https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 15:21:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1220331 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 21:15:57 +0000 matador84 1220331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try and tell her what you want her to do instead of what you don't want her to do. For example, my son is 14 months old, and there is a step from the house down into the garage...so if I'm unloading the car and I've already put him in the house, instead of saying "Don't..." or whatever, I say "I want you to stop right there so you don't fall down," and I have found it to be successful--in this instance and others. </p> <p>I know it's not the perfect solution, but I feel like I've found it to work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1220160 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 19:39:29 +0000 MamaMoose 1220160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tidybee: I swear toddlers have an innate ability to be attracted to the dirtiest thing around!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1220146 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 19:31:15 +0000 googly-eyes 1220146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you need to create some type of environmental limit to go with the instruction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219948 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:52:57 +0000 sarac 1219948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that kids that age aren't developmentally ready to follow rules to any real extent. Sure, some people have exceptions, but I think that it's mostly a lost cause at that age. And yeah, your kid may look at you with some kind of cheeky grin, but that's just because they're aware that you'll react to their action. They're not sitting there thinking, 'hey, I'm going to break the rules right now just to bug mom'.</p> <p>I'm a firm believer in a childproofed home, or at least a very large childproofed area in your home where you spend most of your time. We just removed all hazards (very little, really), strapped bookcases to the wall, etc. This was far, far more worth it to me than power struggling over things she wasn't allowed to touch. I also wanted her to feel like this was her home, and that it wasn't full of things that weren't for her. Obviously the oven and such can't be removed, but you get my point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219945 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:52:50 +0000 Tidybee 1219945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: mine too!!! I don't understand the obsession with the dog's bowls. She has recently started licking them as well...so gross. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219939 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:48:46 +0000 shinymama 1219939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, THIS! My LO will look at me, touch the item, and then shake his index finger at me. Nothing like being mocked by a 14-month old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219920 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:33:28 +0000 sunny 1219920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all! I guess we will just keep working on redirecting until she starts to understand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219623 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 14:39:28 +0000 hilsy85 1219623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others, I remove the object or remove LO. He loooves sticking his hands in his diaper pail, so if he doesn't listen when I say no, I either move the diaper pail out of his room or we leave his room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219610 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 14:36:16 +0000 littlek 1219610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that young age, redirection. LO is almost 18 months and he is getting much better at listening to what I say and following instructions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219429 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:30:32 +0000 HLK208 1219429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E has just started listening to directions a little more at 17 months. If we tell her the fireplace is hot, she will yell hot and not go near it (even though we have to watch her still, of course). I just started letting her be more independent for a fun reason, like making cookies, she can pour the flour and watch the mixer but I say "no touch" and she nods her head and doesn't touch.</p> <p>But like I said, this just started happening! Before, we just had to remove her from the area or remove the object. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219421 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:26:45 +0000 looch 1219421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remove the object. My husband is of the "he has to learn" school so we often get into arguments, but I'd rather not deal with messes or boo-boos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219419 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:25:43 +0000 Honeybee 1219419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that age, we just try to remove the object. We used to have a wall heater DD liked to play with, so we put up a gate so she couldn't reach it. We also had a gate going in to the kitchen, so she couldn't reach the dog food/water. Babyproof whatever you can! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219410 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:23:12 +0000 sorrycharlie 1219410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I had an answer. we're dealing with the same at 13.5 months. Yesterday, she almost pulled a lamp down on her head (I was 2 feet from her!!) and I said no! very firmly (I rarely use 'no' because she repeats it at me) and picked her up and she laid her head on my shoulder and sobbed and sobbed. I actually was concerned that I had somehow hurt her, or that she'd hurt herself, that's how hard she was crying. But she eventually stopped so I'm thinking she was either sad that I was firm (i didn't yell!) or that I startled her??? I have no idea but I felt terrible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219408 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:22:22 +0000 MamaMoose 1219408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>UGH. I wish I knew. My LO is only 11 months but her current favorite activity is dumping the dog's water bowl onto herself. Good times. If I catch her about to do it and say "no ma'am!" she smiles at me while she rushes to complete her mission!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219395 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:20:27 +0000 plantains 1219395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know it is tiresome, but homestly we have found that we had to keep removing her from the situationa dn giving her something else equally interesting to do. She is finally st 16.5 months starting to get it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219390 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:20:03 +0000 MsLipGloss 1219390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: It's too soon for obeying verbal commands (at least on a regular, reliable basis). Redirection (physical) is really your best option. Fwiw, I am right there with you! (my LO is also 14.5 months) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219386 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:18:34 +0000 mediagirl 1219386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only thing that worked at that age and at this age (17 months) is removing the object (haha for things like the oven) or removing the child from the situation. We don't have a fireplace but a gate like the XT gate would work well there. </p> <p>If she keeps doing something I don't want her to do downstairs, I take her upstairs and v/v. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-handle-young-toddler-not-obeying-instructions#post-1219372 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:16:35 +0000 sunny 1219372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been trying (with any success) to get my 14.5 month old to stay away from a few things in the house which are dangerous or gross like the fireplace, recycling bin and a floor lamp. She knows she isn't supposed to touch those things because she will sometimes give me an impish smile or look to see if I am watching.</p> <p>She doesn't seem to respond when I tell her calmly "don't touch". When I redirect her, she just goes right back to whatever she was doing. I've tried a more stern tone and raising my voice... neither of which work.</p> <p>How do you handle your young toddler trying to touch things they aren't supposed to? </p>