes etc in. But two of the locks are off now because DD doesn't bother. I don't think my children are very adventurous. Around the house it is great, but when it comes to getting them to learn to swim or ride a bike it is not so good.

HotXMum · 28/03/2007 13:11

You need to get up earlier before they wake or perhaps leave your shower until they are resting or 4m is sleeping. Otherwise shower/bath in the evening when you have some help.

Tortington · 28/03/2007 13:11

i didn't realise you would be so offended by what i consider eeryday venacular.

i hearily apologise for any added distress i have caused you at this very difficult time in coping with your child.

a handyman may be able to make you a bespoke gate to fit your wide door.

kind regards

Custardo

Twiglett · 28/03/2007 13:12

honestly and truly mm22bb .. the 4 month old will need dosing with calpol / nurofen / medicine of choice and left to sleep if he's poorly .. fed I would assume.. so using a sick baby as an excuse, whilst it does make it slighly more difficult, doesn't really wash .. because most of us have been there too

hunkermunker · 28/03/2007 13:12

What a daft thread.

I often left/leave DS1 alone while I had showers/fed DS2 - this before he was two. He is A Good Child. DS2 v different, so I'll do differently.

Your DS will take food if you're not there, clearly. So either live with it, take him in the shower with you or put him in his bedroom (with stairgate on, plus toys, maybe) while you shower. Or just honk.

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 28/03/2007 13:12

I assume your stay on mn will be a short one then?

sorry but reporting a poster for saying "custy is right" is absolutely ludicress.

FioFio · 28/03/2007 13:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Twiglett · 28/03/2007 13:13

would putting the tv on keep him amused?

Dragonfairy · 28/03/2007 13:13

Is it possible for you to wear a papoose or baby sling, I found mine invaluable when I had LOs close in age? You can be physically close to both and attend to their needs when you have to?

juuule · 28/03/2007 13:13

I've done 'daft' things. Lots of times. But when I've been told, felt stupid, seen the sense in what's been said, then I've just got on with it and learned. Later (when the initial embarrassment wore off) I've been very glad of others advice and views and direct talking. Don't get too hung up over the 'daft' thing. Take the advice being given and make your life a bit easier.

nailpolish · 28/03/2007 13:13

i have the compelte opposite Olive

dd1 is a nightmare but dd2 is an angel sent from heaven

nailpolish · 28/03/2007 13:14

snigger @ ludicress wanna

Original poster
mm22bys · 28/03/2007 13:15

Twiglett he's not that sort of sick, Calpol is a godsend but it's not suitable for his "illness".

Thanks though....

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 28/03/2007 13:15

And having a sick 4mo baby and an unruly 2.10yo - that's what children's TV was invented for, no?

lostinfrance · 28/03/2007 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

DimpledThighs · 28/03/2007 13:15

can I just apologise for any/all of my posts ever please.

littleEasterlapin · 28/03/2007 13:15

Hi

My friend has a similar layout in her home, they bought the BabyDan playpen and opened in out, fixed some hook thingies into the wall (the kind with a closed circle at the end, IYKWIM) and then they tied the playpen/gate to those (do this make sense?) And obviously there is a gate bit in the middle.

In terms of safety - yes, door locks on every cupboard, particularly in the kitchen (lots of poisonous and breakable things).

Alternatively, just get a playpen and put him in it; and or shut him in his bedroom (which is obviously safe) with stuff to play with while you have a shower.

I do think you overreacted a bit to custy, but you're obviously feeling very stressed about this. I think it's easy for more experienced mums to think "d'oh, not a problem" and for less experienced mums (or though with younger children) to think they are being got at... hopefully there's beensome useful advice for you on here betwen the arguing!

princessmelTingChoccyEggs · 28/03/2007 13:15

Yes, I used to put a video on for ds on the upstairs telly when I had a shower.

You still haven't answered why you can't bring ds upstairs or shower before they are awake. We're just trying to help.

juuule · 28/03/2007 13:16

I was like that Nailpolish. Ds1 ran rings round me. Ds2 very calm baby/toddler. I thought I had the parenting thing cracked, obviously I'd learned with the first how to deal with these little people. Then I had dd1........oh lord , I didn't know what had hit me.

Original poster
mm22bys · 28/03/2007 13:17

Custy,

thanks, guess I am just a bit stressed at the moment, with all that's going on (and here is not the place to go into it all..).

Do appreciate your advice though...

OP posts:
PigeonPie · 28/03/2007 13:18

Just a thought, but would it be possible to have a shower before you get your DS up in the morning? I try to be up and ready for action before I get my DS up, then we're both ready to go downstairs and face the day together.

Might work

LoveMyGirls · 28/03/2007 13:18

As he likes his food - raisens/ peas/ grapes are a good distraction sometimes, it takes then a while to pick them all up, doesnt fill them up and are healthy plus you could buy him his own dust pan and he can sweep up any he drops by himself as he sounds like an independant child.

This gives you long enough to feed or change baby while he's busy.

You didn't mention his brother before have you considered he may be having trouble adjusting?

ProfYaffle · 28/03/2007 13:18

My DC's are similar ages to yours, yes we have locks on the fridge, freezer and one cupboard. The other cupboards only contain stuff I'm happy for dd1 to play with.

tbh I thought my dd was quite inventive when she started shoving the chairs over to the fridge and helped herself to yoghurt and babybel.