Jasper demonstrating bad behavior!

We’ve spoken about discipline before, but Jasper was a bit younger and less able to understand consequences.  Redirection is fine, but what if he repeats the behavior over and over again?

Every morning when I go into the bathroom to put on my makeup Jasper runs to this ledge infront of the bath and climbs on it. I wouldn’t mind so much if he just sat there like is doing in these pictures, but most of the time he’s crawling around, leaning over the bath, turning on the hot water etc.  The tile is hard and would not be a very forgiving place to fall, not to mention that he shouldn’t be turning on hot water faucets!

No matter how many times I tell him sternly “NO!” or even forcibly remove him from the bathroom and close the door (leaving him crying on the other side) as soon as I open the door again he runs right back up.

He is also in the habit of constantly turning the burners up or down on the stove when something is cooking on the stove top.. my “No” elicits fits of laughter, even though I carry him away and sit him down somewhere else.  Clearly he thinks it is some sort of game.   Redirecting him works in the moment, but it isn’t teaching him not to repeat the behavior.

Even worse, he very recently started biting me! Clearly this is a behavior that he must learn is completely unacceptable, but I’m at a loss on how to instill this in him.

I am anti corporal punishment, if only because I know that even my mild “roughness” with him when I pick him up and move him away elicits a sort of aggressive response in him – he starts to hit in the air, etc. I don’t want him learning agressive behavior from his parents.

Please share what, if anything, has worked for you to end undesirable behaviors (or at least curb them!)..

And on a completely unrelated note, I have to post this because it’s too cute not to share: I present to you “Jasper Potter!”

So what do you do when your toddler’s FAVORITE games are things that they shouldn’t be doing? Things like opening the garbage can and sticking hands inside, lifting up toilet seat and immersing hands in water, hitting mommy in the face while nursing, changing the channels on the TV (not the cable channel, the actual TV channel so there is only white snow) and even dangerous things like trying to open the stove while something is in the oven – or Jasper’s newest favorite thing – standing on toys like the seat of his car/walker?

If there is anything even SLIGHTLY on the iffy side in terms of safety, he’s ALL over it. Like how he likes to balance on the little “step” of his baby jail. Not really dangerous, but he does slip and fall on the hard wood floor several times a day from hanging out there. I only really include it here because it’s funny how he does it and watches me.. like he’s taunting me to dare to tell him to get down, like he knows maybe he shouldn’t.

C'mon mom, what's the big deal?

(*pictures have been edited from when originally posted at the request of the background subject*)

I’ve TRIED redirection, but the act of say herding him away from the trashcan makes him think it’s some sort of fun sport – I am the trashcan goalie and he’s headed in for the hat trick.

And sadly I have to say the TV issue has deteriorated into me saying “NO” slightly loudly and firmly which has only resulted in him now running towards the TV shouting “NO, NO, NO!” and THEN changing the channel.

If this is one, I am absolutely terrified of the terrible twos!

It’s funny because I feel like his “challenging” toddler behavior has increased ten fold from when we last discussed it. His interest in mischief seems to increase exponentially with each passing day.. and I seem to lack the tools to know how to instill and understanding of what NOT to do in both benign and dangerous situations.

How do you handle household dangers and ickies?  Do you feel like redirection works or only increases interest in the object?