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Toddler who likes to say `NO`

(53 Posts)
overthehill Mon 28-Sept-15 23:10:27

I have a beautiful, most times cheery, sometimes not, little 2year old granddaughter.

She is definitely her own person. `No` features quite a lot in her vocabulary along with `I can do it`, yes, but not always of course.

There is lots of advice out there of course, on dealing with this. For instance, if they won't put their coat on, give them the choice of the pink one or the blue one and this will settle it. If they kick up a fuss about going to bed say there won't be a story etc.

When mine were young if the screaming set out went on too long they would get a smack, but I wouldn't do that to her, as although I did it then, I do feel it is wrong.

I do shout though and the other day she wanted to remove her nappy before going to bed for a nap and I wasn't having it. A wrestling match broke out between the two of us and I was going to win. She ended up crying a lot but then did calm down along with nappy intact. We kissed and made up.

Later she woke and again after me saying let's go downstairs it was a resounding NO, but I reminded her that Nanny could get very cross and to my amazement she complied and off downstairs we went.

I suppose what I am saying is, giving choices at times of conflict, I don't feel is beneficial and you have to get across who's in charge.

What do other do?

rosequartz Mon 05-Oct-15 19:36:19

GC have gone into meltdown many times, once when we were in a garden centre the eldest lay on the floor and cried
I once copied DGD when she did that, she stopped mid-tantrum, stared at me then started giggling.
(we were at home at the time, not in a garden centre grin)

Deedaa Mon 05-Oct-15 21:42:49

DD spent several days trying to train GS1 when he was getting on for three. By the end he had completely got the hang of it, but within a couple of days he was bored with the whole thing and stopped bothering. We lived in hope that all children get potty trained in the end and one morning he just woke up and said he wasn't going to wear nappies anymore and he never did. We're waiting now to see if his brother will be the same.