Dare Devil

[Sarah Ebner]

My son (almost 14 mo.) jumps off of everything. He is completely fearless of water, heights or loud noise. I cannot get him to respond when I say, "NOOOOOO!!!!!!" And he has no memory of the last time he fell.

Does anyone have this issue? How do I baby proof without getting rid of all of my furniture? When does it end and is there a way to redirect him at this age.

Thanks,
Sarah

[Anci]

I think that boys are very mobile and hyper at that age. I think short time-outs are good at this age but they can't be long. I think it's a minute per year of age. 1-1/2 years old-1-1/2 minutes. When I was in college I used to be a nanny and I used to make the little boy face the corner so he couldn't see what's going on. he didn't like that at all.When you find something that they hate, you know you've got something that will be effective.
Keep reinforcing any time he reacts appropriately, and take away or remove what ever may be causing the problem for anything physical...Try being firm, explain why it's not OK,. Maybe some one has other advices...I am a first time mom myself, but I have a 11 mos daughter, so we're not there yet,all I can tell you is my experience from when I was a nanny.Hope that helps.

[Three Ms]

I think the best thing to do is just keep a close eye on him. As he gets older he will get more coordinated and he'll probably learn a little more what he can and can't manage.

[Zicea Becks]

OH My...I feel your pain! My only son is 4. now all this time, i had nothing but girls.....i guess it never occurred to me that i could have a boy. i was content with girls.


So fast forward to about the same age as your babe, Denim was always rolling and jumping off of things. He would fall and hurt himself, I screamed. my husband though it was great! After a while, i realized that nothing hurts him. he'd cry for a nano-second, and then move on. I'm left in shambles.

I tell him no, but if he does it anyways, and hurts himself...then he's gonna have to learn.

now at 4, he waits until an adult leaves the room and he climbs on the table in the foyer, and attempts to do back-flips off of it!

basically, ya just have to keep close eye, without being a worry-mom.

[Christine]

It's not just boys. My Daughter, now 5, was exactly the same. At that age I don't think punishment really works, they don't understand the connection between the action and the time out. Basically I just tried to make things as safe as possible for her by putting cushions below things she tended to fall off of, removing or blocking off dangerous furniture and taking her out to places like gymboree and other indoor playgrounds where everything is padded so she could climb safely and get that energy out of her system. The results: I have noticed that these days she is far more coordinated and agile than most of her peers and she is extremely self-confident since I didn't end up making her scared to attempt things.