Washing a child's mouth out with soap?

Question

Isn't it child abuse? At what age would it be appropriate to call Child Protective Services?
My husband told me that a guy he works with has an 18-month old and they started washing his mouth out with soap when he backtalks. Now I am so mad and I want my husband to do something about it, because at that age I think that it's just wrong. Maybe I should do something about it.

Wow, at 18-months I think this punishment is, at the least, innapropriate. At 18-months a child is still a baby.

Answer 1

Good Grief! I can't believe some of the answers here. Of course it is a form of abuse to an 18 month old child !!!

I guarantee you in my state CPS would investigate it if it were reported.

As someone said, yes there is much worse abuse out there, but that does not justify allowing for ANY abuse to a child, mild, moderate, or severe.

To some this may seem rather trivial, I say it is not good parenting and if those parents are doing something like that at such an early age, what on earth might their discipline be when he's say 3-4 years old? I shudder to think. You should absolutely report it if you know it to be a regular form of discipline they are using on that baby boy...I sure hope you do.

Answer 2

At first I was going to say, what the heck is wrong with washing a child's mouth out with soap! ... but then I re-read the question (forgive me for jumping the gun) OMG, 18 months, that IS terrible!

I would really try to get your husband to write down a list of alternatives and share it with his co-worker. Maybe approach the situation as "I've been in the same boat, but this worked for me..." and provide some good alternatives and some reasons why punishment at that age doesn't work. Ask your hubby to follow up. I don't think you should call CPS unless you have evidence of further abuse toward the child.

Answer 3

Wow, at 18 months the child can backtalk!

My oldest child spoke mainly his own baby language until her was about 21/2 and my second was just beginning to string two and three words together at 18 months. Maybe they have a problem with "NO" which both mine did learn early. In any case I don't think I have ever heard of a child being physically harmed by soap in the mouth (like the kid in A Christmas Story dreaming about blindness from "soap poisoning"). I think you and your husband should probably MYOB.

Answer 4

I have had my mouth washed out with soap and it wasn't fun, I don't remember what I did to get that punishment but what ever it was I never did it again because I never got my mouth washed out again. Anyway, I was once told that someone knew someone who washed their child's mouth out with soap and the child died. Allergic reaction to something in the soap. I don't know if it is abuse but I don't think it is right. I have a family member that makes her son(he is 4) take a tablespoon of vinegar when he cusses, or talks bad. It works, he can't stand the vinegar. To me thats just gross.

At 18 months is hard to say, maybe he was raised like that but at 18 months the child is too young to understand what it's doing. I am not a good judge to say but maybe the vinegar thing may help

Answer 5

It seems the parent may be taking this approach rather than spanking or time out...at that age a childs memory is sooo short and punishment is hard. A simple tap on the hand and NO is enough at that age. When I was above the age 6 if I said a dirty word or talked back, my parents had a spray bottle w/ water and dishwashing liquid in it, they would spray it in my mouth, they only had to do this once or twice and I got the point and stopped.

Answer 6

It is an abuse. I think the child may get also serious health problems. A soap is not a thing which is developed to be consumed orally for what even teeth paste is tested. Besides psychological problems.

Strange to hear that 18-month aged child may backtalk...

Answer 7

At eighteen months!! something really should be done about this. The kid probably doesn't even know what the **** is going on and i personally think that this will affect the child mentally when he is older. Someone at least needs to let him know that this is absolutely not the right way to do things. I would call protective services to let them know what is going on so that they can give them a warning, because i dont think you want to make your husband talk to them about this situation. It could make him and his coworker feel uncomfortable with eachother at work.

Answer 8

Although I think it's totally inappropriate punishment for a child that age, if Child Protective Services (CPS) is called, you will doom this family and their child to total destruction. CPS is not what it says it is, it's a system that commits human rights atrocities every day and everywhere in America for profit (billions in federal funds). But please don't take my word for it, visit the LIFE (Liberty Independence & Family Equality) site at the address listed below in source and read the Supporting Documentation and other links for an eye opening education on CPS.

Answer 9

I don't know if it qualifies as child abuse or just really bad parenting. I would at least contact protective services. They are so overwhelmed they might just laugh but you might tell them you would like someone to suggest some parenting classes to these psycho parents. If they do that, what else will they try?

Answer 10

this is abuse, at 18 months what could this baby be saying to deserve soap in the mouth? id call the law. and where did this baby pick up the language from(the parents)?


mommy of 2