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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How do you stop a three year old interrupting phone conversations?

38 replies

aloha · 30/03/2005 18:10

Well? Ignoring just causes the volume to go up and up....engaging just continues the noise. It's awful for the person who is on the other end of the line and irritating for me! Alternatively, when do children stop doing this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Tortington · 30/03/2005 20:50

used to say " excuse me for one moment" to the person on the other end of the phone, then put one finger up in a "stop" gesture. then say very quietly " i am speaking, you are being very rude. i will be with you in 5 minutes" lowering the surrounding volumes helps. so muting the telly or turning it down speaking quietly etc. i found if i lowered the sound they lowered the sound. thing is unless you stand your ground - he toddler wins and sees it as a great thing to do next time.

Tortington · 30/03/2005 20:52

a whole esentenced missed out there. went something like.... if you give in they will see it as a great way of behaving to get attention .....or CRISP ( MOTHERNATURE!!) therefore do it again next time

Tortington · 30/03/2005 20:53

motherinferior - even. - sorry goal on telly

serenity · 30/03/2005 21:05

I got a cordless phone so I can have a conversation higher than DSs can reach! I can ignore them if it's only at thigh height. To give DS2 credit I normally only have to scowl and point at the phone for him to notice I'm talking and wander off.

Tortington · 30/03/2005 21:31

what a good idea - you could get a cordless and stand in a high place

marthamoo · 30/03/2005 21:32

The roof?

Earlybird · 30/03/2005 21:34

DD has always been very demanding whenever I talk on the phone. When she still napped, I would wait until then to make any important calls. Now that she's 4, I can make brief calls without constant interruptions, but, for the most part, I wait until she is watching a video or in bed at night if I want to have a lengthy conversation. It drives me mad, and she knows she's being naughty, but it seems she just can't help herself!

Original poster

aloha · 30/03/2005 21:36

Hmmm, the roof sound enticing. Sadly he won't stop talking if I let him talk to the person on the phone- NOTHING stops ds talking! I was hoping from a rather harder line from you Custardo - more, lock them in the cellar type thing! Also, oddly, despite ds's passionate love affair with chocolate, he won't respond to bribery/incentives...v frustrating. Think the keeping moving thing is one to try though. Maybe moving onto the roof?

OP posts:

Jimjams · 30/03/2005 21:41

Aloha I do have a kind of strategy with ds2. I sometimes let him speak, but I;m not keen on that because sometimes it is totally inappropriate that he speaks (for example a friend rang shortly after her dd had had a suspected stroke, another friend lost her ds who is the same age as ds2). Therefore I have actually started to put him on the naughty step/time out if he carries on. I then explain to him afterwards. It's kind of working, slowly.

marthamoo · 30/03/2005 21:46

Lou told me I should chain ds2 to the radiator the other day as he keeps interfering with my MN/msn time.

frogs · 30/03/2005 21:53

It can be done, if you really need to. I work from home and sometimes get calls which I have to take even when the kids are around. I can't afford to have my cover blown (ie. clients working out that I'm really a person who does odd bits of work in between the rest of her life rather than a full-on professional), so it's pretty crucial that callers can't hear little squeaky voices in the background.

The kids know that I will turn into crazy psychomummy if they even so much as gesture to me when I'm talking on the phone. Obviously the 15-month old hasn't worked it out yet, but the others know enough to pick up the baby and scarper pdq when I get that insane "I'm on the TELEPHONE!" gleam in my eye.

Having said that, occasionally one does slip through. I was on on the phone (in my study with the door shut) to a very senior solicitor in some fancy City firm when I heard newly potty-trained ds (then 2.5) coming up the stairs, announcing ("I need a wee!") at each step. I was desparately hoping the caller couldn't hear it too, and trying to end the conversation as fast as possible. At the end Mr. Senior Partner said drily, "I think someone else needs you more urgently."

marthamoo · 30/03/2005 21:56

LOL frogs Well, when you need a wee, you need a wee.

Catbert · 30/03/2005 22:03

I have a great new gadget on my new home phone (BT freestyle I think) - it's a handsfree kit...

The point is, DD1 doesn't actually realise I am on the phone (just thinks it's her usual mad mother talking to herself), and thus she doesn't see it as throwing down the toddler gauntlett for attention.

As for toddlers being deliberately naughty and / or shouting in your ear for attention when trying to have a face to face discussion with a friend - that I am failing on miserably.

One friend even has a DS who slides up inbetween her conversing with another person/child and holds her face in his hands to ensure he gets her undivided attention!

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