Starting to discipline and the word ’No’

My DD is 10.5 mo, just learned to crawl and is now getting into everything!

I can't leave her alone anywhere as the other day she got into the china cabinet and broke a couple of bowls... She constantly pulls things down, esp table cloths and I've now started saying 'Lily, No.' in a stern voice...

Before when I used to say this, like if she was eating and suddenly started spitting her food out or throwing it over the side she'd giggle and laugh and do it anyway... But now because the way she is acting it's more for her safety and she really just wants to explore and she's been getting very upset, I just have to mention the word no to DP and she starts crying like she's really hurt...

Is this normal? Could it be just because it's all new and she wants to explore or could I be scaring her now?

I obviously don't want to upset her but for her own safety it's important. My mum and DP are no help and calling me a bully... *rolls eyes*

Oh I remember very clearly the first time DS1 did that. broke my heart. A lot of it I think is the fright they get that you actually dared to stop them. Then there is the fact that they arent allowed to do what they want.

I tend to just say No in a firm voice and then pick them up and take them somewhere else.

lose the tablecloth, secure your china, make your house safe for your child! also the time for socket covers and tie up cables.

Mine quickly outgrew the crying over the word No...Now he only gets frustrated when I actually take stuff away from him or move him. I also found that saying more than just No helped us. So I might say "no touch" or if he is hitting the dog I will say "that's too hard. Gentle." Also, sometimes lowering your voice rather than raising it will help them to stop and listen to you.

Lily is probably a big young yet, but watch for signs of her wanting to be helpful. I turned around one day and DS had grown up in front of my eyes! He far prefers me to ask him to hand me something rather than me yanking it away from him. Or I will get him to help me put everything back into the freezer and shut the door.

Good luck! I don't think it gets better for a while....

Thanks everyone, I have been saying 'Ta to mummy' when she has something she shouldn't and she usually gives it up without too much fuss. Have been pulling her away.

Stop sounds like a better one so will replace No with Stop.

Our China cabinet is a bit odd so we may have to put a board in front of it.

KA, yup have been doing basic explaining too. Esp with the pets but she's learned to be gentle with them now about 75% of the time!

I have found distraction works too sometimes...

And no helping yet hehe, I put things away and she sits beside me pulling them back out - cute but yeah lol one day she'll help!

I try not to use no as much as possible otherwise it can become a bit redundant. I tend to say things like the computers not for little girls, I've asked you not do that.

I picked up of mum I don't think thats a good idea, and things along those lines. If mum needs to stop her in her tracks she growls, works 99% of the time. Or a big loud UH. I started clapping recently when she would move towards things and ask her to not do things.

Otherwise distraction distraction distraction!

Wait till she starts climbing then the fun begins... *sigh*

Hehe, yeah she's trying to climb! Slowly starting to pull herself up on things too!

Which caused last night's tears! We'd been doing some tidying and had some plastic boxes filled with books which she just about pulled on herself - think I gave her a fright when I yelled LILY NO!

I like the idea of dangerous, gentle etc. I've started saying Stop and it seems to go down better than No but she still gets upset over not being allowed to do something but ah well - tough luck!

I agree with QTMum. Remove the dangerous objects but we haven't removed things like table cloths etc. DD started pulling the table runner off the coffee table and I was persistent with her and told her 'no, that stays there' Eventually she stopped pulling it off.

She does cry when I tell her to not touch something. I've left all our photo frames out which she can reach. I think they need to learn what's their's. Also handy when you go to someone's place that isn't child proofed.

I sometimes say 'ah-ah' too. It sometimes ends in a tanty in which case she just gets left to it until she's calmed down

maya22 wrote: Jaxnz1 wrote: I agree with QTMum. Remove the dangerous objects but we haven't removed things like table cloths etc. Table clothes on high tables are dangerous. Once the baby is pulling up to standing, then pulling on a tablecloth seems just the same as pulling up on a chair. it only takes hot or heavy things on top of the tablecloth to do damage to baby underneath. Much better to not have a tablecloth at all. Just common sense really.

I completely agree! Although we never bring our food out to the table and she sits in her high chair at the table while we eat so that's not an issue for us. We have our plates but we don't bring anything out to the table, we dish it out and then put it in the fridge, oven, wherever.

So luckily when she has pulled the table cloth it's just been place mats and we probably will ditch the table cloth - it was just my mums idea of 'looks'

Thanks for all the tips anyone. Stop seems to be working much better than no. Same with the simple explaining.

lol we have a not quite 9 mth old who crawls, pulls up to stand and walks around furniture, she is into EVERYTHING.

We have found that having a toybox, where she can pull up on it and find her toys in it has helped a lot, we just leave her to it and she has loads of fun and doesn't head for off limits things.

She doesn't cry if we tell her off (which is really only saying she can't do something and then removing her) she looks up and gives a cheeky grin....