Toddler question?

Question

Does your toddler listen to one parent better? Or take one parent more serious? My daughter seems to listen to daddy better than mommy. Any ideas for me to get better results?

Answer 1

When I was working, my hubbie stayed home a couple days a week and it was Daddy everything.  Now that I'm off for summer, I get all the good days and my husband is at a loss (eg. my son went two days of using the potty without an accident with me, and then peed on furniture four times in one day for my husband while I was out).  I think the parent that is home sets the expectations.  On the other hand, my husband still has the magic touch for putting the little ones to sleep when I can struggle forever trying to get them down!

Answer 2

I battle this with my oldest son, and seem to see it already working on my youngest one as well.  

My husband sits down with my oldest (10) and discusses with him that he has to listen to me as well and behave just as if he was there.  He has to go through this talk about every other month to be reminded.

I also get a bit firmer with my directions if I see that he's not minding me.  I'll use a lower, more demanding tone and get a sterner look in my eyes.  That way he knows I mean business and usually shapes up right away.

Also, don't give in.  I've been guilty of this as well. Don't threaten.  If you say you're going to punish him in a certain way, then do it.  If you have no intentions of following through, then don't say it. If you show him that you can be pushed over, then it's human nature to try to push.  

I know that with my husband he is quick to discipline and doesn't threaten, he'll follow through.  Men in general do this because they are poblem solvers and want to resolve things quickly.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

We have the same problem. I am in my kids' faces all day long, so of course they listen to me. Their father works, and is gone for the majority of their day, so they practically ignore him. The only way they will change is if the other parent puts forth more effort to be visible to his/her children. Even a SAHM can become invisible if she's only following/giving orders and not interacting with her kids.

Answer 4

My daughter listens to me as well as her daddy, but she definitely gets more upset if he scolds her than if I do!!  I'm not sure why.

The best advice for parents I've heard is to be a team, a united front.  You don't want your kids figuring out they can play one parent to get what they want!

My general advice here is to make sure you follow through with threats of punishment; don't back down.  For example, if your child disobeys you, warn that he will be receiving a timeout or spanking if he doesn't obey.  If he refuses again, DO it.  Kids learn very quickly that you don't mean what you say, and then won't obey you ever.