I have a wonderful 22 months old son who for several months developed a very bad habit--whatever he's currently drinking (limited to only milk, juice and water), he loves to spit it out-leaving wonderful water marks on the carpet, or on the kitchen floor. It first was only with water, but includes his favorite, juice, which he only gets once a day at lunch. We used to let him take his sippy cup everywhere--in the house, outside, etc. He's never (so far) done it in the car. We've tried most ideas--only having the sippy cup at the highchair, reducing the amount of liquid in the cup, even verbal and light physical discipline. Telling him no is usually enough to get a reaction from him. When we do let him have the cup freely, we try to watch him and tell him no, don't spit before it happens. Sometimes that works. I don't like limiting his liquid intake, and he really does like water in addition to juice and milk. I've also tried only letting him drink from the cup (outside of mealtimes) if I am the one holding it. None of these things have any lasting effect.
I'm just curious, too, if any one else has dealt with this. I know it's probably just him asserting his independence, and experimenting with liquid, but it's frustrating for multiple reasons. First, my wonderful hubby gets tired of cleaning thecarpet (and I'm so blessed he's such a helpful housecleaner!). But also, I get tired of having to discipline my wonderful boy.
One other problem--my husband usually forgets to not let my son run with the sippy cup. So then I find out and that's usually when gets into trouble. Thanks, all.
PS: all this did start long before our 5 wk dtr was born.
Have you tried the sippy cups with the straws. They work great and like I said are spill proof. Drinking out of a cup with a straw might make him feel like a big boy.
First, I would put a plastic table cloth under the high chair to protect your carpet.
Second, remember that the word discipline means "to teach" You will disciplining your son for the next 16+ years.
Third, it sounds like you are on the right path and understand what's going on. And, I think you already know that it's when the rules are suspended (having the cup around the house) he takes advantage. No spitting means no splitting. Food and drink will be taken at the table/high chair until that STOPS (except when brushing teeth) If he spits at the table, no drink. He'll survive.
J.,
I have been reading a lot of books lately (my baby is due in 23 days), and your situation struck a cord with something I just read in a book titled, "What babies can say before they can talk". You mentioned that you knew your son was probably just experimenting and liked the cause and effect he was learning about (liquid in mouth, spit it out - very cool for a little guy and very frustrating for you). The book talked about acknowledging how cool it was that he had figured out the 'cause' and effect' and possibly even doing it with him, but explaining the right time for doing such things as spitting water out of his mouth (i.e. bathtub, outdoors). Part of why he might keep doing it is the reaction he gets from you and your husband, neg. or pos., so maybe he just wants to be acknowledged for what he has discovered. ??? It also suggested replacing that new found cause and effect with another (less messy) one. Just a thought, I am not a mom yet, just a nut reading lots of books :)
Good luck!
Hi J. G.
The same thing around H.! Actually, I am trying to stop this with my 25 mo old son, and I think Gale is right. I am repeating to him all the time he does it that we don't spit. I am not giving him a zippy cup or any juice box unless he is on his chair, and when he drinks water he has to be in the kitchen with me on his chair. If he spits the juice or water out, I always take away his zippy cup, and I say to him "that is not nice, if you do it again, I will not give your zippy cup back" It is really boring and frustrating to repeat all the time but repetition and consistency is the key.
Good Luck!!!
I have the same at the moment with my 15mth, the only thing i do when he starts is say no and then take if off him,he only does it after he has had a drink so i know he is no thirsty,then give it back a little later.The extra cleaning we dont need.lol good luck.
This is pretty normal. With my two children, I applied logical consequences, I had them clean up their own spills when they spilled things - even at 22 months (done nicely not maliciously). I also had rules where they could drink and eat. You can also take the cup away when he does it - saying nicely that we don't spit out our juice, water, etc. If you are spitting out your juice you must be done with your drink. I am sure if you are offering him drinks through out the day he will get enough fluids. He will eventually change his behavior if you and your husband are both consistent. It sounds like your husband is in training too. If he constantly has to clean up he hopefully will not let your son run around with the sippy cup. I would also provide lots of opportunities for play in water in ways that are ok with you.
