The "NO" stage

[Jojo13]

Argh. DS1 is 2 yrs and 5 months. Always been so placid and chilled but the terrible twos have most definitely started to kick in.
The saying No to everything is really getting my goat at the moment, and of course, saying "you don't say No to mummy" just makes it worse!
How do I get him to stop doing it? it's driving me mad. It's just No to everything (even stuff that he really doesn't want to say no to, he's just being a little bugger) and in quite a stroppy manner too.
Ta.

Offer choices between two options, e.g. would you like to put your shoes on sitting on the stairs or on the floor? Then the answer can't be no.

Pick your battles carefully. There are times you need to insist but there are probably some you could just not challenge in the first place. Be calm and consistent with the things you have decided are non-negotiable.

Sometimes you can make it into a game by saying no/yes back and laughing.

Good suggestions from Goldmandra. Also try repeating WHEN-THEN - "when you've washed your hands then we can have tea" or "when we've put the pencils in the box then we can get the Lego". And avoid rush if possible, everyone gets more negative in a hurry.

Thanks for the advice. Good suggestions.
Only problem is sometimes he is just stropping and repeating 'No' when I'm not even asking him anything!

Sounds like he's asserting himself. And experimenting. Would a bit of distraction help? He's stopped putting bricks in the box - "Oh look, there's the BLUE one". A race maybe - "who can put their shoes on first? I've got my left shoe on...." Or even play along - "Well NO indeed" If it's something unimportant then maybe leave him to it, he's figuring out what NO means. Or promote "no THANK YOU" instead

Ha! He does know No Thank you so might try that!
It's just hard to decide what to let go/ignore and what to discipline, I don't want him to be a little bugger but I don't want to be too strict. I guess that's the balance I will have to find for the next 18 years...!

I turn it in to a bit of a game too. She says "no!" And I say "no no no no no no" back to her in a sarcastic way while tickling her. Usually she'll start laughing and gets over her strop.

Learn the Meghan Trainor song?