Hi, I have an eight month old son, and when I tell him NO DONT TOUCH he laughs at me , I say it with a strong firm voice and he still doesnt listen he just laughs and laughs and goes to do it quicker ,What should I do? How do i get himt to listen or understand the word no?
In every baby I have come across and toddler too, one word is better than several. A loud firm Oy! or STOP. Startles them enough for them to actually stop and more often than not you can then distract them...or rescue them. My Mum's I worked with often looked as startled when I would OY their kids until they saw what their kids where in frozen motion of being about to do.
If you string words togethr they think you're talking to them, at that age he is probably experimenting with the volume of his own voice so he probably thinks you are doing the same. Grab his attention with a quick one sylable word, NO, ARH, OY, STOP what ever, they all work as well as each other. Oh and when I say loud I don't mean scream it or anything, just louder and heaps firmer than you general speaking voice, imagine the volume you'd use if he was about to touch a fire or walk under a truck....thats the voice.
He is laughing because he is doing an action that is getting a reaction from you. He has learned this and he thinks he is being funny and clever.
I know that this is frustrating, but remember, he isn't trying to annoy you, he is just growing up and learning about his boundaries.
Even though he is very young, try to distract him first, then if he continues, pick him up and move him away from the area he shouldn't be. Try to save saying no for really important /dangerous occasions, otherwise he will just become immune to it.
Always remember to make a huge fuss when he does something to please you, or something that is good, that way he will try to please you to get your attention instead.
I give a short sharp Aagh sound which gets his attention then say no and take him away or physically move his hand/body away from whatever he's doing. Ignore his laughter (even though it can be irrisistable at times) and look like you mean business. He'll soon figure out what it means, just be consistant.
getting down to his level and looking him straight in the eye and saying No in a firm voice can help.... i find this helped when my kids were little and with the foster kids i have that come through... Also removing him away from what you dont want him to touch helps as well..
Good luck and i hope he grows out of this mischief stage for you soon..
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