Sixteen month old son who's very wild and into everything?

I know how you feel! Mine started when he was 1 and hasn't stopped. He's now 2 1/2. DVD player...not sure what he did to it, but I had to buy a new one.

I know you're against spanking, but what about swatting his hand when he grabs or starts to reach for something he shouldn't be touching? Might have to swat it a few times, but it's worked for me. Being consistent in punishment is the big key. Even if you have to do the time out, he'll catch on in time. As for spanking, if they are doing something that they can get seriously hurt (climbing on top of furniture, playing with electric cords, ect.-dangerous situations) they get one warning, then I do spank them. Yes, my house is child proofed, but everywhere else in the world isn't.

Hang in there, as I know how irritating it can be.

You should pick out a new time out position where he cannot play with toys at all. A good rule of thumb is to make the time out equal one minute for each year he is. a twominute time out is the maximum. Sit him on a small stool in the kitchen and dont let him get up to go find a toy.

Keep in mind he is only 1 1/2 and doenst understand much right now. Time out only really starts to work for 3+ year olds, when they start to understand right and wrong.

Toddlers will be toddlers, only discipline him for things that are dangerous like opening the front door or jumping off the couch. Everything else is just playing to him.

I noticed you said there are way too many toys in his room. It is possible that with so many choices he is overwhelmed and gets into trouble because he can't decide what to play with.

I had exactly this problem with my son (now 2 1/2).

I took away most of his toys and put them in storage. I just left the few things that he seemed to play with the most often. Once in a while, if he seems to be getting bored with his toys, I put some of the toys from his room into storage and get out some toys that he hasn't seen for a while.

His behaviour has been a lot better. It is easier for him to decide what to play with. He gets "new" toys once in a while and it is also much easier to keep his room neat.

I'm not saying that my son has suddenly turned into a model of good behaviour. He still does things he knows he's not supposed to and goes looking for trouble on purpose!....but it certainly helped.

When you get an answer, please pass it on to me! haha I don't think there is an answer for this one. We just have to keep trying. And if something doesn't work, try something different! I'm having lots of trouble out of my 2yr. old. VERY busy, talkative, determined individuals, aren't they?!! My nerves get frazzled from day to day, but we're just learning them like they're learning us.... it's very hard and exhausting, I know, but you're child is at a very hard age as far as comprehending the do's and don'ts. It should get a little better for you in a few more months. My son still is a handful (and always will be) but he did start to understand my commands/request a little better around 23-24months.

ADVICE on the toys: if there are too many, then put some in bags or storage containers and only leave his favorites (they only play with certain ones anyway, right) and put them in a closet or attic and swap them out as he bores with the ones he has. I did this and it's wonderful to be able to walk in my sons room now!! lol

OH, in my experience, children whose parents don't spank catch on to this pretty quick and therefore will terrorize everyone they can b/c they know they aren't getting spanked. I see nothing wrong with a good swat on the booty, it lets them know you mean business!

Lucky you to have the gift of a small child! It sounds like your sixteen month old is running your house! Wow, just listening to you tell about him, wears me out. Is there a father in his life to help you? You will have to agree and work as a team to set up some structure.

I had a little boy who was very busy and very hard to discipline. Punishing him was hard since he always found something to make him happy. He is now an attorney with a son of his own.

It sounds like your son is totally indulged. A TV in his room, at sixteen months?! Why would you want to get your baby addicted to TV?! Perhaps you need to go back to the idea that whatever he gets are privileges, and simplify his room. I know you said you don't want to take away toys as there are way too many, but do you want to create a monster? Think about it. If he is out of control at sixteen months, what will he be like as a teenager?

He is not too young to recognize there are consequences. Perhaps he is overstimulated with media and toys. Maybe you could try some simple techniques, like taking things away from him. For example, take that pacifier away from him except when he is in bed. Simply tell him, "You may use the pacifier only in bed." If he wants to lie in his bed, he may suck on his pacifier. There will be no more pacifiers jammed in your electronic equipment. He is not too young to understand this. I did this with both of my children.

