The "No" factor

We’ve all seen the Jimmy Fallon commercial for Capital One, probably multiple times, with the baby that says “No”. He’s cute (and the baby is too :) ) but any parent whose youngster has learned the word “No”, knows how annoying it can be to hear it over and over relentlessly.



So what do you do to get them past this stage? First, know that this is normal. As your child becomes more independent and has their own ideas, they can physically resist what they don’t want and they learn the word “No”. They may also ignore you, run away from you and deliberately do what you tell them not to. They are just trying to express themselves. So what can you do?

Try changing the situation: if your child is hungry or tired, deal with that first and make sure bed times and meals are consistent.

If this is a new situation: Give them time to adjust to one change before introducing another.

Encourage cooperation: Be specific as to what you want and tell them what to do instead of what not to do. Teach them the words to express their feelings and don’t be confusing.

In the end, keep it in perspective. Don’t get upset, your stress won’t help. Take a break and reduce your own anxiety. They call it the terrible twos and most children gradually become more cooperative on their own between 3 and 4 years.

It’s a normal part of growing up, all you have to do is make it through those “no” years. And remember, learning to say “no” is important and when they’re older, you’ll want them to be able to say “no” in the right situations.