What is your oddest rule? - Page 3

[DoingDoing:Julie]

Originally Posted by Waldorf PC

I have a real problem with germs known as germaphobia. I do not condone anything to go in the baby's mouth that should not be there. The only things that go into my child's mouth are things that are meant for that purpose, such as teething toys, an they must not touch the floor for any length of time.

Should this happen, I take a baby toothbrush, brush the child's teeth, and then I disinfect the toy. The child looses priveledges to that toy for putting it into his mouth for a time. I do this as soon as kids start putting things into their mouth, even at the age of six months. Taking the toy away is enough to send the message that that is not acceptable.


Edited to ad:

Teething toys are returned immediately after disinfecting both child's mouth and the toy. However, other toys not meant to be in the mouth are taken away. I though I should clarify that. The message that I want to send is that the floor is a filthy place, and things that go into the mouth won't touch it, and that toys that do not belong into the mouth will never go there.

To avoid this much of the time, I am all for a play yard--fencing that you can make as big as the entire room to keep the child safely contained, and then a sheet is down on the floor to shield them from the filth. This way, I don't have to worry about germs.

I sure some of you may find me strange. But that is okay.

Hmm . . . inless your wearing street shoes in the house, floors are pretty sanitary. Shampoo your carpets and keep all shoes outside. MY DH and I even give our feet a quick rinse when we've been out in sandals, or sweaty socks and then come inside.
Sounds like you are punishing your babe because of your own phobia.

[*violet*]

You may not attempt to carry any of our pets (2 dogs and a cat). Trust me, this is necessary with three really obliging animals who will tolerate just about anything being carried by a 2 or 5 year old!

[H & J's Mom]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

I think I would've gone with a don't stick ANYTHING up your nose rule.

Oddly enough it's just blanket strings that go up there.

He eats them as well ... yes we've had to pull them out of his butt!! We have a no eating blankie strings rule as well

His sis had the same kind of blankie and she would jam it into her eyes (to the point of her eyelids turning inside out sometimes) for comfort.

I don’t know if it’s something with the blanket or my kids …

[aja-belly]

no pillows in the kitchen!

why this makes me crazy i do not know. my kids must pick up on that though cause they are always dragging pillows into the kitchen. blech.

[H & J's Mom]

Originally Posted by TinyMama

No taking the Swiffer into stores that sell Swiffers.

My 16mo currently has a love affair with ours, and I'm sick of explaining to store clerks that we actually brought our own Swiffer into the store.

[straighthaircurly]

These are hilarious to read...

Recently we had to make the rule "no holding baby snapping turtle races in the porta-crib"

Yes, seriously...my son did this with some turtles we had rescued (and have since released thank goodness)

[mamabearsoblessed]

'undies at the table' rule here too

our big one is 'be sure someone is ok before you laugh'. (eg: daddy flips of the back of his chair or Grandad trips trying the skip-it)

no naked butts on my pillows:

no making your sibling measure your ginormous poop

no clubhouse in my linen closet, this makes me crazy, everything unfolded and thrown about when there are already forts everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!

only the king size pillow gets ridden down the stairs, one kid per turn

no creatures left in the 'habitat' overnight

no licking the van windows



this thread rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Melanie_7773]

No, my breasts are not yours, they are MINE. Please keep your hands out of my shirt.

[tuppence]

This thread is hilarious. :

I'm trying to think what ours are...

No jumping off the coffee table into someone's lap unless you're sure they're looking.

No throwing balls to/at someone unless you have their attention.

[JamesMama]

No touching the dog's penis, I don't care if he 'likes it'

Thats our only 'weird one' the dog likes to be on his back and James has an obsession with his penis...it's disgusting.

[tubulidentata2]

No, I will not walk you down the street while you are wearing a dog collar and leash.

[EnviroBecca]

No driving on the dining table. Also, no parking on the dining table. In fact, no vehicles on the dining table, no matter what they are doing!

no naked butts on my pillows

We have that rule too. Also, no feet on my pillows. :

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by tubulidentata2

No, I will not walk you down the street while you are wearing a dog collar and leash.

LOVE IT!

[Serrendipity]

Originally Posted by Waldorf PC

I have a real problem with germs known as germaphobia. I do not condone anything to go in the baby's mouth that should not be there. The only things that go into my child's mouth are things that are meant for that purpose, such as teething toys, an they must not touch the floor for any length of time.

