Spitting 22 Month Old...

Can you tell him that he can spit all he wants but in a cup, otherwise he has to clean up. Give him a cloth and sanitizer and teach him to clean, maybe this will be a new habit you have created for him!

My daughter did this at about the same age, except she did it when she was angry. You haven't seen anything until you've seen a cute little red-headed toddler lean over and spit on the floor in pure rage! What worked for us was just telling her "If you want to spit, you have to do it in the bathtub or the sink--go in the bathroom until you are done spitting." It was boring in the bathroom, so she stopped spitting pretty quickly.

He might be being defiant, but that's part of starting to become his own person--when they are so small, all they can really do to assert independence is defy your requests. Often just telling them in a positive way what your expectation is, will help solve the problem.

Good luck!
K.

HI Amy,

I have to say I am a little surprised by the recommendations for spanking and excessive time-out times for a child of this age!! Certainly he understands no at this age, but good grief.

I agree with what someone else said about the toothpaste. I would wait on the fluoridated kind for a while. Even if he is spitting some of it out, he's probably swallowing a fair amount too, and that can cause other problems. He has time to learn how to spit out toothpaste.

I would guess that he's getting a lot of attention for the spitting. I would take a look at how strong your reaction to it is. At this age I would try addressing it by saying firmly, "No, John. Spitting is yucky" and have him assist with wiping it up. If he has a drink and spits it out, you do the same " No John. Spitting is yucky. Now you can't have your water. Here's a paper towel to wipe up the mess" And do it every time. But be calm about it and use a firm but calm voice. This is a new fun noise he's learned to make and it gets a lot of attention, even if negative. Be consistent and I bet it will go away on it's own. It isn't a behavior like biting that is being done out of frustration or for a host of other reasons.

There's also a nice little flap book out there called " No Biting" It addresses biting, kicking, pushing, hitting.

Good luck!

Don't let the little guy fool you. At 22 months, he definitely knows what he's doing, he very probably understands what "no" means; he's just testing you. If I were you, I would put him in time outs every time he spits. It's just a fact of life that it's okay to spit toothpaste into the sink, but not okay to spit any other time.

At 22 months, It would take reasoning skills to have time outs even begin to succeed. 22 month olds don't have those kinds of brain skills yet.

However, the brain understands pain, and will avoid it if at all possible. Pain is a very quick teacher! (there is no pain in a a time out). You only need put your hand on a stove once to know not to do it again. If you get sent to a chair to sit, would that teach you to not put your hand on a stove burner?

Time outs will not work at his age. Pop him on the rear. Be consistent. Dont keep rotating your discipline strategy. Always use a firm voice and face when discipling, a nice, flowery voice and a smile sends a confusing signal.

I prefer the training toothpaste yet at this age, because they still aren't quite ready to get that spit, don't swallow thing really well. As far as putting a stop to the spitting problem already created, I like the ideas you've already been given, and don't have much to add. Just realize a habit such as this, once begun, takes some time to get under control. I think I would carefully explain to him that spitting is just for when you brush your teeth or when you happen to have gotten something 'yucky' in your mouth. And teach him to spit into the sink or tub as someone else suggested. At the table, be sure he has a napkin handy and teach him that he is to spit only in that.

Well, the only experience I have with SPTTING is from my 2 yr old nephew who stays with us 2 nights a week :O)

He is spitting EVERYWHERE, and seems to do it as an attention getter.....but then, he'll be outside playing, and spit at everyone in our court!

We've been dealing with this for about 4 months now. Mom is the most strict with him.....but grandma and I just tell him "please don't spit", and we try not to over-react because we believe that "egg's him on" :O)

After being faithful with our reaction, he has stopped spitting for the most part, however, he will have his out-of-the-blue moments when he spits on my carpet. I just go get the dishtowel, and lovingly, yet firmly, tell him "please do not spit in Auntie 'Cole's House, here is a towel to clean up your spit....." Of course he won't do a good job cleaning :o) but it's accountability for his actions is all he needs :O)

Anyway, if my adorable 2 yr old nephew can stop spitting, I'm sure your son can too! :O)

~N. :O)

Hey Amy,
22 month olds can be defiant and they do understand what no means.
When he spits, take him by the hand and into the bathroom, show him the sink and FIRMLY tell him that is the ONLY place it's okay to spit.
I wouldn't worry about him not getting enough to drink...if he spits his liquids out, he must not be that thirsty. If he spits his drink on the floor, he doesn't get more. He's 22 months old, give him 22 minutes to think about it.
You have a new baby so he might be trying to get a rise out of you, but I think you need to address it each time and let him know you won't be too busy to do so.
Juggling kids is hard, I know, but stay on top of it or he'll be 3 and spitting.
Don't feel bad for popping him. I never spanked my kids, but a pop of the seat of the pants....didn't think twice about it. They were more stunned than hurt. They knew they'd pushed too far.
It's not a catastrophe. It's a behavior that you won't tolerate and if he needs to spit....he can do it in the sink all he wants.
My nephew was a spitter and everytime my son, who is younger, was around him, my son started the spitting thing. My son got in trouble. My nephew didn't. Guess which one continued to spit.
I didn't waste any time wondering how my son would understand why one kid could spit and he couldn't.
HIS mommy had a no spit rule. That's all he needed to know.

Best of luck!

Tell him spitting is for outside only (but even that is gross), maybe you can give him a spit cup/can to use until this phase has played out? And you say you popped him in the mouth when he spit in your face, right? Hate to say it, but that's what I would have done as well.... a few times of that and I think he'll get the message.