to smack or not to smack??

Tamara - posted on 07/03/2009

What I've done from the start is emphasize a "gentle touch" when she gets too excited or upset and starts smacking. I show her the feeling on her and than I show her how to do it on me. Its actually worked pretty well. (Now if she'd just do the same for the plants, lol.)

Mary - posted on 07/03/2009

What I've learned to do is use my voice. I always speak to my daughters (1 & 2 y/o) in a soft voice so when anything life threatening happens, I would raise my voice. They've learned to process what my tone means. It takes awhile but it works. I've tried spanking (a small tap on the thigh), but after taking parenting classes, I've learned utilizing my voice, redirecting, and the "cold shoulder"/time out.

My husband, too, believes in spanking, only because that's how he was raised. In fear. Bottom line, your daughter will pick up the pattern eventually. It's your decision on what that pattern may be.

Jessica - posted on 07/03/2009

i have to agree with everyone on here! there is nothing wrong with a smack on the bum when the situation demands (and for me as a last resort) providing they are at an age where they will understand when you explain to them why they were being punished!

Michelle - posted on 07/03/2009

you just need to redirect the behaviour at this age. It's not the babies fault if she's into something she shouldn't be, she doesn't understand yet.

Pamela - posted on 07/03/2009

Do not smack her 10 months is way to young

Sammy - posted on 07/03/2009

Theres nothing wrong with a smack, but 10months is abit young!

Maybe when there just over a year and running around gettin in to things...

Jael - posted on 07/03/2009

She to young to understand that hitting her is a punishment, she will jus view it as mean.

Kelly - posted on 07/03/2009

I would not smack her she is too little to understand why she is being smacked......at that age you can just redirect her attention.....and tell her "no no" when she is doing what you don't want her to do, then just move her and get her attention on something else......it not her fault that she is getting into stuff she shouldn't be in.....its just the stage she is in....she is learning about her surroundings..........she won't understand being smacked she is too young.....

Melissa - posted on 07/03/2009

Depends on what the "smacking" is for and how you "smack". If my daughter would try to touch something she shouldn't when she was a baby I would tell her "No" and if she continued I would tap her fingers. I think she is a little young for bum smacking though....redirection would work at this age. I didnt start spanking my daughter until she was almost 2, and even then I did it as last resort (in dangerous situations).

Dianne - posted on 07/03/2009

Hands are not for hitting.

Kylie - posted on 07/03/2009

You should not smack a baby, 10 months is far to young to implement this form of discipline. Redirecting her attention away from what you don't want her to be doing is all that you can do. Get your husband a good parenting book:)

Jenifer - posted on 07/03/2009

She's too young. I have a 10 month old, and I simply cannot imagine him doing anything that would warrant a smacking. At this stage, you need to be redirect and distract her if she's doing something you don't want her to - it isn't her fault if she gets into something she shouldn't. She won't understand being smacked.