I have an 11 month old boy! Help!!!?

Question

He is a terror! He gets into everything he is not supposed to. I tell him no, try to distract him but as soon as I'm done he goes right back to doing it. I will do this over and over. There is only so much child proofing you can do! And it's like he knows what he is doing is wrong but gets this smirk on his face and trys to get away with it. I don't beleive in spanking or even hitting his hand. He will grab our kitten by his tail and hang him up side down. No matter what I do he continues with this behavior! is it just a boy thing or what? he is a little terror and is already walking! What should I do to get him to stop when he does something he is not supposed to? I know he knows what no means, he probably thinks it's his name! Help!

with the kitten, he puts up with the baby and has never once scratched him. I guess it's good in a way, but wouldn't mind the kitten teaching him a lesson. They play together alot and the kitten puts up with it.

To LosAngelesmoon:
Who is to say I am a young Mom? I'm 26 and well old enough to have a child. Obvioulsly you don't have any.

Answer 1

I am a mom of three kids..2 girls and a boy. They are grown now but believe me..I went through this "terror" stage with all three !! First of all..you have too have a LOT of patients. I congratulate you on not believing in spanking, I never once spanked my kids and they all turned out great.
your little boy is at the age where he is curious about everything!! He is learning new things each and everyday also. It's time that he learns what the word NO means now..lol..When you tell him NO NO a couple of times and he doesn't listen...put him in his playpen for a few minutes or a crib..always .tell him WHY he has too go into the playpen, you might think he doesn't understand,and he might in the beginning, but eventually he will learn. It will probably hurt your feelings more than your baby's the first few times you do this, ( I say that from experience lol ) but you're his Mom and he depends on you too teach him right and wrong. When he gets a little older and mis-behaves you can switch from the playpen too the sofa or chair..but make sure there is no tv on for him too watch, no toys within his reach and etc..
and the poor kitty! you don't want the cat too scratch him because that can be dangerous..my stepdaughter got really sick from a cat scratch..so..now is the time too start teaching him good behavorior around animals too help keep him safe...You'll get through this, he's just being a normal active little boy,!! You sound like a good mom so keep up the good work!!

Answer 2

It's not just little boys, my 11mth old girl likes to do exactly what I ask her not to do as well... those are typically the things that appeal to little ones, things that are dangerous!

I'm sorry though, who is spanking their 11mth old??? I'm floored to see people responding that you should do this. I dont believe in spanking either at any age, but come on, what is that going to 'teach' an 11mth old??? There were several ?'s regarding spanking asked yesterday I believe it was, or maybe 2 days ago, perhaps these people need to read why NOT to spank/hit your child.

There is only so much baby proofing you can do, so I usually end up arranging the furniture so that she cant reach areas that should be off limits, like the bookshelf. We dont have a cat ourselves, but the neighbor's cat likes to come in sometimes. Thankfully she's too scared of him to start roughhousing with him. I think really you just have to repeat over and over for him to stop hurting the kitty, with a serious look on your face as he's looking straight at you. Even if he doesnt follow your instructions now, he hopefully soon will. If you can 'rescue' your cat at those times he doesnt listen by putting him in a separate room, or play together the 3 of you so that your son sees how to nicely pet the kitty, he should come around.

Answer 3

OMG, you just described my fifteen month old son perfectly, except our cat is 10 years old and he just drags her around by the tail, not hang her upside down, lol. I tell him no when he does something wrong, and I try to distract him but whenever I try to do dishes, or feed my daughter he goes right back to what he was doing. I've found that you cannot give in once, you must be firm in telling him what he can and can't do. I do not hit or yell at my kids, I just give a stern no with a very serious look. After about a week he will stop or lose interest in his latest naughty habit so I suppose that it's the most we can do. I asked my mom if my sister and I were as naughty as him and she said no, so I suppose it must be a boy thing like you said. My friends son didn't grow out of his naughtiness until he was almost three, I guess we're just unlucky enough to have hit the terrible two's early. Good luck, and remember they grow up so fast!

