Nanny 911: Getting Toddlers to Listen
My 18-month-old, who just became a big sister, does not listen! We try talking to her nicely, sternly, even yelling ... nothing works! She runs away from us, doesn't help clean up, etc. Trying to run after a toddler and also taking care of a newborn is really stressing me out.
An 18-month-old can be a handful, but add a newborn to the equation and, yes, there can be chaos! She needs a lot of attention, especially now that there's a new member of the family, so try to give her lots of positive attention. Get down on the floor and play with her, practice listening games when she is calm, like "Stop and go!" calling out her name, etc., and give her lots of praise when she gets it right. And make cleanup a game! Plus, you can't expect an 18-month-old to hold your hand and listen when running in the street—this takes lots of patience and practice, so keep at it. Give her lots of praise and pick your battles!
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Nanny Deb
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