My 2 1/2 year old began spitting about a month ago. He spits when he's angry, when he's in time out and sometimes for no apparent reason. He spits on himself, furniture, people, in peoples' food and drinks and so on. When I put him in time-out for spitting, he just does it more. I tried ignoring it at first, I didn't want to feed into any negative attention, but it only got worse. I'm at a total loss as to what to do. I'm totally humiliated and frustrated by this. I don't want this behavior to affect relationships with playmates and visitors ( it has started to, people don't take kindly to children spitting on their kids) Can anyone help?
2007-02-06 03:50:29 · 11 answers · asked by Carrington 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
As soon as he spits get down onhis level, look him in the eyes and hold his hands (get him focused on you), and say "we do not spit-use your words". I have found that this works because you stop them from the going on with the behavior, you are PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM, and you give them a way to show what is wrong. Hitting is the same-I get down and ask my son to use his words. He can't always do this (he is a toddler) but he can usually get out enough to tell me why he is mad. Little kids seem so much happier when we try to talk to them-not over them or at them-but really talk to them. If my little one is acting like a butt and climbing up the furniture and wreaking havoc-it is oftne because I tried to multitask and work on something else instead of watching my child 100%. Kids spit, hit, pinch, etc because they do not have the ability to tell you "mom, I am bored now, I have played with this toy for ten minutes and I am done and want to play with you" instead they toss the toy across the room and hit you. Then you get mad, so they get upset. Start teaching your child how to communicate better-maybe even with baby signs. Life is better since my son can tell me if he wants a bottle or snack or more to eat or even a fresh diaper. Use physical punishment as a last resort if at all. Hitting teaches that it is ok to hit those smaller and weaker than you-doesn't really solve the issue of not being able to communicate his needs to you. Good Luck!
2007-02-06 05:00:24 · answer #1 · answered by VAgirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have one daughter who is 4 and when she was two she was spitting everywere. if she spat I would give her a warning. [this includes lying, whining, hitting, kicking, spitting, and other bad beheivier] and if she did it again I would make her go in the naughty step. She would stay there for 2 minutes because she was 2 years old. Then If she did it again she would go back. If sge went in the naughty step more than three times I would lower 20 minutes of play time. 20 minutes because she was two + a zero. Oh yeah each time she came out of the naughty step she had to say sorry to the person she annoyed. Hope this works for you because it surely worked for us.
2007-02-06 12:58:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well i can see how you must be embarrassed by his behaviour..you've tried the obvious solutions..have u tried explaining why people don't spit..tell him that it is unacceptable and i know it may sound drastic but tell him that kids wont play with him if he spits on them , he's too young to realize that he's not the only one that matters but try to get him to see from another point of view. He must of seen it somewhere...hopefully it's (Iknow not easy) Just a Phase...Good luck!
2007-02-06 11:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem with my 2 year old but it was with any liquid. She'd take a mouthful of juice, water, milk, whatever and spit it on toys, furniture, never at people tho. My rule was, you spit, you lose a privilage, if she spit on her tv...she lost it. Spit juice or milk, she loses the privilage of drinking outside the kitchen etc. I wouldn't suggest slapping him in the face but you could use something like mild (non-toxic) soap or tabasco sauce, give him a lil taste when he does it like someone had suggested. He'll learn that there are consequences for his actions, you need to try to teach him another way to express himself besides spitting....its not only mean but its also unhygenic to spit.
2007-02-06 12:30:36 · answer #4 · answered by dobysangel 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nanny 911
2007-02-06 11:57:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to give him a swift but not hard tap on the mouth as soon as he does hit and is not expecting it, if you don't do it while he's spitting it won't work. It's not meant to hurt him and shouldn't even leave a mark but the act on your part will surprise him and he won't like it.
2007-02-06 13:20:18 · answer #6 · answered by scorpio 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Never ignore bad behavior. You need to constantly make it clear to him that you wont accept that behavior. He's old enough to understand when mommy is upset about what he's doing, he should stop.
Keep at it and don't give up. He will stop if you are consitant with him.
2007-02-06 11:54:29 · answer #7 · answered by bluegrass 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most everything I would suggest could possibly be classified as child abuse. I spank my child. The last time he spit in my face I smacked him right in the mouth and spit back on him. He never did it again.
2007-02-06 12:18:19 · answer #8 · answered by j e n n i f e r 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i would thump him behind the ear. use your index finger and give him a thump every time he does it. it doesn't hurt but makes a noise, then he will have to think about what he is doing. kids have always hated the THUMP. after you have done this a few times, all you will have to do is show him the thump and he will think twice.
2007-02-06 13:11:26 · answer #9 · answered by jacqueline j 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tobasco sauce...
Carry a little bottle in your purse, and after a few tastes of that stuff....
Works great for cussing also... and lying...
2007-02-06 11:58:04 · answer #10 · answered by Alaskan Princess 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