Soap in the mouth for swearing?

Susan - posted on 05/12/2013

Yes. It's something a mother would have done in the '50's. But look at the kids back then. For the most part respectful, polite, courteous.

Maybe we need a little more of what parents did in the 50's and 60's.

Gianna - posted on 05/11/2013

Soap in the mouth is a big no no for me. Never did that to my children when they were younger, never will now. My husband found different and better consequences. My mom and dad didn't put soap in my mouth either. I always think to myself, would I want soap in my mouth? I know if I wouldn't, they wouldn't.

Angela - posted on 05/11/2013

Years ago, the soap treatment was a punishment for anything "bad" that came out of the mouth. So cursing, swearing, telling lies and filthy inappropriate talk - all addressed with soap.

I never had the soap treatment. I was beaten and thrashed within an inch of my life. I could have weathered the soap treatment easily, indeed welcomed it. I would have also preferred it to a time out. A swift punishment with no real pain or anguish or attack on my personal dignity. Not boring and time-consuming like a time-out. Or like writing "lines".

All any individual needs to do to get rid of the soap taste is a good brush of the teeth then a flush around with mouthwash.

It might well be classed as abuse but anyone who has been excessively spanked would take this punishment quite stoically.

Kattis - posted on 11/03/2012

Your shocked, really? I us it and have several friends that use soap or hot sauce like Tabasco to make a point.



I agree with the other mom in the conversation, liquid soap are so much easier to use to get a proper quantity of soap in to the childs mouth.

Julianne - posted on 08/31/2012

I am not talking extreme situations. My mother used this as a punishment and even just a few drops, made me vomit. I felt sick and had no appetite for days.

Julie - posted on 08/31/2012

Child abuse. Just give them time out. Praise them for not swearing.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/30/2012

I've said it a few times, my kids have eatten soap, so instead I have them eat my husband's cooking. Now that is abuse.

Kristi - posted on 08/30/2012

There is a big difference between soap bubbles and the pure concentration of a bar of soap or a couple of drops of the liquid. I would wager 99% of people recognize the difference. Children certainly do, at least mine did. But, nobody has to do anything they don't agree with. I don't remember if I've said it in this thread so I will say it now, different strokes for different folks. This has surely gotten tiresome, as Dove said, it just won't die.

Dove - posted on 08/29/2012

Yeah, I seriously felt like I was going to puke for well over a half an hour... it was major misery that I wouldn't want to risk inflicting on my child... and how would you (general you) know until it was too late. Sure, you could give them a lick and nothing would happen... or you could give them a lick and spend the next few hours cleaning up puke all over the house and comforting a miserable child that you caused. I just couldn't risk that. ;)

Sherri - posted on 08/29/2012

Well for most Dove it simply tastes badly I have accidentally licked my finger when I had some soap on it. There simply wasn't even enough to make a fly sick did it taste disgusting hell yes. Did I ever make that mistake again Hell no.



Now I don't even use this as punishment for my kids. But a simple drop or taste is not going to in 99% of kids make them sick, taste gross yup but sick no.

Dove - posted on 08/29/2012

Considering how sick one accidental lick of watered down dish soap made me feel.... I will call it abusive. I would never intentionally inflict that kind of feeling on my child.



And if they eat soap... how would it be a punishment?



Of course, those are the same two arguments I had at the beginning of this post that just will not die. ;)

Jodi - posted on 08/28/2012

So if the soap doesn't bother them (i.e. they eat more than that when they bathe), why do it? Doesn't that defeat the purpose?

Kristi - posted on 08/28/2012

Jodi--



Never said they weren't entitled to an opinion. IMO, calling a couple of licks off a bar of soap or a drop of liquid from your finger abuse is dramatic. As I stated, taking this measure to the extremes would be considered abuse, IMO. I'm glad I don't live where ever it is that this would be considered abuse, the way many of the women, including myseld, on here are describing, not shoving a bar of soap half way down a kid's throat or squirting liquid soap into his/her mouth. For Pete's sake, they eat more bubbles of soap when they bathe than what I put on their tongues. ; )

Sherri - posted on 08/28/2012

Julianne you are talking extreme situations where a child drank an entire bottle of liquid soap or an entire bar of soap.



