2 Year Old Learned BAD WORDS at Daddy's House!!

Updated on January 14, 2007
M.H. asks from Bel Air, MD
14 answers

My son's father and I split up about 3 months ago. He's been going over there on the weekends. This past weekend he learned some great new vocabulary, specifically the ones that go together and stat with G and D. It also happens that these are the plainest and clearest words he says. At first I tried to tell him those were bad words and we don't use bad words. But 5 minutes later, he's saying it again. Then my mom suggested that we just ignoe it. But today in the store he said it LOUDLY winning me dirty looks from another woman in the store. HELP!!

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T.G.

answers from Washington DC on

Ouch, been there done that. I know it sounds horrible but I put just a dab of soup on the tip of my sons tongue when he said a bad word. He's six now and has never said a bad word again. Ignoring it does nothing. Good luck.

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T.A.

answers from Washington DC on

Don't you just love it when they learn naughty words? And, rest assured, they will always be the clearest ones they say for a while.

My then three year old daughter learned F*** them in the A** from my father. Needless to say I was less than pleased. She also chose to repeat it wherever she went. She told the mailman. She told the check out lady and her pediatrician during her well kid check up. Inside I"m dying (and thinking of a few choice words for my father at the same time) while -calmly- telling her that we don't use those words in our house.

Yeah. That worked. SHe said that phrase for about a week and a half before she got bored with it.

All joking aside, the best thing is to ignore it. At this age they are discovering the power of words. When he sees and hears you get upset over his new vocabulary he learns that there is power there. Those words can get Mommy all upset. This is liberating and fascinating all that the same time.

Now, advising to ignore his potty mouth won't keep uptight people from looking down at you when he experiments with the "G" and "D" words in the grocery store, post office or pediatrician's office. Honestly, ignore them too. How much will an arrogant stranger matter in three weeks then the potty mouth phase passes?

Not much.

Good luck to you and your son!!

PS --> Perhaps Dad can tone down the colorful language when his son's around? He should own up to his part in this too. :-D

1 mom found this helpful
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L.N.

answers from Washington DC on

there isn't much you can do except talk to your ex about what has happened. this shouldn't be used as a reason to start bickering with him. it will put your child in a bad situation.
kids pick up on things. he'll mature a bit in a while and then he will understand those are bad words.
vlora

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K.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Ignore the words. It's the only thing that works.

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K.M.

answers from Harrisburg on

Being a step-mom to a 5 year old that has done this I have some thoughts on this. Starting at age 3 my step-son would come over and have a few words to say that we don't approve of. My husband confronted his son's mom and her response was not so nice. I think let it be known that you do not approve of him useing those words while with you. My step-son is now 5 and says a lot more words that we do not approve of. Each time he says one he has to say what it was he said and why. We then tell him that although he is allowed to say those words at his moms house we do not talk like that in this house. Although I feel more dicipline is needed such as a time out or priveledge taken away, his father feels that if we make a big deal about it the words will only be said more often. Hope some of this helps and that you can calmly communicate with his father. Good Luck!

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S.J.

answers from Philadelphia on

I'd also say try ignoring it. I know it's embarrassing for them to say that stuff in public, but from my experience they just say it more when you say something because they like the reaction. It's really a tough call though cause I think they also need to be told that it's a bad word and it's not acceptable to say. With my daughter I did both, in the beginning I told her not to say it, but then she said it a few more times and I just ignored it....after a couple days of this she got over it.

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K.B.

answers from Harrisburg on

YOU NEED TO CONTINUALLY CORRECT HIM, LET HIM KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT GOOD WORDS TO USE. YOU SHOULD ALSO TLAK TO THE FATHER AND MAKE HIM AWARE THAT HE NEEDS TO WATCH WHAT IS BEEN SAID IN FRONT OF YOUR SON. YOUR SON IS AT THE AGE NOW WHERE IMITATION IS A BIG THING, HE IS GOING TO REPEAT AND MIMIC EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID AND DONE IN FRONT OF HIM.

