How to handle a stroppy grandchild

We've got one similar to that. What we have had to learn is never ask him if he would like anything he always replies with "no" so now we try never to offer him anything and stuff that has to be done we treat it as a fait accompli. It is really difficult though as we instinctively like to offer what we see as treats or nice food etc. On holiday we had booked a day canooing down the river Dart for us all and never mentioned it until we arrived. The chap in charge was a no nonsense type of person and grandson got on board and paddled way like a lamb!!! It is odd though as he loves spending time with us and gets excited when we do anything.

when Wonderfully descriptive post! Out of the mouth of babes......

Two GSs, then 3 and 5. Their mum had left a tuna pasta bake for me to give them for their tea. 'Don't want it, don't like it,' they chorused. I tried to ignore them, knowing that this was a meal they really liked. After a while, I picked up their plates and headed for the food disposal bin. They beat me to it and after that they ate the whole lot with no complaints. What a try-on!

HELP! Just put Wild Child (15 months) down in her cot for the umpteenth time. She keeps taking off her growbag, tossing her soft toys out of the cot, then calling for me. I'd ignore her but for the fact that her 2-year old cousin is asleep ( bless him) in the 'big- boy' bed in the same room and I don't want him wake up.

Growbag! What a wonderful picture that conjures up

Yes, if she doesn't go to sleep soon I might bury her up to her neck in the compost heap! Only joking

She's asleep. Shhhhh. that's only taken 45 minutes.

Respect, you allow children of that age to sleep during the afternoon ? mine didn't go down for a nap after they were one or they would not have slept at night.

you have to follow the parents instructions re naps though!

OP - he sounds like a bit of a drama queen! Way to compete with brother?

Jess the other child is more dramatic, but when this one wants his mum, he really wants her right now! They are competitive and bicker over toys, but they are very close. It's lovely to listen to them chatting in bed when they think no-one is there. 'You asleep yet? Don't forget to say night, night, I love you.' 'Shut up, I was nearly asleep then, and I love you.' 'I know, I just said that!'

Bit of an escapologist to get out of the grobag! I find them hard to put on and with all those zips and poppers thought they were beyond most tinies. Clever child! Could you not do separate bedrooms (e.g. cot in yours)or big boy in your bed, so that you can harden your heart?

A week on....and Wild Child has gone straight to sleep after only 10 mins today, perseverance pays off, while 2- year old cousin (bless him again) just snuggled down in ' big boy bed' and nodded off.....even though dippy SiL had forgotten to send his sleep toy. Yes, I allow these two a sleep harri but not the nearly 3 year old who is presently watching CBeebies and they do sleep well at night, possibly due to the route march long walk we take them in the afternoon.

* grace* it's the ones with the poppers on the shoulders she escapes from.

OP yes, those bedtime conversations can be very cute

We have had (now) 19month old grandson on a Tuesday since he was 9 months' old. He goes up to his cot beautifully for his morning nap - my DH always carries him upstairs, takes him into his room and says "Shush, Geoffrey's fast asleep, you must be quiet". Narry a sound from GS. Geoffrey, by the way, is Geoffrey Giraffe, a cuddly toy. My DD bought three the same when GS was a tiny baby - she has one, we have one, and nursery, where he goes three days a week, has one, too. I thought it was an excellent idea - no carrying a favourite toy round between places.

We have just arrived back home from taking him to a soft play area, before dropping him off home. Would he go in the soft play? No! He was happy to sit with us and watch. Funny, really, because it is somewhere he goes with his mum.

Our best trips out have been to the beach which he loves (and his mum hates!) - we have great difficulty keeping him from toddling into the sea and keeping on walking.

I think you have hit the nail on the head gillie . The 2-year old (dream child) we've looked after from 9 months old, so he is well used to our routine.

Sadly we don't live near the coast anymore. I had a dog like that once, loved sea water, had to give up taking him to the beach in case he swam off