Answer 4

I have 2 year twin boys and we use time outs. With one of my sons I just get down to his level and make him look at me and explain to him why what he's doing is naughty. I make him give a hug and say he';s sorry and that's that. Of course it was a struggle at first but it didn't take long before the "terror phase" was over. Now we have 2 VERY well behaved 2 year olds and timeouts a rarity. (maybe once a day)

I don't recommend using the crib for a timeout because your son will associate his bed with punishment and then bedtime becomes a NIGHTMARE. (my brother did that with his daughter and she still fights bedtime at 4 years old). At 11 moinths, a timeout only needs to last about a minute. That is an eternity to a child at that age.

No matter which method you use, just make sure you are consistent. He will learn that if does ______ then _____ will happen......everytime. It is the easiest way to teach a child to behave. Be consistant, takl to them at their level, get an apology and move on. Things will calm down very quickly if you choose a method and stick to it.

Answer 5

The problem (for now!) is that your 11 month old baby is doing what babies do....explore AND test your resolve!
Since, as you stated, you don't believe in spanking or 'hitting his hands' you had best prepare yourself for YEARS of disobendience because unless a child (at an EARLY age) is taught that "no means no", then your problems have just begun.
This child will grow up believing it doesn't have to respect you or ANYBODY. You, as the parent, must enforce obedience!
I raised 3 daughters and 1 son. All were spanked. All were reinforced with the idea that what Papa AND Mama said...they meant! Obedience and respect are taught if we love our kids!
PS. Despite my spankings my children all grew up loving and respecting their parents (AND others!) and have children of their own who are learning the same thing....obedience is mandatory...or else!
If you love your child, show him by teaching him right from wrong. And that Mama knows best! (He'll love you for it!

Answer 6

I have a 1 year old and he still tests me!!! I just keep reinforcing the issues. Do not let him get away with it one time or he will keep doing it. Be consistent and he will learn. Mine is doing so much better and listens more. It takes time!!! Do not let him push your buttons and stay calm. You could always put him in a playpen when he gets in trouble for time out!!! Only for like a minute!!! You are not a bad mother. Babies have to be taught right and wrong!!! Good luck!!!

Answer 7

It is normal for that age. I would suggest redirecting, rather than actual discipline at this point. If you really think he's testing you...like you just told him no and moved him on to something else and he goes right back and give you that smirk...then I'd try time out. I am not a fan of using the crib for time out though because then they associate the crib with punishment. I have a two year old and I hope this is the hardest phase because it's about to kill me! LOL!

Answer 8

Its normal. I have had 3 boys and they all did that. He is only 11 months, so you have to have appropriate discipline for an 11 month old, but he is just testing his limits with you. Remember he is only 11 months and this will stop eventually. I know someone that says, its like they have 10 hands and you only have 2. Its hard work. My 2 1/2 year old still grabs the cat by the tail or throat. All my boys did that. They grew out of it of course. He is jsut curious.

Answer 9

I have a 10 month old boy and also a 3 yr old boy and my littlest one is also walking and getting in to everything but he is just curious and i am sure your boy is too. They just want to see how things work, hey whats in here?, or what happens if i pull this, with mine if he is in to something he is not supposed to or that i dont want him in try to distract his attention else where, with his favorite toy, a old magazine ( my lil boy likes to tear out the pages i think he likes the sound or somethin) give him a cooking pot and a spoon thats harmless and i bet it would keep him entertained for a while.........just lead him in the right direction :)

Answer 10

This is normal. Just stick to what your doing. Try to keep things out of his reach, keep him as safe as you can. Don't give into him. You are the boss. Start thinking about a time out spot for him, like a playpen. When he gets into trouble, tell him NO and put him in the playpen. Make sure that playpen is only used for time out and not a play place. When he calms down, start all over again. Good luck.