These woman are saying two drops or a taste of the bar so not even the same.

Julianne - posted on 08/28/2012

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washing_out...

""Additionally, soaps and detergents can have potentially harmful results, especially if swallowed, including vomiting, diarrhea, irritation of the lining of the mouth and digestive tract, and in rare instances, pulmonary aspiration.""



Why would doing this to a child not be considered abuse?

Jodi - posted on 08/28/2012

Ah, ok, you are reading the most recent page. I looked at the first page as in the oldest, LOL.



Anyway, everyone is entitled to their varied opinions. Doesn't make it "oh-so-dramatic" because actually, in some places it would be legally considered abuse.

Kristi - posted on 08/27/2012

Jodi--Page 1 (I have my pages set up newest to oldest)



Jane Robson--That would definitely be classed as child abuse...



Kristy Park--its abuse



Little Miss--But I would never torture them like that anyway.



Carmen Ely--That's horrible. I would never punish any child like that.



Jodi Zippity Do--Never punish a child that harshly



That's a bit more than pointless and unecessary. But that's just my opinion.

Jodi - posted on 08/27/2012

I didn't see too many people call it abuse. I saw a lot say it was pointless and unnecessary and they wouldn't do it to their kids.

Kristi - posted on 08/27/2012

I only read 1 page of this but I have to laugh at the oh-so-dramatic outcrys of abuse. Aside from what Megan said about the child being severely allergic to it, do "you" honestly think a lick or two off a bar of soap is going to damage children? It does not. I have used it when my children, step included, were younger. I used a bar or the liquid. I put a drop or two on my finger and wiped it around their lips. I didn't grab a bar of soap at the mention of God or even "shit" the first few times around but I did use it. I was more apt to use it when one of my stepdaughters kept screaming I fucking hate the baby or you're a fuckin asshole (to her father, she liked me :)) when she was in 2nd grade. It worked for awhile, most of the time I just had to threaten to get the soap bar if one of them kept repeating bad words or hateful things.



I had my mouth washed out a time or two growing up. I didn't like it so I quit saying dammit. I don't hate my parents or have nightmares about a giant bar of soap coming after me. lol They also wiped methiolade (no idea on the spelling on that one) on my finger to get me to quit sucking it. I remember that it tasted horrible and it turned my finger an orangy-pinkish color. It didn't take long for me to stop after that. I suppose that would be considered abusive, too? This is similar to the spanking debate, but let's not go there. Taking any of these to the extreme would be child abuse, imo. I also whole heartedly agree with Kelly Dean's post. That is an effective, proper way to use the soap, again, imo. Different strokes for different folks.

Jane - posted on 08/25/2012

What a disgusting thing to do! That would definitely be classed as child abuse in my opinion! I don't care if its a bar or liquid - its just wrong!



And anyway, where do they hear the bad language from in the first place? If it is from their parents then the parents have no right to be so hypocritical! Children learn from mimicking people around them so if their parents, other relatives, friends or neighbours swear then the most you can do is to explain that it's inappropriate and ask them not to repeat such words and make sure they, the adults, don't say those words in front of the kids either. The best way to teach our kids is by example.

Kirsty - posted on 08/25/2012

that is actually discusting, how could somebody do this to a child? its abuse...and secondly its soap, its no edible so imagine the effects!!

Kelly - posted on 08/24/2012

So far I've been lucky with my stepdaughter. She knows that even though Daddy and I (and her bio-mom) sometimes use bad words, those words are grown-up words that she shouldn't ever say.



I'm really not that concerned with whether or not she knows the words, or even says them occasionally. What matters is that she doesn't say them in front of me. That shows me that she understands that there is a time and place for such language, and there are times and places that such language is inappropriate.



That said, I would try to avoid washing her mouth out with soap. It certainly wouldn't be my first reaction. She'd get a warning (more likely two), and if she failed to comply, *then* she'd probably get her mouth washed out with soap. Not liquid, since it probably would upset her stomach. I don't see anything wrong with a bar of Dove or Ivory, though.

