[jammomma]

So, over the weekend my inlaws came to visit us, and my MIL of course thinks I am a terrible mother because I don't freak out when my son touches the electrical outlets, which are all babyproofed.<br><br>
My 10 month old son occasionally goes over to the babyproofed electrical outlets, and investigates them. I typically go over and remove him from the outlet if he lingers, and say one simple and firm no and redirect him to something safe. I don't make a big production of it because I think this makes him more interested in them. Our hope is that he will just realize they are nothing of interest and will eventually ignore them.<br><br>
My MIL however, saw him at the outlet and repeatedly said, "no,no,no,no,no,no" in a loud panicked voice. I asked her to calm down, and told her we don't make a big production of it.<br><br>
She of course gave me the stink eye and I am sure is telling all her family I let our son play with the outlets.<br><br>
But maybe I am wrong? Should we make a big fuss everytime he checks out an outlet?

 

[TortelliniMama]

With my kids, I think your mil's plan would result in a baby who periodically decides, "Hey, let's play that 'No, no, no!' game!" <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[AFWife]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>TortelliniMama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15373634"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">With my kids, I think your mil's plan would result in a baby who periodically decides, "Hey, let's play that 'No, no, no!' game!" <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"></div>
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Same here. We learned that really quickly.<br><br>
You said they're babyproofed, right? What's the deal then? I mean, I can understand her freaking out if it was a naked outlet. He's just exploring.<br><br>
And if he's anything like my son he's wondering what this THING is on the wall and why can't he pull it off like Mommy and Daddy can...

 

[elmh23]

As long as they're babyproofed, then I don't see a problem.

 

[JamieCatheryn]

That's sure to backfire, you're doing a great job keeping it cool. My DS2 loves it when he gets that kind of reaction out of me, and will purposely go take apart the floor threshholds, try and open the potty, try and get into the trash, just to get my attention. One time I was away and DH was watching him, he wanted me so he went and did all those kinds of things one after another while saying mamamama, hoping it would summon me.

 

[MeepyCat]

There's covers on the outlets? MIL needs to chill.<br><br>
My DS was one of those danger babies who actually tries to stick his fingers into uncovered outlets, which is how I can tell you that baby fingers are simply not appropriately shaped to go in the little holes. By comparison, baby-sized eating utensils can slide right in. Unless your child is prying the outlet cover off with a fork, he's unlikely to hurt himself in the situation described. The more you freak out, the less attention he is going to pay when you do.<br><br>
You need to leave yourself some reaction levels above your normal, every day ones, so that when he gets into things that really are spectacularly dangerous, your more over the top reaction sounds to your child like the voice of God, not just like business as usual.

 

[AFWife]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>MeepyCat</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15373965"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">You need to leave yourself some reaction levels above your normal, every day ones, so that when he gets into things that really are spectacularly dangerous, your more over the top reaction sounds to your child like the voice of God, not just like business as usual.</div>
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This is great advice. It was Dr. Sears that said they had a specific reaction to let their children know that the behavior needed to stop. They NEVER used it any other time.

 

[jammomma]

Thanks mamas! All our outlets are totally covered and he rarely even messes with them. But I just wanted to make sure I'm not totally off base with keeping our reactions lower key.

 

[r&mmommy]

I think your reaction is fine.<br>
I don't know your MIL and how she is normally, but I do know that before there were babyproofed outlet covers, they were babies who died from sticking things like utensils and metal toys in sockets. I would tell her to chill (very nicely) but I would also be understanding of her fear.

 

[violet_]

Well, your outlets are covered, but I think the concern is if baby thinks they're not a big deal and then decides to explore an uncovered one at a friend's house or something.

 

[leighi123]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>violet_</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15375546"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Well, your outlets are covered, but I think the concern is if baby thinks they're not a big deal and then decides to explore an uncovered one at a friend's house or something.</div>
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Thats why I have always kept ds away from them. I dont freak out though, I just redirect him. Well, now that he is older I just remind him that outlets are not for messing with and he leaves them alone.<br><br>
My ds could pry those outlet covers off from about 12months old, so they were useless at that point.<br><br>
I had a friend in elementary school who was missing 1/2 of one of his fingers b/c he stuck his finger in a socket when he was a baby. It was wet from drool/sucking on it and obviously zapped him pretty bad!

 

[jammomma]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>violet_</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15375546"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Well, your outlets are covered, but I think the concern is if baby thinks they're not a big deal and then decides to explore an uncovered one at a friend's house or something.</div>
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So how do you deal with it? What do you do to prevent a 10 month old from checking them out?