My son just turned 20 months old, and he will not quit spitting.....His dad is having problems with it too. We think it's b/c we tell him to spit out the tooth paste and such..But he is doing it ALL the time- if I ask him to please quit, he does it longer and louder. The only thing so far that has got him to quit is the simple question "Do you want to go to bed?" then he stops, but is there another way to get him to stop?
2006-10-20 07:51:07 · 14 answers · asked by confused 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Do not slap his hands or him because of this behavior. He is looking for a reaction from you since you have reacted in a way that may be amusing to him. Toddlers love it when we over react to situations as this puts them in control, and we can be entertaining to them when we start with the "funny" faces to them as we show our disapproval. Ignoring the spitting when he does this is taking back the control. You also can get his attention off of the spitting by playing a game with him, or something else that is fun to distract him from the spitting. I do not recommend showing anger or slapping his hands. They are learning from the world around them. He may like the sound it makes. He may even be proud of his accomplishment as he has mastered something that mom and dad does it. Just use some self control and less reacting to him when he does this. He will move on to something else that amuse him such as sticking out his tongue.
2006-10-20 08:23:24 · answer #1 · answered by Sparkles 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't spank, whoop, or beat your child as others have suggested. If threatening him with bed works, keep using it. He's getting very close to the age where "time out" will be effective. Find a place in the house with no distractions or intersting things to do or look at, and tell him he needs to stop spitting, and if he doesn't he will be going in the time out spot. If he does it again, put him there, and explain to him why he is in time out.
Make him stay for 2 mins (1 min for each year of age). If he gets up before his time is up, put him back in the spot and start the time over. He may fight you on it, but if you consistently put him back in the spot, without making eye contact, talking to him, or giving him any sort of attention other than dragging his butt back there, he will eventually get the message that he has to do the time.
Once his time is up, explain to him why he was being punished again, and ask him to apologize. Once he says he's sorry, give him plenty of hugs and kisses, and let him go about his day. Eventually just the warning of time out will be enough to get him to listen.
2006-10-20 08:04:37 · answer #2 · answered by vodka7tall 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it sounds like you will have to use gentle persuasion and great patience on this issue,
children will do just about anything to get a rise out of mommy or daddy unfortunately at 20 mo of age children cannot differentiate between good and bad happy or sad reactions they receive as a result of theyr actions, BUT they do have a memory
trust me it will come soon enough and you will be living at yahoo answers LoL
but seriously if your child spit in some strangers face and your reaction was like "oh my god i cant believe he just did that im so sorry, why did you do that?,, no no .......... your response will in fact re-enforce the spitting action because your reaction is entertaining to the baby no matter how embarre4cing it was to you!
the babys thoughts are completely innocent they only know that actions get reactions and boy was that a good one!!! the more attention paid the more you will see the action
in this hypathetical situation the best response would be a calm quiete apology to the stranger
good luck
2006-10-20 08:11:11 · answer #3 · answered by whizbang 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Try totally ignoring it, if he gets no reaction for it it should wear off pretty quickly but it will take iron will from you . You can also make him stand in the bathroom or tub when he does it as a time out and to express that this is the only place you want to see him doing that.Good luck
2006-10-20 08:03:11 · answer #4 · answered by NotSoTweetOne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He just found a new way to get your attention. He isn't deliberately disobeying you, he is just exploring his surroundings and figuring out how much power he has over you, his environment and himself. These behaviours will help him develop a sense of independence and figure out which types of behavior are acceptable to you and your husband and which aren't. He may move into biting, hitting etc. It is a stage of development all toddlers go through. Ignore anyone who recommends to spank, hit (all the same). The higher the education the person has, the less likely they use hitting, spanking as a way to discipline children. Just don't give him an audience and ignore it. It will go away. Redirect and distract him. Good luck.
2006-10-20 08:32:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Make him spit in a cup "until he fills it". I taught preschool for 3 years and when my kids were spitting I'd get them a small cup and tell them that they had to fill it up with spit. It became less fun for them when they had to do it instead of it being forbidden. I didn't actually make them fill the cup... a few minutes into it I'd ask them if they were done spitting and if they said yes I'd let them go play.
2006-10-20 07:59:44 · answer #6 · answered by starringsarahas 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i had this problem with my two year old. i broke him from it the same way i broke him from biting, by popping him on his cheek. don't do it hard just enough for him to know that what he is doing is wrong. of course do it only after you have told him to stop spitting. with my son ignoring it only made it worse but u have to decide what is best for you
2006-10-20 08:03:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Just ignore him when he does it. That is the reason he does it si to make you pay attention to him. Not that you dont but he gets that different kind of attention. Like Im getting on mommies nerves but I love it...
2006-10-20 07:54:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you tell him to stop spitting and he wont than ask him if he wants to be spanked and if that wont work than spank him but to hard
2006-10-20 14:05:07 · answer #9 · answered by kharbron 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
place the milk bottle's cap(nipple) in his mouth always
2006-10-20 08:08:14 · answer #10 · answered by anu 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