Caroline - posted on 08/21/2012

If that's how one feels about swearing then I don't have a problem with it but I swear as do my older children and I'm perfectly fine with that.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/15/2012

It was mentioned it in the books too. I only bought the first two at the used book store in a town library. 1.50$ a piece so I figured for that price I could see what the hype was about. I definitely prefer books to movies based on books. Although with The Devil Wears Prada I could do either.

Actually I let my 7 year old watch The Devil Wears Prada with me because despite the rating it has a good message that you shouldn't let your work and other people dictate who you are and lose sight of what's important. But that's for the other thread.

Soap flavoured gum... what Canada won't do for fun :)

Momma (MeMe) - posted on 08/15/2012

Oh, I have no idea.... Never heard of that. I also have never watched HP. Not my thing. ;)



Here is a link of what the gum looks like. YUM! I grew up on it. LOL



http://www.google.ca/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&b...



BTW - It is a Canadian thing.... You cannot buy it anywhere else, except the internet, if you aren't in Canada.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/15/2012

Are they like the Bertie Bots every flavour jelly beans from HP?

Momma (MeMe) - posted on 08/15/2012

Come on, people. I LOVE Thrills gum! It taste just like soap and I go buy some every blue moon from a store we have called 'Freak Lunch box". It has all the old, cool and new, candy stuff.



YUM! So, for all those parents that have kids that HATE soap, go buy them some Thrills. It is much safer and well, probably more feasible. Since you can carry the gum with you! LMAO



Oh and this is like actually eating soap, not just a few bubbles. ;)

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/15/2012

My 17 month old eats soap so it would never work for me either. DH once convinced our 7 year old that oatmeal soap would taste like oatmeal. But that was just being silly.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/15/2012

My kids love eating bubbles, this would never work for us. But I would never torture them like that anyway.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 08/15/2012

Shannon, kids die from eatting peanut butter due to a severe allergic reaction. My husband can die if he eats bell peppers because he is severely allergic to them. The child could have been severely allergic to an ingrediant in the soap. Maybe you should do some research?

Shannon - posted on 08/15/2012

kids have also dies from eating peanut butter, where are you getting your information from? a tiny drop of soap rubbed into a childs mouth and then that child dies common

Jodi - posted on 06/12/2012

"Never punish a child that harshly for learning what they have been taught.esp. If they learned from you or the environment you have them in. " I agree with thsi to a point, I stubbed my pinky toe one day and say "shit", my then 2 year old immediately started saying shit to mimic me. I simply told her mommy shouldn't have said that and she shouldn't either. Granted, I wouldn't ever use soap at that age anyways. But, I live next a group home and we frequently hear the words "fuck" "dammit" "shit" "bitch" and such, several times a week. When one of the tenants is having a fit, I will bring my kids inside, but I can't know beforehand when an outburst will occur, my daughter occasional drops the f-bomb, I don't "punish" her for it (just a talking to usually quells it for a few weeks), but I'm not going to put a massive amount of money into moving someplace else, where I will likely encounter other people that swear too. Sometimes, your kid picking up bad language is unavoidable. Unless you're a hermit...then you're good! lmbo

Rachael - posted on 06/12/2012

i haven't done it but i remember when i was a kid in the 90's and my brother would bite alot and so our babysitter washed his mouth out with soap and he never did it, at least to my knowledge, again. do i like the idea of using that method? no, but i';m not ruling it out. i suppose if nothing else worked and i was tying to get my son to stop swearing or biting i might give it a shot

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 06/10/2012

Then you start having them see food as punishment and you have a whole new issue.

Carmen - posted on 06/10/2012

That's horrible. I would never punish any child like that. I was reading a book awhile back ago about child abuse and that's one thing a mother did and it posioned the child. An easier way to punish the child is find some food the child hates! Make sure their not allergic and stuff, then make them eat it. That taught my five year old and now he's a well mannered boy.

Vicki - posted on 06/01/2012

Never punish a child that harshly for learning what they have been taught.esp. If they learned from you or the environment you have them in.

