At my wits end with DS. HELP!

[Amatullah0]

He is obsessed with opening, and standing on, the dishwasher and oven doors. He wont keep them closed. Duct taping only worked for a short while. he is obsessed with climbing on me. when I nurse him, he has to push on my throat with his arm or foot. Today I put him in his bouncer until he figured out how to get out(crying the whole time, while I also cried, because i am freaking FED UP!) Making messes are fun. The mess isn't fun(if it was, that would be fine, it could occupy him for a while) but no, just making the mess is fun. So, knock down the pile of papers and move on to something new. I have to stand up all day or risk being climbed on, having my shirt pulled on, and him wanting to nurse(and push on my throat). He wont freaking leave me alone. yesterday DH came home to ds playing in the living room by himself, and me reading my textbook in the bedroom(with the door shut)(I had only been in there for about 10-15 min), right now he is screaming. not because hes mad, but because its fun. or maybe because he's excited. no idea what hes excited about, lol, but now he is spinning in circles and running around. today(like yesterday) there was a LOT of screaming(my own), enough that if I had been outside the door, I would have been concerned for whoever that crazy lady was yelling at. I came closer than I ever have before to hitting him. but i feel like, if I were to hit him, i'd probably knock his head off. I think i really need to get out of the house with him, but its sooo cold, and so snowy and icy out there. 

[mom2grrls]

I would suggest gating off the kitchen since climbing on the dishwasher or messing with the oven is dangerous.  I would def work on some nursing manners also, kellymom.com has a section on her website on how to work through that.

[chaimom]

Oh my gosh-- that would drive me batty, too.  Sounds like you definitely need to get out of the house and let your little guy get some exercise.  Is there a play gym anywhere nearby?  Even sort of far?  I would sign him up for a toddler gym class and take him as often as possible.  Then, I would also create a place in your house where he can climb.  When my twins were babies, the basement was their mecca.  We had a smallish playset down there that had a little slide, a place to crawl through and a little swing.  When they were about two we added a trapeze bar to the ceiling that could also switch out to a swing.  It kept them busy many, many, many mornings and evenings.   If you can't do that, is there a separate climbing place you can make for him?  What about forts? My days were always most difficult if I didn't get outside.  I wouldn't normally say this, but I wonder if you want to consider one of those child gate systems that are basically a big wrap-around gate that would prevent your son from creating messes everywhere he goes. I agree with pp that you'll probably need to gate off your kitchen so he doesn't climb on doors.  My dd used to do that on our dishwasher and we had to get a new one.  :(  

As much as you want to scream, though, maybe you can keep in mind that this is how toddlers learn.  You just need to figure out a way to keep him focused on areas that are OK with you.  And if it's any consolation, he WILL grow out of this soon and if you've been directing him toward more appropriate behaviors, he'll soon know the rules.

[MariaDaizi]

Lots of fresh air and activity does help me alot when my little girl is going nuts. Also, the make latches for fridges etc. Making your space as kid friendly as possible will cut down on your stress alot!

[PikkuMyy]

How old is your son?

[sweetkid]

Winter with a busy toddler is very hard! I'm right there with you!

I am also a bit of a yeller and ds is very sensitive to my moods.On my good days I am able to remember that the kids are modeling my behavior.

Libraries are great places,and you may want to look in fyt for a local playgroup,something YOU can look forward to each week.

My ds is just a bit younger than yours,my dd is 4,I bought and read the PLayful Parenting book this summer with her in mind,it is geared towards older children,but I really have been having great sucess with the toddler using some of the play ideas. We have a good bit of play together,say 30 minutes,doing exactly what he wants(yes climb on Mommy is HUGE),and I also spend a good amount of time setting up his blocks &animals into little barns,he loves cars and garages,his sisters stroller and babies,kitchen bowls and spoons and the babytub filled with snow(when it melts all over your kitchen floor you dry it with a towel and whala,clean floor).1to2 really is a magical year breath deep and pretend to enjoy it and in no time you may find that you actually DO enjoy it! If not be assured that it passes and the older they get the more they undertstand

I found nursing beads really took care of the nipple tweeking and ending a nursing session when "manners" weren't being used.

Good luck! I hope you find some relief soon.

[Amatullah0]

DS is just about 19mo

i have a lot planned for today, out of the house, so it should be a good day(yesterday was a LOT better, even before we got out of the house. I don't know if it was just me or if ds was actually having a bad day, because yesterday, i met AF(first time in a LONG time, gotta love BF!) 

I don't like the library too much, because DS just tends to get into things there(and he's a major book ripper) but I've been meaning to get to the mall. we have a really cool play place at the mall, we just have to get there early enough so its not crowded. But i suppose it might not be too crowded on weekdays... we suck at getting out of the house early though. I hate having to get him dressed for the weather, I hate getting myself dressed for going outside, and I hate the actual leaving the house part, lol Not to mention, ds isn't even awake yet! its 10am! he usually sleeps at midnight and wakes around 10. if we wake him before that, hes cranky until he goes to sleep. but we're doing better now :)

as a side note, I think i figured out a trick to keep him out of the oven -- bake in it! lol, he KNOWS not to go in there while its hot, I guess I managed to teach him this early on... but as soon as the oven was cool again, he was right back in there! OY! On the glasses thing, I'm about 1000% better now, I got contacts yesterday so i don't have him pulling off my glasses anymore! yay!

[D_McG]

Every time my kids did stuff like that with the DW, I put them in a gated area.  They got the message quickly.  Same thing with nursing.  Anything other than just nursing and we were done.  Like, They wouldn't even have a chance for their feet to come near my neck.  Good luck!

[Minxie]

You can find locks, magnetic or otherwise, for cabinets, dishwashers and ovens at your local hardware store. The magnetic ones are very good as they are impossible to open without the key, even for an adult. The plastic ones are okay; I'm not sure if there is a magnetic one for dishwashers and ovens but definitely use the plastic ones at least until he is a bit older and can control his impulses better.

Check craigslist and freecycle for a small climbing toy with a slide; usually made by Playskool or Fisher Price but you can get wooden ones also (I think). If you can set one up in his room, it would give him an appropriate place to climb and play. He's going to climb. My son climbed out of his crib at fourteen months so I know whereof I speak.

If he enjoys making messes, let him loose on the bathroom or kitchen floor with some water and/or finger paints. It's pretty easy to clean up, he'll get to make a mess, and your floor will be clean when you finish! LOL! Give him some bowls and spoons to bang; at that age, noise and mess is how they learn. Create a space for him to do so and let him at it.

Also I would suggest putting papers and things you don't want damaged away until he is older. At nineteen months, he going to be curious and into everything; harness that to your benefit. My son learned to put the clothes in the front loader at that age, then he would sit in a chair with a snack for "Toddler TV" - the washing clothes spinning round and round.

He loved to pretend he was cooking when I was so I pre-cooked foods for him (so he wouldn't choke if he ate something) and gave those to him with a bowl and spoon. Did he make a mess? Sure but at age 4, he can cook eggs and toast with limited supervision and he asked for an eggbeater for Christmas.