Mum of 18-month old appeals to Netmums users for help with dilemma… and get some cruel suggestions back

HOW would you react if your sweet little angel turned into a potty-mouthed toddler that drops the F-bomb 10 times in half an hour?

It's certainly not something you want to hear.

But that is the reality for one mum whose daughter took to saying the f-bomb in all manner of situations.

While it is funny when it happens to someone else, this concerned mother took to Netmums for advice and got some rather cruel suggestions back.

Desperate for help, she wrote: "My not-quite-18 month old DD (darling daughter) has started using the F word.

"I don't swear a lot but clearly she has picked it up from one of us when we've cursed when driving or similar.

"It's been just over a week now and she just seems to be using it more! She's been awake half an hour and has used it at least 10 times this morning, usually when she's dropped/thrown something - 'oh f***'.

"Clearly we have stopped swearing completely and have been loudly using alternatives - flip/sugar/shoot/uh oh/oh dear etc.

"I tried telling her not to use that word but I don't think she understands, and I don't really want to draw attention to it. Does anyone have any tips to make this go away?"

The first mum to comment had some stark advice on how to clean up the toddlers foul mouth, literally.

She said: "The first time my daughter swore she was 3, I used soap in her mouth.

"It might be cruel but she won't do it again.

"Try tell her that's a bad word do it again. Show her the soap. Worked wonders. Never done it again. She's now 7."

But other mums had less drastic advice to stop the toddler cussing.

Another mum wrote that she had the same problem with her two-year-old-son.

"Whenever he said it I got down to his level, eye contact and told him it's a naughty word and he can't say it.

"I used the naughty step after. That worked for us but he was a bit older."

Others agreed that a stern voice was better than the soapy alternative.

Another wrote: "At that age I would ignore it. Break the habit of swearing yourselves. Its not naughty behaviour, it's copying role models.

"It's different when they are older and you can explain the reasoning behind it.

"They have learned that they say a word and get a reaction so will keep doing it till they don't get one.

"Give lots of praise for saying other words instead and hopefully they will become more popular instead."