My youngest has reached that stage and it is driving me mad. Never before have I known a child with such determination in putting off doing something that you ask them today. I got a chain of 15 but whys today and lost patience and just told her; "Because I said so!".

And of course that turned around and bit me, because she later asked me for a balloon and when I told her she couldn't until she'd eaten, she said; "But I said so!".

So how long does this stage last for?

haha, my mom always said "because I'm the mommy-thats why" which has come back to haunt me when I am tired and say it to the husband. He gets white and starts sweating real bad, lol.

I was one of those kids who would ask why for ages. I probably grew out of it once I could go to the library and read about a subject on my own. It certainly kept me busier than asking why and getting no good answer.

All kids go through this. I was watching Super Nanny and there was a "because I told you so" kid on there. It drove everyone nuts. One thing I did notice on SuperNanny is that she tells the parents to ignore the child after a point because you are just pushing them to go on when you answer.

My two year old is like that. We turn it around and ask her questions, like "what was my answer to that question?" or "why do you think I said no" or "what could we do instead". It seems to help diffuse the situation and empower her.

Thank you, that sounds like a good strategy. Right now it has become a bit of a game and that has broken the tension. I started questioning her the same, and at first she tried giving answers and they eventually got really weird. In the end she just laughed and said "Don't say but why?!".

So now the joke is what. Ah, she's a comic ;)

We were talking about this stage last night with my parents. They said that my brother was the most inquisitive of us all. One time my father bought a globe and pointed to the country where we are living. My brother, as he always do before asking, look at the globe closely and then ask "why does the water don't fall down?" My father was stunned about the question of my brother and he didn't satisfied my brother's inquiry because my brother just keeps asking "why?" after every answer.

My middle child is like that. I think it's because she's my girl, and she's less physical and more mentally inquisitive. But it's enough to drive a mom bananas! She's 6 now and STILL does it.

My 4 year old son talks too much. Half of his talking involves questions and it has been this way since he found out the meaning of why. Some questions are so hard to answer though! My son talks so much and makes sure I listen. Because when he's done telling a story make sure you stay tune for the Q&A that follows. He'll test me to make sure I paid attention!

My kid is 10 and they haven't stopped! The difference is that while before it was why does this do that and why does this go here, now it's why can't I do that and why can't I go here!

When my sisters youngest (a boy) would often get to the point he did not like adults answering the questions without the answers he wanted, he would go on strike. Stop talking fully and for a good six months or so anytime he was mad he would flush something down the toilet. We have no idea why he did this but she ended up calling the plumber more than once. The plumber stopped by once and I remember him asking why the toilet was broke, the plumber had kids of his own so he changed it up and it went from:

Plumber: Its broken now
Him: Why is it broken
Plumber: Why did you flush things down it?