I Need Help - Pocatello,ID

You are doing nothing wrong. It is a phase and she will work her way thru it. (of course never soon enough for us!!) What she is doing is called potty mouth in the books I have studied. It is very common for young kids to use this kind of language, which hopefully is as bad as it gets! When my son went thru this phase, I basically laughed it off. The more we try to stop them, the worse they get!! I use to do daycare, and I had this one kid say the "F" word at me for 20 mins waiting for me to react. My son and I would play games with this together, to give him a sense as what is ok to say and what is not! We both use dirty diapers now when we are upset instead of, well you know! ;) My son does not use bad words, and I know he hears them in school. I know in daycare he heard them (sad, yes!) Since you cant change the rest of the world, you can help you kids understand. As for being baby, well you have one in your home, so its also natural. Play along. Trust me, once she realizes how unfun being a baby is, it will go away VERY quickly. When my 3 yr old acts like a baby, I tell her she cant talk, because babies dont talk, she has to have a bottle and blended food. She once took a formula bottle from me, that I was feeding my baby with, and took a good swig out of it. She was suddenly full up ;) and has never asked for one again. She doesnt like the blended food and when I told her babies cant talk, so therefore she cant, well its was pretty boring being a baby! Remind her that if you carry her, then she cant get something, whereever you are, because babies are too little. She will be quickly walking on her own too. Good Luck!

Hi I have 2 teenage daughters. I have noticed that not giving in and being consitant is the key. When she acts like a baby do not carry her and tell her that she is a big girl and that she can walk. bend down to her height and talk in a normal tone. when she talks back ignore it. I have noticed with mine when they are little if they get no response they will not do it as often and it usually stops. I hope this helps.

You need to let her know that "we only use nice words" and those are not nice words. She is old enough to understand that and needs to be punished if she continues to use them. (time out, etc) Make sure you're thanking her and "catching" her using nice words and show her how happy it makes you! (make a big deal about how proud you are!) As far as acting like a baby, let her know that babies don't have some of the "big girl" privledges (make sure you name off some of her favorite things to do) and she has to act like a big girl to be able to do those things. As far as her minding...are you familiar with 1,2,3 magic? It works GREAT! The key....FOLLOW THRU! She'll get the hang of it and best of all you'll keep your sanity! Hope this helps! Good Luck!

my son went thru the wanting me to hold him like a baby and rock him and evne talking like a baby..lol i would hold him and we would play pretend..i would act like it was just play and play along. it only lasted about a week to a week and a half. it's gone now.
i don't think you are doing anything wrong:-)
what worked with our children one day all of a sudden doesn't work the next day. that's because they are always changing and we need to change or tweek the way we are dealing with them as the change. but it always seems like we as the parent are one step behind because by the time we notice that what used to work isnt' working any longer, we feel stressed lol

there are many books out there to help. i have thumbed thru that 123 magic one and even bought it. there are a couple others The no cry or whine disciplin. .can't recall who it's by.. go to the book store when you have time to look thru some. sit down with about 7 or so.. look thru them, find one that matches what your family's values and discipline style is.. it's finding the time to read them..lol.. but just a little chapter here or there on the topics y ou are in despirate need of can be very beneficial. don't feel you have to read a book from cover to cover for it to be of any value. i used to think that..
my thoughts are you have to pick your battles. what's important.. what words are really the bad words and what are just age appropriate at the time and if you don't make a big deal out of them will pass.. but only you can figure that out..
why is poo poo a bad word? all kids go thru a bathroom phase where they think it's funny. i'm not sure it's something that needs to be disciplined for. maybe explained where those words can be used. or give examples or appropriate words.
i remember it being so frustrating growing up, my mom would always tell me not to say or do something a certain way but wouldn't give me any guidlines or directions as to what WAS right.. so i didn't know what to do..lol
so example when my son says NO to me sternly about something. i don't disciplin him for saying no to me.. i tell him he can talk to mommy in a better way with words like ' i don't want to do that right now mommy'.. and it does come out nicer and there aren't any fits.. all i have to say when he does say NO , now, is , can you say that differently and he comes back with something with manners.
anyway, i got off topic i'm sorry..lol lol
maybe i need my own post.LOL LOL
good luck..
did she go thru a stage when the 18 mo old was born where she digressed? is there something goign on with the 18mo old now that could possibly be giving the 18 mo old more attention? or what would be perceived to her that way. ?
did you jut get the 18 mo old a potty or something like that..
just ideas..

T.~
I found a great book I would love to direct you to, it is called, How to Train up a child, by The Pearl's (last name)
It has been invaluable and really gets to the issue of discipline, they really get down to the issues, and be forwarned they are Believers, and by no means politically correct, they just tell the truth, it was very eye opening, funny at times, and helped me get a perspective on raising kids, great kids, and kids that obey happily!
Hope that helps!
M.