Young babies don't know if they're being naughty – even if poking the dog in the eye or tipping food all over the floor seem like deliberate acts.
They also don’t understand about being good. Right now, they can't decide to obey or disobey you. However, if your baby does something you think is wrong or unsafe, you can help her learn not to repeat it.
Teaching your baby about the difference between what she should and shouldn’t do is a matter of guidance and trust - and it happens gradually. If you're a warm and loving parent, your baby will learn to trust you.
Research with older children shows that teaching good behaviour is more successful with parents who have a warm relationship with their child. The more your baby trusts you, the more easily she'll accept the limits you have to set. As she gets older, your baby will want to please you.
Here are some ways to help your baby learn:
- Praise her when she does things you like. The more positive you are when your baby is good, the more she'll listen to you when you want her to stop doing something
- Don't make a fuss about things you don't want her to do, as long as it's not harmful
- Pick your baby up and move her somewhere safe if she's doing something potentially dangerous. For example, move your baby away from a stairway
- Make your home as safe as possible so your baby has places to explore and move around
- Try to prevent problems occurring, like putting a child safety gate on the stairs, moving breakable objects out of reach, etc
- Make your baby's world interesting. When visiting friends and family, take toys to hold her attention to distracted her from wanting to touch something unsafe
- Teach your baby to do things right. If she pulls your hair, show her how to stroke it instead.