Should this happen, I take a baby toothbrush, brush the child's teeth, and then I disinfect the toy. The child looses priveledges to that toy for putting it into his mouth for a time. I do this as soon as kids start putting things into their mouth, even at the age of six months. Taking the toy away is enough to send the message that that is not acceptable. If the child screams, I let him. i walk away and let him get out his frustration. He'll learn that screaming is also not tollerated once he realizes he does not get an audience.


Edited to ad:

Teething toys are returned immediately after disinfecting both child's mouth and the toy. However, other toys not meant to be in the mouth are taken away. I though I should clarify that. The message that I want to send is that the floor is a filthy place, and things that go into the mouth won't touch it, and that toys that do not belong into the mouth will never go there.

To avoid this much of the time, I am all for a play yard--fencing that you can make as big as the entire room to keep the child safely contained, and then a sheet is down on the floor to shield them from the filth. This way, I don't have to worry about germs.

I sure some of you may find me strange. But that is okay.

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

Waldorf PC, I'm wondering if you understand that at six months a baby doesn't have the reasoning skills to understand what your trying to teach. It's also important to note that at 6 months old a baby doesn't necessarily have the same idea of object perminece as an adult or older child. To them the toy is gone for good. Finally, at that age the most sensitive part of the body is the tongue and it's how they explore textures and such.

Yes, I'm a germaphobe too, but I wouldn't expect a 6 month old to understand that I don't like him/her to put toys in the mouth and why, or be able to connect toy in mouth = toy gone.

I also think, maybe you should read the guidelines for Gentle Discipline. Advocating CIO in any situation is, I believe, prohibited.

: I was going to post much the same thing. I am not at all sure how you "disinfect" a baby's mouth, but the very idea slightly disturbs me. I can't think of a single thing that effectively kills germs that is safe to touch the inside of a baby's mouth, even a little, in the context you are suggesting. (Also, you must logically know it's futile and pointless anyways since you cannot possibly protect your child from all, or even most, germs, right?)

There are people who call themselves "germaphobes" who are just a little icked out by them, who maybe clean more than someone who's not bothered at all... and then there are people who let their fears/obsessions actually dominate or interfere with their lives to the point that they should maybe seek some help in letting go a bit. As has already been suggested, perhaps you would consider talking to a counselor about your fears instead of resorting to CIO and withdrawal of love as punishment? I just don't think it's very "gentle" to let a 6 mo baby CIO (even if it's just for a few minutes) to teach a "lesson" that the baby is very developmentally unable to learn at that point.



As for my own strangest rule, that award might go to, "We do not wear the cat on our heads. She is not a hat and she does not like it." Or maybe, "No telling your sister that her food is made of boogers. Her food is not made of boogers. (But if it was, it's the same food as yours, and you would be eating booger-food, too.)"


Serendipity

[Blucactus]

No naked bum in the cupboards!

No naked bum on the brand new couch.



Can you tell we are potty learning over here?

[rere]

I guess if I had a "no naked butt at the table" rule I wouldn't need the "no playing with your labia while your eating" rule.

Then there is the "nothing other than your own fingers in your body holes" rule.And please wash your fingers (with soap)if they've been in one of your holes.

[Scribe]

This thread has me rolling on the floor. Seriously.

No kidlets at my house, but we do have an odd rule: white towels for people, colored towels for dogs. We even have a sign.

[ShadowLark]

Hmm... no playing with mommy's belly button while you nurse. And no twiddling - MAN, that feels weird!
And that reminds me, I need a nursing necklace. She is BORED with my hands!

And no knocking over the furniture, for my two year old.

Yeah, we're pretty boring around here. Unless no feet on the table counts?

[kananaskismama]

some of our house rules are:

wear clothes if you go outside

absolutely no naked bums on the carpet, mommy and daddy's bed, or at the dinner table

the world is not a potty - use the potty

if you don't like your food, keep it on your plate - stop giving your bread crusts, cast offs and partially chewed vegetables to your brother (even though he eats them) or to the cat (even though she eats them).

[JamesMama]

New one...

I cannot decide if it should be a 'No going potty outside' rule or at the very least "If you must potty outside let Mama know before you go outside so I don't have heart failure"

We live on a BUSY highway, do not have a fenced in yard, and there are wild horses 50 yards from my front door...thankfully I heard the caretaker of the horses say "You have to go pee that bad? Does your mom know you're outside" a few seconds before I panicked.