I just cannot get my two year old daughter to stay out of my purse! She raffles through it, takes things out lays them on the floor, explores, pulls cards out my wallet, today she got my gum and started chewing it! She has started doing it at least once a day lately, I have told her no, no! Don't touch mama's purse, directed her to her own collection of purses, showed her how to put her own things inside and all and explained it is her purse. I have put her in time out for messing with my purse, and finally I popped her little hand today since she now finds my wallet the best thing to raffle though at this time. I feel bad, having to discipline her over her curiosity, and I feel frustrated that she won't leave it alone and keeps doing it. I do feel there are certain things that should be put up and out of the way of children but she is tall so there are not a whole lot of places to put it, besides I don't think This is something I should have to conceal from her...I fear one day I may be in the store and pull out my wallet only to find tiny little finger prints instead of my debit card! Then what!?
Any other mamas have this problem too? My boys never really were as interested in my purse the way she is, yeah they went through it but after telling them to stop they stopped, I think...lol
Thanks Hazel W. for understanding my rant the best! I know all the reasons why she does it and can understand her fascination so while sitting here reading I have already found a great place to put it while it is downstairs. And I do often put it in my room and close the door which has child proof knobs so she cant get to it, but there are times when I need it stored downstairs because I am in and out of the house all day..
Now about the cell phone...naw I won't even go there! lol
She is TWO. Sometimes, you simply have to keep things out of reach this young. Yes, things need to be concealed sometimes. They don't have the impulse control or reasoning, to know that something isn't good or safe.
Put it up where she can't reach it. She is two, there are plenty of places.
The solution is very simple, here.
Yes, I did. Now that she has gotten a little older...she still goes through the damn thing!
Now, she knows she will get in trouble for it, so for the most part she leaves it alone. When she was little I just stored it in one of the higher cabinets in the kitchen. That way it's there if I need it.
You have a choice - either put it somewhere out of sight/reach of your daughter or continue to play this game. I don't understand why you feel like you're "concealing" something from her. That's like saying you don't want to conceal medicine from her by putting it in the upper shelf of the medicine cabinet. You are not "concealing" something; you are just keeping her out of something she has no business being in to.
I'd suggest putting it somewhere pretty unreachable. On top of the fridge is one idea, or hanging it inside a closet.
Find a wallet at the thrift shop (or an old one) for her. Put similar items inside it-- pretend credit cards you get in the mail, pictures of family (if you have those in yours).... kids like pockets like this because there are so many little discoveries. Understand that this is pretty developmentally appropriate for her to want to explore, just keep yours up out of reach and give her other options.
Remember--your 'stuff' is fascinating to her precisely because it isn't hers. And they don't have a lot of impulse control at this age, either, so try to have age-related expectations for her and consider this as one part of childproofing. She's trying to study you and relate to you in ways that seem reasonable for a toddler by getting into your stuff because *you* (and thus, all you do/use) are of interest to her. Try to consider it a compliment. Help her to help herself by removing temptation and giving her a suitable substitution.
If you really don't want her to get in your purse then don't let her. You need to act immediately to stop the behavior before it starts. Do this the same way you would if she went to touch a hot stove or run in the street.
My opinion however is to pick your battles and just put the purse away so she can't get to it.
Curiosity and mimicry is GREAT.
THAT SAID:
- No going into your purse
- No driving the car (you'd be surprised how many insurance claims are files each year from toddlers and small children climbing in, releasing break/gear in neutral, and rolling into houses/ streets/etc.)
- No cooking without you
- No swimming without you
- No forks in sockets
- No drinking bleach & other cleaners
- No flushing electronics
- No hitting people with x object
- No throwing x object
- No a LOT of curiosity driven adventures
My daughter is 19 months and loves my purse. That's why I put it up on the counter. If I didn't then I would have the same issues you are having. You don't want to conceal it, then you get to deal with a curious child. I say, put it on the counter or in your bedroom somewhere with the door closed.
L.
No I don't have that problem.They have been told my purse not theirs it has important items just for M.,thye may ask to get in it if I say no then it's no.I also don't leave my purse just lying around it has it's place
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I know it can be frustrating. But I don't think a pop on the hand is the worst thing you could do here. She obviously is NOT listening to your constant "no" and redirections.
It may SEEM harmless (her exploring your purse), and you are aware of the potential (for example) of whipping out your wallet only to find no money in it, or maybe worse--no WALLET in your purse. :( But consider even worse scenarios. MANY people carry medication in their purses. And not just their own.
