The moment your child utters her first word, you’ll probably want to announce it to the world, while quickly marking the occasion in her baby book. You probably won’t be so thrilled, however, when her word of choice evolves into the very opinionated word “no.” Although this is a frustrating and challenging stage of development, it is completely normal.
Jen Mann-Li, a mother of two, describes her daughter Sadie, 3, as a “pro” at using the word no. “She was a late talker, didn’t really talk until she was almost 2 years old, and no was a favorite right away,” Mann-Li says.
Mann-Li says Sadie refuses to be distracted from what she wants. “She’s very stubborn and will not budge (sometimes literally),” she says.
