Learning boundaries

[mariaclaire]

My LO is 9 months old and just getting mobile. I'm looking for some feedback on what are realistic expectations this age. For instance staying away from baseboard heaters or the fireplace - if I tell her no, or remove her from the object can I expect her to learn to stay away?

What do you think is the best approach to get a child this age to begin to learn boundaries?

[AGF]

At nine months, I had to remove them from the area they weren't able to touch and said something like "not for babies!". And then continued to do that ALL DAY until about 15 months or until I gave up and put a barrier up.

My husband swears some of our gates will be up until the duo are ten.
ha.

[Alexander]

Ah! My favorite subject! :joy:

Originally Posted by mariaclaire

For instance staying away from baseboard heaters or the fireplace - if I tell her no, or remove her from the object can I expect her to learn to stay away?

No. Especially at this age... No way. If you have not child proofed your home up to 24 inches, you and your SO need to get down and do! And I mean, quite literally, get down to "face at floor level" and see what your bundle of joy is going to see and encounter.

Children at this age are designed to try everything, do everything, pull everything and taste everything, bite everything and piss on everything.

That is what the are here for. This is her job.

You (& SO together) have to neutralise the environment and fill it with child safe items.

If you have a sexy glass coffee table, move it to the garage or out the way. Same with irons, kettles of any temperature, soldering equipment, glass, cups, knives, cables, the cat litter, tools and anything smaller than a golf ball...

If the remotes matter, get them onto high surface. Same with CDs, jewellery, reading glasses, important papers, dog food, and anything smaller than a golf ball.

This is your job.

Originally Posted by mariaclaire

What do you think is the best approach to get a child this age to begin to learn boundaries?

Physically restrictive non human boundaries and no exceptions.

We had an 18" high plank across our galley kitchen entrance. It was no entry. Not even if they were carried. We could step over, they could not. When DW or I went in there, we went alone. We were still right next to the tots. They stood at the entrance while we did the dinner making ballet, and we all chatted away.

When they were about 2 1/2 or so, and we could really have a conversation, we asked them if they would like us to take the barrier down. Then we went round the kitchen with them, and explained the "ouchy" things (like the power socket), and the yucky things (like the grime under the bin). We opened all the cupboards, (no chems at crawl level) and they lost interest after 10 mins.

Never serve goodies in or near the kitchen. Always at the table (or anyway, away from the kitchen entrance.) This means that if you shout "goodies" they run away from under your feet

sigh Ahhh! It all comes back to me now!

[mariaclaire]

Thanks for the replies. It seems logical to me not to expect LO to understand about not touching things at this age. Do you have any suggestions for child proofing baseboard heaters?

[aunt2jmss]

Originally Posted by mariaclaire

Thanks for the replies. It seems logical to me not to expect LO to understand about not touching things at this age. Do you have any suggestions for child proofing baseboard heaters?

I have a home daycare with baseboard heaters that I was required to cover. My solution may not work for you, but it is cheap and easy to do. It was the only way I could figure out how to cover them and keep them fire-safe.

I bought some wire shelves that are put together with circular brackets (they come in flat square panels). I assembled the shelves into a "cage" type structure. I then put eye bolts into the wall above the heater and used zip ties to attach the "cage" to the bolts. I like them because you can lift up the "cages" to vacuum under them and remove the small toys that are inevitably shoved through the holes in the "cage".

I'm sure I'm not explaining this well and I can't see how to attach pictures to this post. So, if you need more of an explanation or would like me to e-mail you pictures, please ask!