Teach them not to touch OR put them away? (oh and a vent)

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I started pretty much from birth. There are no precious things ground level. So by the time he was walking, he was too small to reach the mantlepiece so that wasn't a fuss. When he could, and when he could climb to reach the bookshelf in the sitting room, he was able to understand that not everything gets thrown.

BUT he was also a bit of an attached child (his choice!) so he could see these things. If he asked to see them, I would pick it up and remind him that it wasn't a toy before letting him touch. Like knives: he can help me cut things ONLY when I know it's safe. We have safe knives that won't hurt him, but I still do knife safety every time as sometimes he does use sharper objects (such as the apple wedger) that he needs to be careful with.

[briggsy's girl]

we're (trying) to do what LZ does - move the obvious stuff out of the way, and then teaching her what is and isn't ok to play with. she is fascinated by the phone - i let her talk on it when i'm talking to daddy or granma, but i always hold it and tell her it's mummy's phone. she likes to look at candle holders - so we look, but tell her they are not for her. we are trying to teach her that she can't have everything just because it appeals to her! having said that, it's taking a lt of teaching - she is a stubborn wench

i think i'd be upset with the grandmother in the OP - no matter how much the baby wanted something - there are things that are ok to show, things that are ok to touch - and some things that are simply TOO dangerous. the snowglobe was up, out of reach. ALL one year olds want to touch things - it doesn't mean it's right. there are so many ways to distract babies.

talk to your MIL. this episode is been and done now - you can't change it - but you can use it as a building block to set limits that she can abide by. make it clear - safety comes first. if something is out of reach, it's out of reach for a reason. if it's dangerous, it doesn't matter how much the baby wants it - she needs to distract her. hopefully you will be able to find out where the snowglobe was purchased and she may be able to replace it. it won't be the same as the original - but it's a thought...

[Stevie]

awe (im very sad about the broken snow globe )

i have to say, i really likeyour idea about not touching "pretties" and i honestly think i will start this with DD (she isnt moving around yet so i still have some time)
DH thinks the same thing as CL, he cant se why we should have to move everything, when we should be able to teach out child not to touch, so we will be doing this also.

I think your MIL was very on the wrong and you have every right so be mad at her. How is it a danger is she physically cant get to it? and it only became a danger when MIL GAVE it to your DD...

i know i wasnt any help, im sorry lol.

[Purple Penguin]

I taught my DD not to touch things, however the majority of our breakables are up out of reach anyway. My sister on the other hand put everything away so her DS wouldn't touch them, sure made it fun when she brought him over to my house...i think she regretted not listening to me after a while... lol... i'd tell her to make sure he didn't touch anything he wasn't meant to, which really annoyed her, but she soon learned that it was the same everywhere she went. Like was said earlier, you can't expect everyone to babyproof their houses just because that's what you do.

I will teach my DD#2 not to touch as well.

[Rouge]

We subscribe to the don't touch theory. It is more exhausting for the parent but I think it's more rewarding because when you go elsewhere that isn't child friendly your children will listen and you can enjoy yourself more, rather than being on top of them 100% of the time. It is hard initially but it's definitely worth it

[littlebear]

I don't think your being silly at all! I think it's better to teach children not to touch things rather than just removing everything they could touch. I'm sure it takes a while to get to the point where they will listen and not touch things, but surely it's worth it, especially say in the shops where they might possibly break something!

And I won't expect people to baby proof their houses either. My baby, my responsibility.

I do sort of agree with cutting your MIL a bit of slack, she probably was a bit scared of a tantrum for saying no, i would be. But still, it's glass! That's a hard one! Sorry i haven't really helped

[Inertia]

Ali, I think you have done an absolutely fabulous job in teaching your baby girl about pretties and how not to touch.

Not even thinking from going to someone elses place, but just going shopping could get extremely expensive - and messy - if we do not teach our child these things.

That said, I do put the stuff I simply cannot afford to replace out of reach. There is always a learning curve and you work with that within your budget and within the realms of safety.

What your MIL did however is crazy! She has already admitted it was out of reach for your DD and she gave it to her! I'd be most annoyed that she gave a 1yo a fragile chunk of dangerous glass to play with! Who in their right mind does that???

[{sarah}]

We subscribe to the don't touch theory. It is more exhausting for the parent but I think it's more rewarding because when you go elsewhere that isn't child friendly your children will listen and you can enjoy yourself more, rather than being on top of them 100% of the time. It is hard initially but it's definitely worth it

Ditto to all of what Rouge says It is very hard, but in the long run so worth it. For example, I can leave candles burning on my dining table with both kids (5yo & 22m) drawing there & not be worried about them touching.

I'd be very cross if someone gave either of my kids something valuable like the snow globe without adequate supervision too. My DD has a swarovski Tinkerbell which is up high on a shelf in her room. Every now & then we get it down & she is allowed to sit on the floor & hold it to have a look. She knows to be gentle, but I sit very close just in case she forgets.

[Nai]

We do the don't touch thing as well but with DD1 it was easy - she didn't touch and understood "no". DD2 is a little monkey and manages to hone in on things that she shouldn't have and laughs when you tell her not to touch - then will go and touch when my back is turned. She gets into all DD1's things and also the dog's things so I think we have a much harder job this time around