nothing else I can do...

[mommysarah5]

I'm pretty sure there is nothing else I can do at this age, but it's worth a try or at least a vent of my frustration...

I have a very bright 14 month old. He speaks at least 25 words, uses some sign language, and understands soooo much. He also understands how to purposefully not listen. He's in this take his diaper off phase - especially before going pee or right after going pee. So we put him on the potty every time he takes his diaper off and then put a new one on. he's not using the potty, i don't expect him to. Anyway, sometimes he pulls his diaper off just because as well. So if he jsut peed and I just put a diaper on him and he's trying to take one off I tell him to keep it on. What does he do? *runs* into another room to take it off. He's smart. It's on purpose. I realize it's lack of impulse control though and just because he understands doesn't mean he really gets it... but it's frustrating... like we're kind of stuck in this inbetween stage. Of course, all I can think to do at this age is redirection. But it's tough.

and he climbs on EVERYTHING.

definition of climbing on everything:
climb on chairs - check
climb on kitchen table - check
climb inside the dryer - check
climb into a drawer - check
pull out another drawer, one up on the other side, so he can climb into that - check
proceed from there to on top of the dresser - check
get into the bathroom, climb onto the toilet, from the toilet onto the vanity, into the sink, turn on water, give self bath fully clothed all within literally 20 seconds - check
try to climb the wall, putting foot up on the wall so high he falls backwards - check


So, somebaby proofing helps. How do you baby proof a wall though? how do you baby proof the baby?

so it's just a lot of redirection. Sometimes its cute, but I am running running running like I never had with any other kid before. I can't keep up with just him and I have 2 others to worry about too.

Okay, enough rambling on my part. Any ideas are welcome... or just some hope that I will live through this.

[foreverinbluejeans]

Some kids are that way and you have to watch them as best you can and always know where the ER is. My third child climbed on the refrigerator and on top of the car. He did survive, he is now 21 and has many scars, has had many stiches, and several broken bones.

There are some extra child proofing things you can do. Think outside the box. Put door latches up high on outside doors and bathroom door. They have refrigerator locks. You can take the handles off most stoves.

Duct taping diapers helps. Clothes with buttons and bib overalls are harder to take off.

When he was 2 we taught him STOP. We would only use stop for emergencies and then it meant freeze. We would go over it about once a month with his brothers and role play. It saved him from getting run over by the zoo train.

[crazycandigirl]

Sigh. DD2 is like this. She is 21 months. She climbs on everything, she also gets into everything. She has pulled the huge dresser over on herself twice (thank goodness it threw her out of the way when it fell). She can turn on and off the dishwasher and open it up (she has flooded the kitchen floor before by doing this). She can open doors, climbs on tables, breezes through childproof locks, and is such a crazy little handfull. I love her so much and she is such a trouble maker.

So my main way of parenting such a spirited and curious child is to never let her get more than about 5 feet away from me. Ever. Dead serious about that as well. 24/7 she is within a lunge and grab of me (or her daddy). It is the only way that I can be sure that she is reasonably safe and it still does not guarantee that things don't happen. It puts a serious strain on me and limits what i can accomplish and what freedom/ free time that I have.

We spend much of our day in her bedroom- which is for right now a playroom. I have an extra tall babygate in the doorway instead of a door. It has long and very tall slats on it and she has not figured out how to climb it yet. I have taken the knobs off of the dresser and have it turned around to face the wall- so no using it for storage space right now. I have a tv/dvd player on top. I also keep a basket of dipars and wipes up there. I took out all the toys except for one toybox and a picnic basket full of playcloths. I am going to have to move the picnic basket though, she has been using it to climb onto the windowsill and pull on the curtins. I have a loveseat that blocks the closet so she can not get into it. With this setup, I can bring my laptop in the playroom, DD1 comes and goes through the house as she pleases, DD2 can be "free" to play without feeling confined or getting into too much trouble. if I am doing chores, it is while she sleeps near me, or while she is snacking, eating, or coloring in her highchair. I even shower with her to make sure she stays out of trouble.

I hope that as she gets a little older she will find more to busy herself that will not be so dangerously adventurous. It is a very tiring time I hope that you find something that works for you. Sorry I wasn't more help. but you are not alone.

[One_Girl]

You will get through this. In another year your baby will have a lot more impulse control and won't be experimenting to see if you meant that he can't do the things you say not to in every room or just the room you are in currently and you won't have to chase him so much. If you can nap with your baby then I really suggest that. It really helps a lot.