Dumping liquids

Michelle - posted on 09/19/2012

Okay, maybe this is somewhat of a relief...my 31 mo. old grandson has developed a persistent habit of emptying ANY bottle of it's contents onto the carpet. Lotion, furniture polish, cooking oil, you name it, it all goes on the carpet. Sounds like we're the irresponsible ones here, but really he is very clever.. He finds things you never knew he could find and sneaks them away to his secret hiding places. Soooo..... I guess we can relax a little bit and think up some new ways for him to get this new "discovery" out of his system in a funner way for all of us. Thanks

Kimberly - posted on 11/07/2011

My 15 month old does this. I agree that it is part of the child's need to experiment and investigate. He did this with his food when I first started feeding him solids and I would have to let him play before he would even take a bite. I started taking the cup away when he starts to pour it out. He's learned that he can only have the cup if he is not trying to pour it out. It is important to be consistent so he learns the cause and effect. If he pours it out, it will be taken away.

Sarah - posted on 11/06/2011

My 2 year old daughter LOVES tipping water out of cups and water bottles and anything else that can contain water. It used to drive me crazy having to always mop up water from the floor, and I used to try get her to stop it too but then I realized that it is just something she really enjoys doing and that is her way of learning about the world around her. So instead of telling her she can't play with water at all, I allow her to play in the kitchen and give her a towel to wipe up the water afterward, or else outside on the deck if the weather is nice. That way water doesn't get all over the carpet. Some days I will put her in the bath too, like in the afternoon, with just a little not of water and lots of plastic cups and containers, and she has a wonderful time and it's easy to clean up afterwards. It keeps her entertained for ages - she's happy and I'm happy.

Amanda - posted on 11/06/2011

Heather thank you. He does not use a sippy cup, but I can definitely work on your other suggestions. Thank you!

Heather - posted on 11/06/2011

Totally normal! He is experimenting. Take him outside and let him go for it, and take lots of photos! Then don't have any glasses down where he can reach them. Use sippy cups for him and pick up ALL open glasses in the room that he is in when you leave it. Also, make everyone in the house keep their cups high up, and pushed back on a kitchen counter!

Amanda - posted on 11/06/2011

Thank you, Liz. I have been working with him, but everything helps.

Liz - posted on 11/06/2011

Get a sensory table or big bins and put it in the yard/garage/balcony/kitchen/bath/whatever, and let him pour and dump to his heart's content.



Teach him when and where it's appropriate to experiment.

Amanda - posted on 11/05/2011

When he was younger and still in a high chair, he would do it, and I knew it was because he liked the sounds and such. However, he stopped sitting in his high chair at about 17 or 18 months. He just, literally, started it again within the last week. Aaarrgghh! Thanks for all the feedback.

Denikka - posted on 11/05/2011

My son does this. Completely on purpose, no accidents XD The most recent was an entire bottle of soy sauce all over the carpet.
I think they just like the noise and the way it looks XD I don't know. It's apparently very entertaining for the little ones XD
I don't have any advice, just wanted to let you know that you're not alone :)

Sheila - posted on 11/05/2011

i was told it is cuz they are experimenting. Give him cups in his bath and let him pour them into each other. My daughter has gotten better since i started doing this

Summer - posted on 11/05/2011

Its cause and effect. My son who has Autism, does ths with everything. Toys, food, juice, etc. Our therpist told us he is sensory seeking. Its just part of development.

Sharon - posted on 11/03/2011

Our son has just started doing this, he's just turned 2. But he doesn't pour it on the floor, he pours it into the sink in his play kitchen and then uses one of the toy teacups to scoop it up and drink.

Brittany - posted on 11/03/2011

I make my daughter clean up after her messes. If she needs help (like a big spill, or on carpet), she can ask for it. Most of the time she just gets a towel now and cleans it up.

I started to do it when she started using regular cups and would knock them over (by accident). She started up the dumping of water a few months after mastering the cup. But after about a week or so of having to clean up her mess, it stopped. She still will through fits, but it is rare.