If you have a, ahem, "cheeky" DS/DD approx 19 months, please step this way to share your wisdom.

[Sycamoretree]

This isn't a major issue, but I was just wondering what other parents are doing in the following situation.

DS 19 months finishes yoghurt, plays with empty pot, laughing etc. Sycamoretree attempts to prize spoon from hand - DS throws yoghurt pot across table in protest.

DS is having his pj's put on after bath time. Is drinking milk on changing table and objects to being laid down to have nappy put on, so lobs said milk sippy cup across the room.

DS see's DD has just put favourite DVD on and so, kind of just for the thrill of it, goes to DVD player and presses eject button. Again, and again and again.

Now, I never really had these issues with DD. Probably because she was our first, also probably to do with personality, so this a bit new to me. I know it's TOTALLY normal, but...what to do?

At the moment, I'm doing the eye contact (hard, he thinks it's hilarious to evade it) and a stern no. If possible, a removal of whatever object he's enjoying causing mischief with (crashing toy aeroplane into DD's unsuspecting head).

But the truth is, he just laughs in my face goddamit! I'm really not convinced this is having the slightest effect on his behaviour.

He's too young for time out, surely? He'd think it was a game. He's adorable, but a complete wind up merchant.

Any handy hints?

it is normal, and yes he is too young for time out. he is just doing things he finds funny

just keep doing what you're doing. tbh I let ds2 feed himself and make as much mess as he likes (within reason) and remove both yoghurt AND spoon if it's getting silly lol
just take things away if he is throwing or hitting and say "no throwing" etc to him.

that's how he will learn )

Thanks - I'm def not bothered about the mess, it's the stroppy lobbing of objects that I think can't really be ignored.

But good, just basically continue expressing my disapproval until he's old enough for me to lock him in the cupboard under the stairs, right?

Are you writing about MY child?

WJ: no, stones don't go in the sandpit
(baby WJ lobs more in)
WJ: why don't you fill this lovely bucket with them instead?
(baby WJ picks up more)
WJ: My, what a huge aeroplane in the sky!
(baby WJ selects more stones)
WJ: NO!
(baby WJ giggles and grins)

Me = baby WJ =

My god, you've just described my ds3

Will keep a close eye on this thread for more tips!

DD 20 months has been doing stuff like this for months...
She thinks its a hoot

I've only got the one and she's EXACTLY like this. And very, very fast and strong. Already told by nursery that she is strong willed, oh dear. Really good natured and affectionate but laughs in your face when you say 'no'. Always flashes the cutest cheeky grin before being naughty and it's hard not to laugh. Me and hubby have been told that we were very placid babies so it's a shock to the grandparents as well.

Nice to know we're not alone.

my ds3 is 21m and is also doing this and i,m at my wits end but his so cute telling him off can be hard but i,v kept on with saying no and taking whatever his throwing away and i think i,m starting to get through keep going as u are it will get better

Ah, they are little flibbertyjibbets aren't they?

DS has the most adorable big brown eyes and the most intoxicating giggle that really I'm quite helpless in the face of it. I try and keep a straight face, I do, but life sometimes feels more fun and interesting just to see things from his perspective from time to time.

Sometimes it's tempting just to sit back and see just HOW much of a mess he's prepared to make with his spag bog before it becomes unbearable, even to him

I'm convinced things will get better once his language improves. DD had approximately 99% more vocab at the same age so I don't think she got as frustrated as a result.

She also loved being read to (still does) but DS often shoves the book away after a couple of pages.....unless it's Ben Cort's the Little Witch DD hand me down which he finds utterly absorbing!

My DS 15mo is a cheeky little man as well. It's hard not to laugh sometimes, but you have to try to keep a straight face when you're telling him off because otherwise he just thinks it's a big game. When we're at nanny and grandad's, and he picks up a toy and bangs it against a glass cabinet, we all shout NO in unison. He looks around with a big smile on his face, if no one smiles back, he stops smiling and stops banging the toy and does something else instead. If someone laughs or smiles, he carries on banging the toy. If you really want a behaviour to stop, I think you have to look like you mean business in the expression on your face. I don't know at what age they are old enough to be disciplined, I'm still finding out.

Hmm, that worked with my DD. With my DS, no amount of stern face will wipe the smile off his

aw, they all sound lovely and you are making me feel v. broody.

Mainly wanted to go 'ooh' at the mention of Ben Cort - I knew his wife briefly before I had children myself (she's lovely). Obviously hadn't ready any of his books then, was really delighted when I was reading a funny book to ds to discover it was Ben's!

Ah, that's so nice to hear Edam. DD loved her little witch book, and I did buy DS the little wizard, but he definitely prefers the witch - something about the reveal of the cakes at the end - much more exciting than getting a kite down from a tree!

Your little monkey sounds totally normal. Mine is just the same he's 20 months, and winds me and his 2 yr old brother no nd, especially as his new trick is turning the tv on and off and removing the cushions from the sofa. Not easy to sort out when you're feeding a 5 week old too. He just giggles at me or cries dramatically and stamps his feet.

mine is 19months and has the gift of language-she tells you before she's going to do something 'my rip the book' so i tell her not to-sternly-and remove book,the then makes it her mission to go back get the book and do it whilst laughing maniacally at me.
she's very cute,she's very bright,she's literally into everything-understands everything you say to her but chooses to ignore the bits she doesn't like.
I have no idea what i am going to do with her as she basically-doesn't seem to believe us.she throws her head back and runs off laughing...

have to agree with Stretford. Naughtiness like this in household is not because of a lack of vocabulary. Dd is talking really well
DD is 17months and has been a scallywag for ages now. She does everything your ds does sycamore and laughs in our faces. Is also impossibly cute.

I do stern faces and sterns voice when I really mean no. I do also take things away if I'm fed up with it. This morning she grabbed the handheld phone and managed to ring granny (fluke rather than genius I think). After their conversation she rushed over to dh and smacked him hard across the head with the phone handset

DH was horrified and it hurt. Dd was laughing like hysterical nutter! Took phone off her immediately and explained she had hurt daddy and we need to kiss him better - she really didn't seem to give a toss.

Still wondering how my lovely, loving little girl can do such dreadful things sometimes?

Ah, well my DD must just have been a natural born angel thing . I assumed most of her saintliness was down to more advanced language/communication skills.

I think we can conclude from this thread that this age is just troublesome and delicious in equal measures.

Here's to riding out being laughed at in our faces

Language and communications have no bearing on this behaviour except dd2 (19mths) tell you what she going to do . And if you tell her no she turn away from you and with a great huff crosses her arms . Because obviously as she can't see me then i can't see her .

You are describing my ds (13 months)...

Our fireplace has 'fake' stones which are heavy and could cause some damage in ds' hands, so every time he goes near them or tries to touch them we say 'No' very sternly. Saying 'no' however only seems to reinforce to him the fact that these are much more interesting objects than he'd possibly imagined, and must find a way of getting to them at all costs....

So, today I have my back turned for two seconds and he actually calls 'Mum' so that I can turn round and watch him being naughty . He gets to the stones before I can catch him, I give a very stern 'no' but of course he still picks one up and tries to fling it...so I lift him up so I'm looking straight into his eyes and say 'No, do not touch' very sternly................ he gives a cheeky smile and licks my nose...

Two seconds later he's back down trying to touch the stones again..

Every time I try and be stern, he does something cute and my face twitches .

He also loves throwing everything (and watches your face for a reaction while doing it) which is driving us round the bend!!