Sounds familiar! My son goes thru phases. He did it when he was around your son's age, stopped, and recently started again. Like a pp said I make him clean up his spills and I take his drink away immediately. Also don't make a huge deal out of it or it becomes a game. Tell him no, take it away and go on with what you were doing.
A new baby is in the house and he was wanting attention even negative will work.Keep up on the limited intake in his cup and the persistant with the no's he will move on to something else but discipline doesn't end with spilled milk.I have 2 children of my own and know exactly what you are dealing with
I provide home=based childcare. My rule for drinks: only in the kitchen, & never is a child/toddler allowed to wander with a drink or food. Once they're off the bottle, drinks are periodic thru the day....not continuous. MIlk & juice are for snack/meal time....water is served in between.
While this sounds very structured, I seriously wish that I had this system in place with my own children.
If your worried about him not getting enough fluid you can make sure his snacks are "watery" like applesauce, grapes, watermelon (most fruits). Babies R us has a big plasic pad that goes under the highchair. That might help in one area.
Jealousy works in funny ways but as parents we have to find the answers. When one of my children was a biter the doctor told us the only way to stop is to bite back and sure enough it worked. Now I think that sounds pretty wild but maybe "biting" back once might work (just watch what it is that you do it with) or just take away the things he does when he does it-he can drink all the water inthe world and be just fine. If he does it with his food then you may want to be stronger and feed him by himself or turn him around towards the sink or something to make it uncomfortable for him at "dinner". Try talking to him about this problem and listen to what he tells you-it requires you to ask him "is this what you mean? I hear you saying this... Are you mad? at what are you mad about?" Be direct and get him to tell you as direct as he can-it may be he misses you and is looking for your attention but be careful not to start something that will take a lot longer to get done. is there some small task he can help with his new sis? Maybe fix the tape on her diaper while you hold it? or bring things to you and talk to her while you are fixing her needs?-Be careful little people like to think they are big enough to do stuff when you don't want them to do...always stress we work as a team-you could always wake him to keep you company at that wonderful 2:00 AM feeding-I would bet that would only be done once. :)He could sing with you to the new sis. Good luck
Hi J.,
My daughter (who is now 3), along with my friend's two children also spit out their drinks. It EVENTUALLY stopped like all other phases. Just keep on doing what your doing. keep re-iterating the fact that "we do NOT spit anything out of our mouths." But also tell him he did a good job when he doesn't spit. He will EVENTUALLY get the picture.
Best thing to do is only let him have a sippy with just water that he can keep with him thruout the day. Only give him the juice and milk at dinner time at the table, when you see him spit the liquid out take the cup away from him put it out of reach but so he can still see it and tell him NO we dont spit and let him know he can have the cup back if he dont spit. Wait a couple of minutes and give it back to him, if he does it again take it away and tell him NO we dont spit. Keep doing it until he understands. It will take awhile but he will realize that he dont get the sippy cup until he is done spitting.
My son did the same thing and its the method I tried and it worked. We also did it with the water sippy cup if he spit it out I would take the cup away and tell him NO we dont spit, he would get mad cuz he wanted the sippy, I said you can have it back if you dont spit. It took awhile but worked he dont do it anymore.
Good Luck
I know what works for one may not work for others, but its worth the shot.
Been there! One thing we do at our house is allow the kids to spit in the bathtub. That way, they have a place where they can do it. My 22mo old daughter just yesterday was spitting her water at the table. I just reminded her "no spitting except in the bathtub" and took her cup away. I liked how I read from another that she had her kids help her clean up, I'll try that next time! I'm sure there will be several more reminders (this is the beginning of one of the most trying times, 2-4yrs of age). I'm sure things are hard now with a new baby (and your exhausted!). Just remember that they are not doing it to frustrate you (even though it does!). Giving extra attention and hugs will go a long way at this stage! Good luck!
We had the same problem with our son. We started putting chocolate or strawberry syrup in the milk, then gradually put less until it was regular milk. He's now 9 years old and milk is one of his favorite drinks.
He is getting alot of attention by doing this. You could try ignoring it or at least not reacting so much to each spitting event. Wait him out and he will stop once he is no longer getting such a reaction. Try putting him back on the bottle. Explain to him that when he stops spitting that he can have his sippee cup back.
