So, you UP'ers, what DO you use?

[FlyingPigs]

I read UP a few months ago and agree very much. in principle. Where I struggle is with specific incidents. Just an example, DS, 26 months and I are in the post office. I am waiting in line, he keeps going up to this divider chain and swinging on it. Each time he does it, I leave the line, go over and explain to him that he could break the chain and get hurt and that I would like him to stop swinging on it. he keeps doing it. I try distraction, doesn't work. I can't pick him up and hold him because I have packages in my arms...he would probably sream bloody murder anyway. I even once said "If you swing on that chain again...", then stopped because I didn't want to threaten him. So, in a case like that (or in a million other cases where I NEED to say no), what do I have in my arsenal?

I feel like sometimes I am saying "Don't do that please...If you do that again, I will ask you AGAIN not to do it" - to infinity.

???

[LynnS6]

I bring a stroller. In cases like this, I put the packages in the stroller (or on the floor) and hold my child. Strollers are very useful for caring all sorts of things! Yes, they may protest at being picked up, but generally, I've found that it doesn't last that long. If it does, I leave the post office and try again on a day when it's not so busy.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by FlyingPigs

I feel like sometimes I am saying "Don't do that please...If you do that again, I will ask you AGAIN not to do it" - to infinity.
???

Just wanted to add that I try really hard NOT to keep asking until infinity. Either it's something I decide that i'm OK with OR I physically help them comply. I will warn them "I need your body to be safe, so I'm going to help you." but saying something over and over again either means I don't really care and I'm just doing it because of what other people think or that my actions and my words are in conflict. Kids respond much better when they agree.

[alegna]

That's just too young to expect him to resist something fun looking. In places like that dd is held or worn in a carrier.

-Angela

[artsyfartsymama]

The stroller is your friend! I think at this age they are still to young, it's just too hard when something so fun is right there. I usually plan errands like that when I can either have help holding ds or a stroller with to carry the baby or packages.

[sunnysideup]

It is hard for a child this age to resist something interesting. Like others have suggested, a stroller is a good idea in a situation like this. I try to bring some fun distracting things--small toys or little treats--when I have to do boring errands like the post office.

[maya44]

ITA with the stroller, either for your child (if he's the kind of kid who likes a stroller) or for the packages.

Your explanations are a nice thing to give to your child, but they are mostly for future reference. You can NOT expect your words to control his actions. You must do this physically (and of course gently)

If he protests for more than a minute, I would leave and plan to come back the next day as soon as the post office opens.

[delicious]

that is a tough situation. i would probably ask him to 'help' me in some way (this is what i do in the PO with my 2yo and 5yo, well she can actually help but...) and if that didn't work i guess we'd have to go or put him in the sling or something. it's not easy, that's for sure, and a 26 mo probably will not 'get ' that just yet. but i can also relate to having a 2 year old who wants to be DOWN and not in a stroller or sling.

[rmzbm]

Oh a carrier, DEFINATLY!
Or...you could try my DH's approach...say "Listen little man...if you chill I'll let you drive home!" Hehehe...he did that with DS2 yesterday at an ice cream stand...he was running around & wouldn't calm down. Expect more bad behavior though when you don't follow through!

[UUMom]

Honestly, you have to lose the expectation that words matter all that much to a little toddler. I mean, you can talk "I need you to be safe, here let's go do something else" etc. Distract distract distract. But telling a baby not to do something exciting looking---simething exciting right in his face? LOL No. It doesn't work that way.

They do grow, of course. But right now, it's hardest and you can only do what you can do. Threatening wouldn't work, anyway, because the desire to move is too great at this age.

The onus is, sadly, on the adult to change the scene. Which is hard when you're waiting in line.

[abac]

I agree with the others. I usually avoid situations like that, or if I do have to go to the bank or somewhere similar, I only go when ds is well rested and bring food or a toy to keep him occupied. If that doesn't work and he is still getting into stuff, I leave and come back another time. Even if what I'm doing is important and has to be done today.

FWIW, I let ds hang and swing on those chains and at 30 months he has yet to break one. He just knocks them over.

[DevaMajka]

Someone said once on this board, to ask once, then change tactics. I loved that advice.
I usually ask a few times, using different words and all, but try to change tactics instead of repeating myself, hoping that THIS time he'll think "oh yeah, that makes much more sense now that she's said it 15 times." lol

[writermommy]

We don't have mail delivery in our little hic town, so the post office is a regular errand. If I am mailing things, dd stands in line with me and puts the stamps on the envelopes. The other day she did this with her baby brother's birth announcements. She loves doing this and it distracts her. Other times I will get the mail out of our po box and she helps me by opening all the envelopes. She is having fun and staying out of trouble because she's not bored.

[NinaBruja]

Originally Posted by writermommy

She is having fun and staying out of trouble because she's not bored.

yes, boredom is the root of the issue. cure the boredom and you solve the problem.
we usually go to a mailbox store here, its usually empty with alot of running around room and no tempting chains to swing from.