01/28/2026
6 ways to say “no” to your toddler… without actually saying the word “no” 🤍
And just to be clear—saying NO is completely okay. Boundaries are healthy and necessary. But sometimes, toddlers only hear the word “no” and miss the lesson behind it.
Using alternative phrases can:
✨ reduce power struggles
✨ support emotional regulation
✨ encourage problem-solving
✨ help kids learn that mom and dad won’t always say yes—and that’s okay.
It’s not about avoiding boundaries. It’s about teaching how to handle big feelings when things don’t go their way. Because learning to accept limits is a skill—and skills take practice 💛
Whether it’s
➡️ “That’s not an option right now”
➡️ “Let’s do this first, then that”
➡️ “We can try again”
➡️ “We can do that next time”
…the boundary stays the same. The delivery just helps little brains process big feelings 🧠💫
Save this for your next toddler moment ❤️