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

[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???

[Inanna]

I have always had things that are out of bounds! Like Camme-Lot I had experience with kids who weren't taught not to touch... I had lots of friends with kids before me & some had no concept of respecting other peoples things...

I say "it's special to me", "it breaks easily as it's glass"...etc etc... I've done this with all five of my kids. Like Rouge said it's exhausting and very repetitive and for a while it seems like it's not going to work but eventually I found I had little people who I could take out and would listen to "please don't touch it's special to xyz"... I have a friend who doesnt' teach this and it's so hard to have her and her kids over. They break so much... It's not their fault - it's just that they're not taught no! It's part of exploring boundaries & learning about what's acceptable behaviour. It's normal for them to want to push the boundaries. Immy is harder than the others - probably due to her developmental issues... But still she gets it - but needs more coaxing...

I think it wasn't a bright idea to give your daughter the glass globe - but I do get why she might have. Sometimes when you're a Gran it's hard to say no. She must feel a bit sheepish about it since she emailed you etc. I'd just roll with it. It's gone now and passed - but maybe explain the things on those shelves aren't for playing with as you'e trying to preserve them for posterity! If she keeps playing with them they will all have the same fate as the glass ball... xxxx

[{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