I, myself, had my own trip to the hospital (the only one not associated with my pregnancies) when I was just a toddler. I got into my mother's purse and got into my grandfather's heart medication. Had to go have my stomach pumped. Thankfully I don't remember a thing about it, but I remember hearing all my life about it. It made me very vigilant about keeping my kids out of pocketbooks. And not just my own pocketbook, but ANYone's pocketbook. It can happen in a heartbeat easily enough with just about any small child, and especially with a guest who plops their bag down just anywhere. So teaching her to ONLY play in her OWN purse is important. Particularly knowing how fascinated your daughter is with them.
The harder thing, is to get other adults to refrain from allowing or even encouraging that sort of playing, when they want to indulge their grand kids or great niece/nephews. :(( (I go through this sort of thing with cell phones).
You are doing fine. And if you had to swat her hand to get her attention and to understand that you are serious about the purse being totally off limits, then that is what was required. Just stay consistent. NEVER let her play in your purse.
I could go on about cell phones, too.... but I won't. This time. ;)
And yes, the first thing is to put it out of reach. Mine has always had a spot on the kitchen counter. Just watch for straps falling down that she can grab, or if you set it somewhere "for just a minute"...
I have single over the door hook and hang it on that when I come in. It's up high and right by our door for easy access.
As a parent educator, I would look at her and tell her that this is Mom's pocketbook. Put it in a closet where she can't get to it.
If she does try to open it, you must change your tone of voice and tell her that this is Mom's purse and she cannot have it. Period. Move it out of sight. If she tantrums, that is ok because that is how a child learns and grows socially and emotionally -- and it's discipline.
OR
Put an old, empty pocketbook out w/ safe items inside and leave that out !
It is not too early to discipline a 2 yr old. "Discipline" means to teach. You are simply teaching her that it is not ok to go inside a purse w/ credit cards, etc. Yes, she is curious at 2.
So, give her another grownup pocketbk w/ a few old cards, etc... (as I mentioned). She probably won't want it!
Or tell her no and a quick explanation why. It's about having a plan and sticking to it.
My 2 yr old used to open all the drawers and take everything out ! Tons of stuff got pulled out ! I put child safety locks on all but 3 of the drawers w/ plastic bowls, cups and lids. She pulled on the locked drawers and cried for a few days. Then, she realized this is what was going to take place from now on. I made a plan and stuck to it. Plus, I didn't have to clean up constantly !!!
I always tell parents that this is good practice for what is to come w/ girls.
My mother used to keep all her purses on the shelf in the front hall coatrack. It solves your immediate problem, and it teaches her not to leave her own purses lying around (good training for later on in life). If it's within her reach, it's hers - in her view. You can get rid of the arguing and the hand-popping and still keep all your things. Clear a spot, and when you come in the door, away it goes.
I myself have had this problem a couple of times. I have a little boy tho! haha. I usually leave my purse in my car and in my garage,(LOCKED OF COURSE) If you have a garage maybe try doing this if you feel comfortable. I normally do this just for this reason plus if I need to go anywhere its always there and i know I wont forget it. Im sure this is just a phase she is going through and it will soon pass and she will catch onto something else to make you crazy LOL typical 2 year old. Try not to stress out too much about it.
Good luck I hope this helped
Yes. My 18mo boy likes my purse. I make sure that I have a couple of things in there that he can find easily and enjoy--big colorful comb and work badge on lanyard, with a police-issued whistle. When he picks up something that he shouldn't have, I tell him not to play with that one, and he puts it back. He feels like a big boy for putting it back.
yes my 2 year old does this with both my purse and the diaper bag. I have learned to put the purse out of reach. But the diaper bag doesn't have such a spot, so I have found myself without wipes on the go. Not good.
This is pretty normal! Both my kids did it and yes, it is super annoying and I too had the fear of not having my card or having it get lost and not know it! But, I think it's just a phase like everything else. I'm sure she went through the let's play with electrical plug phase or the splash in the toilet phase or the dump out your make-up drawer phase and this is the same. Keep it out of the way if you can and whenever she gets in it just keep taking the things away and telling her it's not a place to play. She'll get the idea eventually and just like those other phases this one will be replaced by something that seems equally annoying and equally endless! In the meantime keep your bank phone number handy in case a card does get lost! ;)
