Ok do I need to strap my 3 year old to my side for the next 5 months!????

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I am due dc no 3 in October. I have a 2 yo and a 3yo (4 in Aug). I am getting increasingly frustrated/ concerned about my ds running off when I take him out - he is a tall atheletic 3yo and very fast.

So far I have lost him in Next (briefly) and a few times in our local Tesco's - but I do not want to wait for the time I lose him properly - I need a strategy. As I am going to find it impossible to run after him as the months progress. I do not want to terrify him into staying with me(tales of evil childsnatchers etc.) - what are good inducements to stay with mummy for pre-school runaways??

I use timeout at home but I find my ds memory can be short so the threat only works for a short time then he runs off again iyswim. He can also winge yell and talk the hind legs off a donkey - so he comes up with all sorts of weird and wonderful excuses for his behavior. 'I was excited' or 'I was looking for Tronka' (imaginary friend).

Oh and when I chase after him he finds that hilarious so runs off even more...

So help... please.

Treat him like a puppy on those dog training classes ?

Sit him down before you go out and tell him you have something he would like in your bag - but he can only have it if he stays with you the whole time you are out?

When you are out keep reminding him quietly that he's doing very well and if he stands by you. Keep praising him for staying close to you. Let him have the present when you get back to the car or on the bus (or home).

If he needs constant rewards then maybe a tiny bag of his favourite sweets? This one may only work if sweets are a rarity in your house!

Or if he's relatively mature a sticker chart to fill in on the way round with a present when you get home but ONLY if he's behaved as you want him to behave.

Oh - I meant to say dole the sweets out on the way round!

yes we do the dog approach. DS also has run off. Cue one day an overdue me also hunting him down in next and then dashing out to run to the teddy bear shop next door. And not even all that stress and running around brought on labour.

Thanks Gagarin Sweets might work but I think a reward chart might be preferable to sugar overload to keep the promise of something good to come at home might work if I keep reinforcing it as we go. But carrying a reward chart around might be a pain - I will have to design an easy to transport version.

Food for thought thank you.

bag of chocolate baking chips.

One every 5 minutes he stays with you.

Not great for teeth but you can 'stretch' the interval

use tesco delivery and next shop at home. don't think many tearaway 3 nearly 4 yo enjoy shopping

Actually Flossish I might hang around Tesco's with ds if I go overdue as apparently you get a £100 voucher or something if your waters break in Tesco's.

If I really want to get ds to 'Stay' then maybe I should threaten him with reins - but I think I would end up being dragged around at high speed by ds!

I do get regular deliveries Loshad but need to be confident that when necessary, I can take ds with me when I go out, as I have no one to leave him with during the week (when he isn't at pre-school) and we have school hols coming up.

Reins. He may feel he is too big for them, but then that turns them into an excellent threat (evil grin).