Toddler Swearing..what do I do????

Well, I can't use Palmolive dish soap without gagging, and I get a flashback taste every time I even think of calling my sister a bad name. My parents weren't abusive, just driving home a point and with me it worked. I was older though.

My oldest picked up the word  G*ddamnit from a neighbor and I was less than pleased. The worst was taking her to work with me one night and her stack of cardboard bricks tumbled over and out flies GD. I was caring for kids in a Baptist church nursery at the time. *sigh*

Anytime she said it, I just looked her in the eyes and said NO - very firmly. Not yelling, just on her level and very firmly. It lasted maybe a week and then never had a problem with it after that, and I've heard her explain to her younger sister that certains words are bad words, and not to use them.

When dd started saying "Sh*t" all the time a few months ago, we ignored it at first.  Then, when it didn't go away-and started getting a bit worse-we started "correcting" her.  (Keep in mind that because of her language delays, we were extra reluctant to try and get her to STOP saying any word for fear of making her think she shouldn't talk at all.)

Every time we heard her say, "Oh, sh*t!"  We said, "Yes, oh shoot!"

You could try saying, "Fudge" or something similar.  I don't know if that stopped it or if she just got tired of saying sh*t, but it did stop-she hasn't said it in months now.  And it was only a couple of weeks between the time we started with "shoot" and the time we noticed we hadn't heard the other.  Of course, she doesn't really say "Shoot" much either-but every once in a while she does.

my 3 yr old doesn't use bad language, but i also have a SIL who is curses lots. my husband announced to his (NY) family early on that he doesn't want them cursing around our kids.  they laughed, but seem to make a real effort.  he reminds them when necessary.  if they are offended, they don't say anything. if they did though, i'd feel free to limit the time spent with our kids. 

My 2 year old also used $hit all the time. Wonder where he got that from? 
At first we made a huge deal about it and his older brothers used to laugh about it but finally we just totally ignored it which was very difficult when he would do it in public but in a few weeks when he wasnt getting any attn. about it he stopped. Just grin and bear it....ignore it! I SWEAR it will go away
Pebbles

I remember with my first born, he was around 2, and he dropped something. This was immediately given the response "sh*t". I know where he picked it up. Both my ex and I say it when we drop something.

We just explained to him, that there are some words that you can not say outside of the house. That is one of them. I am not one for do as I say not as I do, thing. If he hears me saying it, he will correct me. I do try not to curse, but there are just some times, I cannot be the angelic virginal type mother that the world assumes all of us should be. "Sh*t Happens"

He doesn't even say it now, and he is 6.

I think I must be the odd one out, because DH and I seriously curbed our potty mouth when DD arrived.  We also asked people who came into contact with her on a daily basis to curb it too.

I just don't think it's acceptable for children to swear.   I hear it everyday with my job, and it bothers me.  There are other words to say, and when I hear kids swearing in class, I put a stop to it by telling them that it's not acceptable language in the classroom.  I also tell them that (and I'll probably get flamed for this) IMO, people who swear on a regular basis do so because they haven't got anything more intelligent to say, and since I know they're intelligent, I expect to hear more appropriate language.

If you think it's okay for your kids to swear at home, that's your business.  For the original poster who's trying to stop her child swearing, just make it clear that it's not acceptable language.  I wouldn't ignore it completely though.  I'd also have a chat with the people he comes into contact with on a regular basis and ask them politely to watch their language.  If they're not willing to do that, then I would limit their time with him.

I've got to agree with Bloody Yank.  We stopped swearing when we had kids.   OK, I mean I stopped swearing-my husband never swore in the first place.     I think swearing, especially in children sounds horrible.  And teenagers and adults constantly using the f-word is a form of agression in my opinion.  I mean using it at someone, not the occasional slip.  I refuse to wait on people who are swearing, there's just no need for it. 
We've never allowed the kids to swear.  If they occasionally heard me or other adults swearing we just pointed out that when they're adults they can swear all they want, but are not allowed to when they're children.  Just like I wouldn't allow them to smoke or drink, but can't stop them when they grow up. 
We've had a few incidents.  Used soap on the middle one who was swearing at her sisters, and generally used a shocked 'what did you say?' on other occasions. 
As far as the origional poster goes, I'd have a word with the other adults around and ask them to curb the language when they're around him and to back you up that it's unacceptable.