Is your baby teasing you? (1047)

Does your baby ever tease you on purpose? Has she ever headed straight for a wastebasket, making sure you notice? Does baby reach for your glasses, almost waiting to hear, "no, no"?
Your child is testing her emotions and yours. She is experimenting to see just where the limits are.

Teaching children to behave has always been a challenge for parents. It's not as much a matter of making baby obey as it is a process of making it easy for your child to do the right thing.

How can you make it easy? First, don't ask too much of baby. Remember that your child is a baby - don't tempt him with wastebaskets, plants, uncovered outlets, and the like.

Give your baby safe toys and places to play. Pick baby up and take her away from dangerous things. Say words like "hot," "tastes bad," and "stop," instead of "no" all the time.

Be patient, gentle and understanding, but keep showing baby what you want. If you recognize and accept some behavior as part of babyhood, you're using good judgment.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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