How do you handle when LO doesn't listen to your "no"?
L is 8 months old and he is getting into everything. Usually he's very good about staying in his play area when I am getting something in the house done but when he grabs things he shouldn't (picture frames, phone charger cord, etc) and I say "no" he just smiles at me.
Is he too young to understand that when I say no, it means stop the behavior? How do you handle if?
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
At that age, I got rid of anything dangerous that interested her and redirected her attention elsewhere. I think they're way too young to understand "no" at 8 months so all you can do is remove the forbidden item and distract him w/something else 
pomelo / 5093 posts
Yes, that is way too young to understand a no. Redirection, removing the objects, or creating a safe space for him are your best options.
cantaloupe / 6017 posts
Yeah, I think they're too young. Distract or put it away. I generally want her to be able to explore as much as possible, so I close the bathroom door (because I can't make that room safe) and just follow her as she gets into stuff.
pomelo / 5678 posts
Create a safe space for your baby. We have the rainbow superyard from target. It is about the size of a king size quilt so she has plentry of room to roll.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
I don't think you can put everything away. I think by combining the word/command "no" with removing from the behavior they eventually learn that no means move onto something else.
honeydew / 7687 posts
Sorry, that is way too young to understand no IMO. I would look into getting a playard if you don't want to move those things where he can't get at them.
apricot / 461 posts
I agree that a baby can't understand that / be disciplined. I just work on re-directing and showing LO how to do it nicely/gently, etc. For example, if my LO is hitting the dog, I just gently take his hand and show him how to pet nicely.
apricot / 469 posts
Our pediatrician talked about this and said that although they will understand 'no' they can't really understand that they should obey it. She advised the use of the word 'no' consistently in the situations that warrant it and then distract him. She said that the use of the word 'no' now will pay off later when understanding expands.
pomegranate / 3791 posts
@T.H.O.U.: I agree. Too young, but they do need to learn what it means, so if you say no while re-directing them, they'll figure it out eventually.
Although 8 months is pretty young, I've seen the whole "Oh they're too young to understand, just move everything!" go on until a child is wayyyy too old. But if you start saying no and re-directing now, they'll figure it out as soon as they're old enough. I've been telling my 8 month old no every time he pulls my hair pretty much his whole life. I can't wait until he understands it! Haha.
cantaloupe / 6017 posts
I think it's worth considering what you want to say "no" to, as well. I've seen kids whose parents just say no to everything, and it loses it's meaning. I'd rather make a safe space for them to explore and save no for times when they are being unsafe with themselves or others.
@wonderstruck:
pomegranate / 3791 posts
@Silva: That's true. I guess I'm thinking more along the lines where kids are doing something dangerous or trying to hit or bite someone, and the parent basically just says they're too young to understand so why bother. I'm probably projecting a bit because this tends to happen a lot with some of my other family members with little ones, like their one year old tries to smack my 8 month old and they do't say no since they're too young to understand. =/
I guess the middle ground is move what you can and re-direct a lot, but if they are doing something where they're going to hurt themselves (power cords, for example), then you tell them no as you're re-directing.
nectarine / 2054 posts
@Aimed: @wonderstruck: I agree - even if it seems like they don't understand yet or it's not getting through, being consistent with your "no"s and continuing to say no before redirecting eventually paid off for us. When LO was 13 months or so and was starting to talk, he started to stand in front of things we consistently had told him not to touch, and say "no no no". Then we could praise him and he liked that there was something he "knew"! It seemed for a long time like it wasn't getting through so why bother, but I'm now very glad we stuck with it.
pomelo / 5621 posts
We've made our house as safe as can be for our 10 month old. We want him to be able to explore, but we also have to teach him what he can or can not explore. Even though he doesn't get it yet. For instance, if he touches the fireplace we tell him no touching and move him away.
cantaloupe / 6164 posts
I started telling Sadie no & re-directing around 7.5 months even though she definitely didn't get it. I would say by 9-9.5 months she got the concept, and now at 11 months she stops whatever she's doing when I say no. We have a safe, gated off area for her to play, so I try to only use no when she could possibly get hurt. She is crazy adventurous and curious, so her learning "no" was very important to me!
honeydew / 7687 posts
@Silva: yes! I agree. We try to only say no when it's a safety issue. Or a sanitary issue I guess... he knows dog food/water is off limits. After the 500 millionth 'No, that is for the dog' and redirect.. he is just starting to resist the temptation to splash and taste 
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts
At our 1 year check up my doctor asked if our LO understood no (she did at that point) but told me not to even try any form of discipline until 18months because she just wouldn't get it
honeydew / 7444 posts
At that age, LO was always trying to get into the electrical sockets. I would firmly tell her no and then move her away. Even though it's tiring, i feel that consistency is best. Getting rid of unsafe objects is also good too.
pomegranate / 3393 posts
I couldn't imagine my 7.5 month old understanding no or the idea of discipline. We also try not to instinctively use the word no so much, because we fear it will wear off its effectiveness. So, redirection/distraction it is for now.
apricot / 342 posts
@wonderstruck: @silva: excellent points ladies thanks!
Thank you all! I don't want L to feel like he can just do what he wants but I also don't want to be too hard. Thank you all for your responses. I figured he was too young to understand me but he seems to think its funny so I thought I would ask your opinions.
Thanks!!!
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
I honestly think it depends on the baby whether they have any understanding. Take my kiddos: If we sharply say "NO!" to Elliot when he's grabbing for something, he stops, looks at us, and will often go find something else. He's 10.5 months old now and has been acknowledging "No" in that manner for about 2 months, with more and more frequency. Sometimes if he's reallly wanting something (dog food usually-gross), he'll keep going back, and we have to move him somewhere else/redirect. With Finn, however . . . We say no, he looks at us and grins and will reach back for the same object while watching us. It's like he's trying to see if we'll really stop him or not. I think he at least kind of gets that no means he's not supposed to do whatever, but he is just mischievous and strong willed and is going to push more limits than E. Obviously, with little people, like ours, they're still learning the concept of no, so sometimes they seem to get it and sometimes they don't.
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