Toddler's 'dirty protest'??

Minxy_Bella

mpet wrote: »

Must admit - I find it hard to imagine how he gets to to the poo so easily. Now the weather is cooling down - can't he be put into dungaree type outfits, where it would be nigh on impossible to get to.

I wouldn't think it was anything to worry about or anything that needed drastic measures taken to correct.

Thanks, I'll suggest that too.

Lyger

My kid sister used to do this. It wasn't a long phase though, thankfully - a few firm 'No, that's dirty' 's later, and she soon grew out of it.

No idea why she found it so entertaining

Kimie

Minxy_Bella wrote: »

My friend has a two year old son who's very bright and active, although his speech is not wonderful yet. He's going through a phase whereby he's playing with the contents of his dirty nappy - despite his nappy being checked at least every twenty minutes or so.

It is possible that he has realised his actions result in being checked every 20 mins and he could be doing it for attention. I'm not saying your friend isn't paying attention to her son but sometimes little minds don't understand that the everyday chores need doing and mummy can't play 24/7!

Artytarty

My son used to wake up in his cot and do this in the morning, including finger painting the walls and the cot bars! the knack was to get it off before it dried!What a job that was.
After about 6 times I moved him into a bed, I think he was bored in the cot!
Health visitor seemed very confused as to what I should do.She had to ask "further up" Advice came back to pin his babygrow up or put it on back to front...?
oh, and he's a perfectly normal, very bright 18 yr old
Tell you friend its just a nasty phase and not to stress too much.

squirrelchops

Using Freudian psychology here the little boy is most definitely in the anal stage of development whereby he is fascinated by everything to do with his anus yes including what comes out of it!!!

He is seeking and gaining gratification in what he is doing at present. To put this into a better understanding he would have have gone through an oral stage.....this is usually associated with gratification from oral acts ie suckling as a baby.

Freudian psychotherapists would suggest the little boy is going through a normal stage of development.

Of course how accepting you are of Freudian psychotherapy depends on what you think of Frued!! Personally I think basing all your psychology around the subconscious and often sexual aspects of the brain in a bit pervy!!

Anyway....psychological development at 2 would also suggest an emergence of ego within the boy hence why people call it the 'terrible 2's' as children begin to be more demanding and it is all 'I'.........

As per other posters I would suggest this is part of normal development even if it feels a bit scary at the moment. I certainly would not advocate the cold bath way of doing things. This is based on conditioning the child to learn certain consequences of action....very behavourist in approach.....think Pavlov's dogs.

liney

Minxy_Bella wrote: »

Thanks for that - I'm not quite sure why you feel it necessary to show such disapproval of other parents' methods though.

I don't always agree with how other people raise their kids but I don't think there's any 'good grief' about it.

I started this thread as my friend is concerned about a) her son's development and b) the awful mess and risk of contamination. I've not had this problem myself so couldn't help her. I'll suggest that potty training is the way forward and she can see how that goes.

Did you see a woman in America caught on camera hosing her child down in a car wash on the news? They were trying to track her down to prosecute her. Those are the kind of people who suggest putting a toddler in a cold shower as a punishment.

I could think of much stronger things to say than "good grief", when suggestions like that are being seriously considered.

ChrisCobra

Cold shower.... why not use a tazer. Crazy people.

tandraig

ok - Im not a child development expert tho i have studied it on OU courses. Its quite normal for a child to be interested in the contents of thier nappies! and for adults to take a quick look down the loo before flushing!!
as a mum of three and a grandma of six - have come across this once or twice myself. the answer is - if they are still in nappies a roll of sellotape comes in handy! once clean nappy is fastened a quick couple of turns with the sellotape seals it in! also a nappy pin is harder for them to undo at the bottom of the allinones than the snaps.
when they are in pants - thats a bit trickier - as i havent had this prob - perhaps they have grown out of the fascination by then? but i would suggest that the dungaree type clothing may be useful - tho its not as quick to get off when they 'need to go and now'
i would never ever give a child a cold shower - what on earth are people thinking of. and i would only smack a hand which was in danger - plugs fires etc. I wasnt a supermum and i know i did lots of things wrong - but i did try to use common sense and kindness!

Money_maker

My LO has a habit of hands down nappies (15 months) so we now use the bodysuit vests with poppers at the bottom. Sorted.

ria.pulls

Maybe showering a child to remove faeces isn't ideal to everyone here but to be honest when I was washing down my child with normal tap water it seemed more important to get him clean and stop the offending matter being transfered into his mouth than to be running a nice bubble bath.

It wasn't specially ice cold water, he wasn't put through a car wash, I didn't smack or injure him, I wasn't horrible and didn't harm him.

I just wonder how people feel about children playing with water from the hose in the garden or in a paddling pool? Or even a dip in the sea at the beach can be cold?