Baby Boot Camp

You'd think we had him in Basic Training for the military or something.

Grandma offers to change a diaper, and heads upstairs with her grandson. He climbs onto the bed, lays still with his hands at his side and says "pees." (Please)  This makes an impression on Grandma (not sure what kind of impression!), and she tells me about it.

Lately, I've been bribing my son to cooperate for diaper changes by turning the tv on while I change him. The deal is that he has to climb onto the bed, lay still and ask me to please turn the tv on. When it works, it's great. I can get the new diaper on in no time.

Of course it doesn't always work. Sometimes it's just a big game, and he'd rather run around giggling, butt-naked, and I end up wrestling him to the ground. I guess that's the Reality School of Parenting, huh?

The little guy is 22 months old, and definitely "gets" a lot of things now. He knows when he's doing something he shouldn't, but so far we don't have effective consequences for him. But we're ready to start the 1-2-3 system of time-outs. I have the video from the library, and just have to decide where the safe place for time-outs will be.

Have you been there, done that?  Where did/do you put your little one for time-outs?

Comments

[nat]

A chair in the kitchen. I tried their rooms, but that didn't work for time-out, since there was too much for them to do in there. I, of course, stayed in the kitchen working during the time-out, so I could keep an eye on them. I'd speak to them after the time was up, too, to discuss (briefly, depending on the child's age) why they were there and how to avoid being there again.
Good luck, Marie!

[Anita]

Been there. Done that.

I used their bedrooms for time out, but their bedrooms are pretty stark. I only keep books in there - - toys are in a separate area of the house - - so there's nothing to do except read. Which they don't especially care for.

I can't believe your son is 22 months old already. He sounds so adorable when you describe him!

[Marie]

Thanks Nat. I'm thinking we'll need to strap him to a chair (kidding, kind of). He doesn't usually stay put unless there's tv involved!

Thanks Anita. Yeah, I've thought about his room, but it's anything but stark, as he now lives in our "junk room." (nice huh?) I'm thinking of his crib, but I don't want him to associate that with punishment. Hmm. Yep, he'll be 2 in March. He's completely adorable & blowing us away daily now with the things he does. Just amazing.

[Kristi]

Well, I haven't BTDT, but I think that tv/diaper changing story is too cute. 22 months already? Where does the time go?

[vw bug]

Ours was beside the couch. It was convenient and worked out fine. He could not see the tv on that side and was within my site no matter where I had to go. I did have to use a timer with him. For him and for me. Good luck.

[Uisce]

I usually used an out of the way corner in whatever room the offense occurred in, unless it was the playroom, and then the kitchen would work well enough. With my youngest, she's 8 now and I can still get her moving just by saying "1..." :)

[InterstellarLass]

I used corners. I had two though that typically got in trouble together. So I had to find two separate corners where I could still keep an eye on them both. If they were crying, they couldn't come out of timeout until they stopped.

[running2ks]

We just went with counting, removing privileges, and then having quiet time/nap in the bedroom.

[running2ks]

Oh, and that kid is adorable with the pees :)

[MommaK]

We had a special chair that was just for time outs. We now use the corner. If you visited my house on any given day you might hear my husband or I simply say "corner". The 6 year old knows the drill.

Good luck with your little man:)