Here’s What Finally Worked
Every parent of a curious toddler has faced this: your child, eyes wide with wonder, making a beeline for the elevator buttons, tongue outstretched. It’s a germy disaster waiting to happen. To cut to the chase, here's what actually worked for me: distraction, a bit of humor, and sometimes (scratch that, often) a good old-fashioned bribe.
The Germy Attraction
Why do these little humans seem so attracted to those filthy buttons? Perhaps it's the shiny lights or simply because they know they're not supposed to. I tried the "no lick, no" route, but like my efforts to get my cat to stop sleeping on my laptop, this fell flat. Rather than dwelling on logic, I figured out that a kid's mind works like...well, like a kid's mind.
Practical Solutions I Discovered
1. The Magic of Distraction: I started carrying a small toy in my bag (usually a little firetruck). As soon as we approached the elevator, I'd whip it out with an exaggerated "Wow, look at this!" It didn't always work, but when it did, it was like magic.
2. Humor Wins: At one point, I jokingly pointed at the button and said, "Oh no, that button tastes like old broccoli!" My son actually stopped and laughed, which is when I realized the power of silliness. I still use that line, and it still gets a chuckle.
3. The Bargain: This one’s a bit controversial, but occasionally promising a sticker if we have a "no licking" ride got us through the busiest shopping days without incident. Sometimes, surviving the day calls for desperate measures (or rather, pragmatic parenting).
A Real Scenario
There was this one time, late afternoon at our local mall, when I didn’t notice until too late. "Yuck, Mommy!" echoed through the elevator, and I can only assume a fresh coating of toddler saliva was involved. I quickly handed him a wet wipe (a staple in any bag), saying, "Clean the button so it's nice for the next person, alright?" Sure enough, that wiped the smirk off — but only for a moment.
Final Thought
Stopping a toddler from licking elevator buttons might feel like a futile battle against nature, but with a little creativity (and an arsenal of toys), you can reduce the chances. Or at least laugh about it. Maybe that's all we can do as parents — sort of.