When you tell him no, you must mean it, no matter how busy you are or how hard it is too enforce what you say. If you tell him not to touch the stereo, do not allow him to touch the stereo. I never put away my breakables even when I had a two and four year old of my own, and I babysat a newborn, a six and eight year old. I had one item broken by the children in my life. I did not spank or hit. I removed them from the item and firmly told them they could not touch it, replacing the item with an item they could play with. Stick with it, distracting him and leading him away from the forbidden object. When a toddler threw items in the toilet, I took her hand, and made her retrieve it. She never did that again. We interacted together a lot, going outside to play, going on picnics, to the petting zoo, to parades, to the library, to parks, on walks, etc. They all learned that they had to behave to earn these adventures. We read books, after they picked up their toys. If he can walk, he can pick up toys.

You say he is smart. Then do not underestimate him! Help him learn self-discipline and you will both be a lot happier in the years to come! Remember, it is hard working raising a child into a responsible adult.

Good luck with your little angel!

Set some toys aside. Hide them in a closet. Then he will have less to entertain him and excite him. Rotate the toys. They will seem new to him and create some interest or new uses.

Try to put him in a playpen for a little each day. Put his favorite toys in there so he has something to play with and you get a break. You could also buy one of those gates that are in the shape of a circle and keep all of his toys in there. This way he has plenty of room to move around, but can't get hurt or get into anything. I don't know if he understands no yet. I don't know if discipline (besides saying no) would work. You could try to slap his hand or his thigh when you say it, good luck!

Toddlers go through a period where everything is spontaneous impulses. They literally can not control some of their reactions.

Curiosity is another culprit. He is so curious about the world around him. Unfortunately it can mean the ultimate end to a lot of your possessions if you are not careful.

Now that he is mobile the world has opened up. So many things are accessible that were not before.

Continue to discipline, and follow through with time-outs. Take a deep breath and do it again.

It gets better. Honestly.

Haven't you often wished that children came with an instruction manual................ well, they don't and you have to react accordingly. If he touches something which is not his - smack his hand and say "NO!"

Children do NOT need every toy in the world - throw 80% of them out (or donate them) - he does not play with them anyway because he's always into your things.................

You do NOT need to 'child proof' a home. Children need their areas and they also need to know where they are allowed and not allowed to be or what to touch or what not to touch.

It sounds like your son is completely bored and you have no idea on what to do with him so you just become frustrated instead of teaching him what's allowed and what's not allowed.

I went through this with my first son; I had nice things sitting on a coffee table and I also had a small shelving unit for his toys (in the living room because his room was way too small). I would notice him trying to touch my things and instead of yelling at him I did just the opposite. I sat on the couch, sat him on my lap (to be eye level with him) and told him "you see this here (pointing to an object) - this is mommies pretty. You can touch it once, walk away, leave it alone and play with your toys". He got down, off of my lap, touched the item once, walked away, went to his toys and played. He never touched anything of mine more than once because I allowed him to get that second on inquisitiveness out of his system.

When his sister and younger brother came along, they were always at me feet in the kitchen. I cleared out a bottom cabinet, placed only Tupperware, pots and pans there. When they wanted to be in the kitchen with me - this was their area to play and that was that. They knew this and NEVER got into anything else. I've done the same with my grand daughters and I've NEVER had to 'child proof' my home from my children or my grand daughters.

By the way, spanking does NOT teach a child to fight back - only abuse and beatings do that...................

He's just a boy. I realized that with my second child (My boy). My daughter seemed real easy to raise. I think boys are just naturally curious and have to figure out what makes things tick. My son is 13 months old and gets into everything. He keeps my wife and me on our toes constantly. He makes us chase him up the stairs when he knows he's not supposed to climb them. He knows he not supposed to do certain things but likes to test us. My mother says it will pass. She said we were the same way and my sister was much easier than us boys were. Try not to lose your temper or patience with him. He is learning. I love seeing my son figure things out. They're all just boys.

I have two little twin brothers. i babysit them every day over the summer and they are 18 months old. i put them in their high chair and give them a cookie. they are happy, and stuck in one place. so then i talk to them, even though they dont understand. u have to be firm and say "that wasn't right, and if u want any more treats, you should better be being a good little boy. Alright?" say it firmly and he will watch you closely. then in a few minutes say "GOOD BOY!" and take him out of the high chair. my brothers stop after that. atleast for a while. then i do it again, and they'll be good again.