How to deal with dangerous behaviour?

[kellyannlondon]

DS is 2.1. We just had DD 4 weeks ago so were expecting some difficulties with DS adjusting, particularly already having entered the "terrible 2s".

He's been doing the very classic attention seeking with naughty behaviour. I was getting very stressed out but reading some posts here on Mumsnet has helped with tips like ignoring the less important stuff. One problem we have though is that he has started climbing on to the arms of the sofa and diving off, falling a number of times and hundreds of near misses.

We have always told him no and been firm but he just laughs. I have used withdrawing things such as TV or toys (after a warning). We're currently trying the ignoring but actually looking out the corner of our eye approach as when he does it, he laughs and tries to get your attention.

The thing is my nerves are frayed as I'm constantly in fear that he's going to fall and break a limb or hit his head against a cabinet and also am concerned that I can't get across that something is dangerous. People say to me that if he falls, he'll learn and won't do it again but he always does.

Has anyone got any suggestions on how to deal with this? (appreciate that I'm probably super stressed due to lack of sleep which is making things worse)

I don't suppose he could do an awful damage to himself falling from the sofa arm so perhaps try to take a deep breath and relax about it....though I am very hypocritical giving that advice as I certainly couldn't relax if DS had done this at that age!

Have you got a playpen in the room? Perhaps you could use it as a mini time out area - "if you jump off the sofa you go into the playpen" sort of thing?

My son is a climber - always has been. I have kind have accepted it, but don't really like it!

Anyway, I get cushions down and let him get on with it. Or if he is just being a bit too silly - we go out in the garden and he has a little trampoline. Burn energy :-)

Distract, distract and then distract!
Don't turn it in to a battle of wills.
When he climbs just distract him
"Did you see that big spider crawl along the floor? Let's look for it!"
Distract him with anything. If that doesn't work, just try ignoring it. When he climbs just lift him down and put him on the floor, but don't say anything. he will soon get bored.
If all that fails, then take him somewhere where he can climb and jump about, the park or soft play or the garden.

my dd is a climber and has gone head first over the arm of the sofa on a number of occasions......thankfully hasn't done herself any serious damage so far! I tend to just put cushions on the floor around the sofa and let her get on with it.....IMO the more you try and stop them doing something, the more determined they are to do it!