First I would like to start out by saying that I love both of my children...

Okay, lately everything I do my 19 month old does the total opposite. My 1st dd was not like that (not to compare). Let me expand...I put her clothes on she goes right behind me and takes them off, I tell her to lay down she gets up, I tell her to stay off of my bed and she gets on it (for the 10th time) and jumps some more, you get the point. I cannot count how many times she has gotten hurt by totally disobeying me...example...falling off of my tall bed, falling off the stage at the church (when told not to get on it several times). I am seriously seeking some advice and help here, I feel like I am at the end of my rope, I cannot teach her anything, she falls and gets right back up and does it again. HELP me out pleeeease....somebody has got to have some kind of technique for these "wild" type of babies.

I do not expect alot out of her, being as she is only 19 months old, but I know plenty of babies that are not into everything like she is, I cannot even go over to ANYONE'S home without having to have my total workout for the day getting her attention off of this and off of that and chasing her up the stairs, getting her off of the kitchen table and computer desk. She is like a little monkey. All of my family thinks it is funny because I am never sitting down at all, I am constantly running after her.

By Melanie on Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 10:22 pm:

Have you tried offering choices? The first example you gave was about clothes. Perhaps she wouldn't feel the need to take them off if you were to show her two outfits and ask her which one she would like to wear. I know with my strong-willed daughter, giving her choices makes a HUGE difference. Good luck!

By Trina~moderator on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 07:09 am:

Sounds like my DD when she was little. If we were home she was naked. That was a given! LOL! I would dress her 3 times and she would strip down! I finally learned not to bother dressing her until right before we left to go somewhere. If she didn't listen the first time I would physically remove her from the situation and distract her with something else. She was always "busy"! If I didn't keep her occupied with something acceptable she would find mischief. I don't know why I'm talking in past tense because she's still like that, although not to the same degree as when she was a toddler. A book that has been very helpful is Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. I highly recommend it.

By Fraggle on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 09:10 am:

I came to this board when my youngest was two for the same reasons. She is three and a half now and has definitely had her share of tough stages. I got a lot of great advice (and support) from everyone on these boards to make it through the toughest stages.