Aunt Marty - posted on 06/01/2012

I think it used to be a real common thing to just do a little taste of bar soap on a kids mouth and say wash the dirty words out of your mouth. I don't know if it helped amy, but I'm sure it didn't hurt.
Most little ones have put soap in their mouths as a kid in the tub at some time. It tasted bad, but caused no harm. Unless a child is being physically or emotionally abused, parents parent differently and what one approves of another doesn't.

Julia - posted on 06/01/2012

I think I'm a rather progressive and tough mom but I don't agree with the soap in the mouth punishment. It can be dangerous and caused many problem.

Michelle - posted on 06/01/2012

I had it when I was in high school (Im only 20 now) I would'nt do it to my kids but my partner said he would, will be interesting when it comes down to it.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 05/25/2012

Toni I understand that. I just don't consider a swat on the bum (with your hand) to be beating your kid. What my paternal grandparents did to my dad and his brother and sisters that was abuse because they were hit with belts and given water fasts if they got sick.

Toni - posted on 05/25/2012

No Megan spanking walks a fine line which although never necessary, is not always abuse, paddling on the other hand is beating.

Ali if you put information/ opinion down on a debate board it is there to be debated!

Ooo - posted on 05/25/2012

Hmmm. Thanks for putting your presumption into words. I was just talking about what does and doesn't work in relation to swearing. This isn't going to be another of those threads that decends into people quoting each other about spanking, child abuse and all that jazz is it?

I'll try to move back on topic. Soap doesn't clean a dirty mouth because.......

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 05/25/2012

*head deask* Spanking isn't the same as beating. My parents spanked me with just their hand. IMO beating is when you use force and also with something other than your hand

Toni - posted on 05/25/2012

Right ok, pro child beating, but no soap that makes perfect sense!

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 05/25/2012

Toni, I think Ali means that she agrees with spanking and perhaps paddling.

Toni - posted on 05/25/2012

What's a pro cp strict mom?

Most people on this thread are against the idea of soaping so you're in the majority really Ali.

Ooo - posted on 05/24/2012

I'll probably raise a few eyebrows by saying that I don't agree with soap in the mouth because I'm considered to be one of those pro CP strict moms. I don't agree with soap because of the chemicals and because it doesn't work. I don't swear and I don't condone it or tolerate it under my roof. I know kids swear like troopers around their peers because they think it's funny, but well raised kids don't do it around adults.



I was discusted when I found out that my son said the F word at sports day and I gave him a time out while the rest of his friends were enjoying the playground. My son doesn't swear around me and he even looks appauled when he hears adults swearing, but he still did it. What does this mean? I think he's rebelling and doing it when he thinks he can get away with it, but he still knows it's wrong because that's the way we taught him.



I also swore when I thought I could get away with it, but I don't do it anymore because I know it's wrong. I'm hopeful that my son will also come to the same conclusion and stop doing it. If parents refuse to tolerate it then children will eventually learn that it's not tolerated in polite society and they will stop doing it. I enjoyed swearing as a kid, but I hate hearing it now. They will move on from the childish fun of swearing if they're exposed to environments where it isn't the done thing.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 05/24/2012

Forget soap in the mouth, we just threaten them with my MIL's cooking and they behaive.

I wouldn't give my children soap, for one thing my 14 month old enjoys eatting it. I swear I go through 1/2 a bar of unscented Dove soap a week just because she gets it out of the travel container and gnaws on it.

Shannon - posted on 05/24/2012

well I gave my seven year old a time out twice for swearing and the second time out was for the entire evening because I have little one that I do not want to learn these colorful new words.. so the third time I gave him a spank which I always use as a very last resort and so when again he chose to use a swear I put a drop of soap on my finger and then touched his mouth, it was the last time he chose to swear..like I said this is a last resort to me, I don't like it either but society is not going to be kind to me in public if they hear my child running around using this kind of dirty talk, I see a lot of sugar coating in 2012 I see alot of spoiled children given way to much pull, the word is honor thy mother and father, don't hurt your children but also don't spare them the parenting that they crave and deserve, I teach consequences, I will take away privileges, and toys, give timeouts, writing lines is great for printing practice but when all of that fails to work I do what my mom did, and I'm alive and well

Angela - posted on 05/24/2012

Putting soap in their mouth is so dangerous. There are kids that have had allergic reactions and even died from it.