toddler won't leave baby alone

[Googiepie]

It's actually driving me crazy. While it is cute that she wants to rub her sisters head, Mia isn't the most gracious lol. Tonight as she was trying to rub Yasminas head while she was in the swing she tripped over the leg of the swing and pushed baby's face. Yasmina didn't cry or anything but it's driving me nuts. No matter how many times I redirect her or tell her no she just keeps doing it. I'm just scared she's going to hurt her. And I'm already extra paranoid. Any tricks to get toddler to leave baby alone? At least for a little while?

 

[Cattia]

I have this issue with my 4 and 5 year old. You'd think being a bit older they would understand the concept that they have to be gentle but they are forever violently rocking the bouncy chair, trying to pick her up, touching her face etc. They mean well but I have to watch them all the time. I don't really have any advice. I just make sure I don't leave them alone with her. They are also really loud around her and constantly in her face. The good thing about it is at least they take an interest in her I guess and at least she's going to grow up tough!

 

[Googiepie]

Cattia- that sounds exactly like Mia. She's with me all the time whether I'm in the kitchen or in the basement doing laundry. She's trying to be nice and loving but sometimes she just doesn't get that she has to be gentle plus she's super clumsy lol. I mean, she literally fell today and all she was doing was standing...I mean, she wasn't dancing or wiggling...just standing, lol. I wouldn't be as worried if she was a bit older but she's so small and fragile. Well, at least they'll grow up tough, haha.

 

[MumToEva]

I used a travel cot with mesh sides in the living room to give DS a bit of peace at times - DS was able to lie in peace / play with his play gym and DD could talk to / interact with him through the mesh without always having to protect him from her so much.

 

[Tattoo]

Yep, having the same issue here! My two year old is constantly touching the newborn. "I need to cuddle Ivy!" cue toddler seizing baby and putting her head on baby's face. She strokes baby too, always while saying "Ahhhh, lovely!" I mean, I'm glad she likes her new sister, and hasn't demanded we send Ivy back or anything, but it's getting a little wearing now, constant vigilance!

I like the travel cot idea!

 

[londonangel]

I have the same problem and my big daughter will be four a month on Sunday! Doesn't matter how often I tell her to be careful. Yesterday sh covered her sister's face in 'body shimmer' during the few seconds I was turned away to put a pan back in the cupboard!

 

[Pink Sarah]

6 months on and I still have the same problem I'm afraid! He is constantly 'cuddling' baby (this means climbing on top of him and putting head on his chest/face) I say no leave him alone and the response is .. bit I love him mummy! Very cute but drives me mad! He wants to be with him 24/7 travel cot idea seems a good thing to do!

 

[DCS]

DD will be one next month and DS still does this. I just keep reminding him to be gentle, an keep trying to explain that seyi.es DD just wants a bit of space.
Tbh though, DD loves it. And she is just as bad as DS. They spend the day getting in each others face, hugging and screaming at each other. Its quite cute. Especially when DS tells DD she is his best sister friend and he loves her.
Its slightly annoying, more so when DD was smaller, but I just keep reminding them to be gentle.

 

[Cangaroo]

DD1 is similar with her sister. Loves picking her up and hugging her. It's different with your LO, OP, as she still so little herself, but I've just trusted DD1 with DD2 from the stay. She's allowed to roll around with her and pick her up. It looks a little rough at times, but DD2 loves it and spends her days grinning at her sister now. She's never hurt her. We've occasionally had to remind her to be gentle, but never had a big problem.

 

[Googiepie]

I think I'm going to try the travel idea. I'm glad Mia loves her sister but right now, baby is too young.

 

[Cattia]

I have the same problem and my big daughter will be four a month on Sunday! Doesn't matter how often I tell her to be careful. Yesterday sh covered her sister's face in 'body shimmer' during the few seconds I was turned away to put a pan back in the cupboard!

OMG, EXACTLY the same thing happened to us! DD1 sprinkled her fairy glitter all over DD2, it was 2 weeks ago and she still has bits of glitter on her head! Even though she has a bath every day, it's impossible to get it off!

I am loving the travel cot idea, definitely going to try that.

 

[SarahBear]

It's a good opportunity to teach consent and empathy. Talk about how the baby feels about the older child's actions both when letting them continue a positive interaction and when ending or preventing a not so positive interaction... It does drive me nuts too though.

 

[ay2808]

We're in the same boat too! I'm glad dd1 loves her sister but she is obsessed with kissing and cuddling her. She also copies how I talk to her eg "it's ok I'm here". It sounds so funny in her cute sing song voice!!

 

[Dolly84]

We've got the same problem, my ds is 20 months and dd is 4 weeks and when he sees her with her blanket upto her chest he tries to lean on her body to give her a kiss, I think he thinks that because he can't see her body (under the blanket) that it isn't there, I'm on pins when he goes near her and he's so heavy handed, a few times I've heard him say wake up and goes to open her eye lids, luckily ive intervened in time 🙈xxx

 

[LoveCakes]

I'm not in the same situation but would a baby of her own (doll) help?

 

[lau86]

Tbh I think when they're that little they need some kind of a physical divide, the travel cot idea is good

 

[Tattoo]

We've got the same problem, my ds is 20 months and dd is 4 weeks and when he sees her with her blanket upto her chest he tries to lean on her body to give her a kiss, I think he thinks that because he can't see her body (under the blanket) that it isn't there, I'm on pins when he goes near her and he's so heavy handed, a few times I've heard him say wake up and goes to open her eye lids, luckily ive intervened in time 🙈xxx

Oh man, my big girl does they Wake Up! and the eye lids! She does it to me, too.

 

[Dolly84]

We've got the same problem, my ds is 20 months and dd is 4 weeks and when he sees her with her blanket upto her chest he tries to lean on her body to give her a kiss, I think he thinks that because he can't see her body (under the blanket) that it isn't there, I'm on pins when he goes near her and he's so heavy handed, a few times I've heard him say wake up and goes to open her eye lids, luckily ive intervened in time 🙈xxx

Oh man, my big girl does they Wake Up! and the eye lids! She does it to me, too.

Ha yeah he's done it to me too a few times, it bloody hurts as well doesn't it, especially if ive not cut his nails for a while lol x

 

[calm81]

My sweet toddler son loves his new sister that he forcefully gives her "kissies" every chance he gets even if it makes me paranoid. I just tell him... U have to be gentle she's brand new and breakable lol