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S.E.

answers from Washington DC on

I had the same problem with my 2 year old son. He got it from my his dad and my mom. But I had to tell him that it was not nice to say that. But I also told them both to limit their language around both of our boy's. But you need to talk to his father and explain to him that using bad words around him will stick. I learned that they are in that stage now where everything they we do they try to mock. But talk to his father and tell him how you feel about his use of that new word.. Let me know how it works out...

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S.H.

answers from Washington DC on

I don't mean to laugh, but your son reminded me of my husband's daugther from his last marriage. When she was little, the dog ran outside and she ran after it followed by my husband. She finally gave up running after the dog and says "g** d**n dog!" mainly because my husband use to say that frequently. However, when that happened, it totally floored him and he did laugh but he did clean up his mouth and watched what he said around his kids. That was very hard for him to do since he was a sailor and it's pretty much a requirement to have a potty mouth! I do agree with Vlora about talking with your ex...not using it as a reason to argue...but simply explaining to him what happened and emphasize the importance of watching his language in front of your son. You may want to talk to your ex about having him explain to your son that it's a bad word and shouldn't be said. Maybe hearing it from his father will let it sink in a little more especially since he heard the bad word come from him. Good luck!

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V.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I know exactly how you feel because my 2 year old goes to his dad's house every tuesday and every other weekend, and he also picked up a few words there, but they would laugh at him when he said them instead of correcting him. I have often found that I do not give him enough credit for being able to understand something that I explain to him. I am pretty sure we all do that as parents. But, everytime he would say a bad word, and you are lucky if all you have is those two words because I got just about all of them. His dad's family actually tried to teach my son to call me B****! But, I just explained that they were bad words and when I would "slip" and say them I would correct myself and eventually he stopped saying them.

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J.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

I have had difficulty here and there with my little one repeating something she has heard that was not acceptable. I let her know that she is going to hear some things and I will correct her the first or second time and make her apologize. After that, she gets a privledge taken away (snack, t.v.--whatever the thing for the day is). I always remind her if something is not acceptable and then she will remember that there is a consequence and usually not do it. We make up "frustrating" funny words for her to say, too! Her most current saying, is "Oh Barnacles."

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S.F.

answers from Scranton on

The old "i am going to wash your mouth out with soap" lol. I dont know with my first it was easy plus i let him tap me on the hand if i said the "bad word" so it helped him feel that it really is bad cause even mommy is getting punished lol. I am having a lil bit more trouble with my youngest tho.

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L.S.

answers from Lancaster on

M.,

Don't feel bad, my son pick up d*mn from my husband, too. We ignored it and then taught him to say "Oh donuts!" instead. It only took about a day of me looking for the chance to say it at every opportunity and he picked that right up, to replace the cuss word.
If anyone tells you to 'hot sauce' your son, DO NOT do it. The child could have unusual swelling or even an allergic reaction in his throat and die. If you feel it is necessary to go that route (i.e. soap in the mouth) use a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Kids hate the taste and it is actually good for them!
Hope that helps.

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T.M.

answers from State College on

My oldest son (now 12 1/2) went through phases of trying out different "bad" words, but I simply explained to him as calmly as humanly possible that, "That is a grown-up word. When you turn 18 and become an adult, you may use that word if you choose to; until then, you are a child and it is inappropriate." My mom used to jump me for giving such a lengthy explanation to a toddler, but I haven't had a problem with him swearing in any capacity since then. I also used that technique with my 7 1/2 year old son (who has severe behavior issues) and my 6 1/2 year old step-son (whose biological mother swears like a sailer - her family calls her the "F---F---- Queen" b/c of how much she loves that F word). We have no problems with any of the boys swearing.

Try it and don't worry if you have to repeat it 30 times or more, eventually the message will get through. Whatever you do, though, don't freak out on him! That's bound to bring on more! :-)

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