https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:26:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321402 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:25:08 +0000 yerpie110 2321402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Typically, I'll act super shocked and say yes, yes, yes! while chasing her around and tickling her for a minute or two. That breaks the ice and she's usually distracted enough to comply on her own. If that doesn't work, I'll say what others have mentioned (i.e., yes, we have to take a bath. You can go in by yourself or I can help you - you choose). I will try to distract her with favorite toys and bubbles, but sometimes, she just wants to cry, and I let it be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321391 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:23:05 +0000 littlejoy 2321391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: "I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm going to help you get into the tub." </p> <p>Or, "I hear that you don't want to take a bath, but you need to. I can help you in, or you can try climbing in by yourself." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321342 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:00:55 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2321342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: HAHA - I love that she will say you're the boss! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321327 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:54:23 +0000 LuLu Mom 2321327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: +1! I do the same thing and if she continues to fight me I say "who's the boss?" and she usually pouts and says "mommy's the boss" and she gives in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321270 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:41:02 +0000 erinbaderin 2321270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mostly just laugh, to be honest, because he's pretty new to saying no (21 months) and he says it so thoughtfully, like he's really weighed all the options and he would rather not. We try to phrase things in the form of a question ("Bennett, are you ready for a bath?") so when he says no we can say "Ok, well then you can have two more minutes playing and then we'll go." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321264 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:39:50 +0000 Ree723 2321264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tell her 'we don't say no when mummy asks/tells you to do something', and then acknowledge her feelings (eg 'I know you'd rather keep playing now but if you do a good job in the bath with no fussing, you can continue playing after you're all clean'). I also do the subtle 'threats' as well, although I don't like calling them that - eg I will say 'little girls who don't know how to listen must be tired, and tired little girls need to go to bed as soon as their bath is over'. That usually motivates her to get in the bath.</p> <p>And despite all this, there are definitely times where the entire bath consists of tears and a massive struggle to get her clean..... Threenagers are no joke! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321258 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:37:23 +0000 Applesandbananas 2321258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following. </p> <p>No has been the bane of my existence in recent weeks. I've been yelling, which is not the parent I want to be. In the past, I've tried most of the above, but lately he's just so so so defiant, which I think is directly related to me yelling. I think it's an epic tug of war and the more I yell (pull the rope), the harder he resists (pulls the rope). </p> <p>Hoping for some new strategies :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321240 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:30:46 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2321240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In that case, I say "either you get in the tub or I'll put you in - which would you prefer?" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321232 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:29:04 +0000 ElbieKay 2321232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I count to ten to give him time to adjust to the idea. It usually works. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321213 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:23:52 +0000 ShootingStar 2321213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS did this last night. Usually he loves bathtime and he wasn't interested and seemed tired. So first I tried to convince him with bubbles (which he loves). Then I told him that I'm going to go in the bathroom (he doesn't like to be left alone). When that all fails, we say "ok, time for pajamas and bed time."</p> <p>Baths are not worth the fight to me. He takes one almost every day, on the rare occasion that he refuses, I'm not going to physically force him in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321201 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:20:50 +0000 winniebee 2321201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovehoneybee: Yes that's another method. "If you don't get into the tub right now, we won't have any time to read books before bed." So he usually jumps in. And if he doesn't, I won't let him have a book... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321163 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:09:48 +0000 lovehoneybee 2321163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I take a similar approach to @winniebee:, and if he still refuses I tell him I'm going to turn on the water. He usually freaks out and says he wants to turn the water on, and willingly climbs in. One of the times the "I want to do it all by myself!" thing works in my favor (we usually let him turn it on, and then I check the temp). On the off chance that he still refuses, I say "Okay, if you don't take a bath then you can't read stories tonight", and that will get him in without a fight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321152 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:07:47 +0000 winniebee 2321152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I hear you saying you don't want to take a bath. I understand that, but you have to get clean before you go to bed. It's time for your bath. if you don't get in now, I'll put you in the bath myself. It's your last warning. WE've had a few baths that he has cried the whole time....it's usually not baths that are an issue though...it's usually getting dressed for school or stopping playing in order to eat a meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321136 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:03:44 +0000 Truth Bombs 2321136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remind her that we do not talk to mommy that way, ask her to apologize, and then do something similar to @winniebee:, ask her if she wants to get in the bath herself or if I'll need to put her in there.</p> <p>ETA to address your follow up to Winniebee, if she still refuses I physically put her in the bath and wash her as quickly as possible and if she wants to fight and cry the whole time that's her choice. I remind her the whole time that I'm sorry she's unhappy but we need to take a bath and get clean and try to offer bath toys or distract her/calm her anyway I can. Though the physical aspect of that battle is getting tougher at 32 weeks pregnant! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321132 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:02:56 +0000 mediagirl 2321132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: and if he still says no after you ask all of those questions? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321129 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:01:38 +0000 winniebee 2321129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>"Are you going to climb into the bath yourself or do you need me to help you in?" Still no? "Do you need two more minutes before you get into the bath?" Usually, that's a yes, and then I say "Are you going to climb into the bath yourself or do you need me to help you in?" To which he usually says I'll get in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-your-lo-says-no-to-you#post-2321108 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 09:55:53 +0000 mediagirl 2321108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And they mean it.<br /> You say, "Your bath is ready, let's go get in."<br /> And they say: "NO. I not taking a bath tonight!" </p>