When I send my 3 1/2 year old to time out she cries so hard she throws up, what can I do?

Answer 1

When I was little, when I cried really hard I threw up (and it was never during "time outs" because I didn't have them--though usually I was crying hard enough to throw up when receiving 'other' [physical/abusive] punishments that the crazy people on here so encourage), and it WASN'T on purpose. Heck, even as an adult, if I really get going, the saliva/mucus in my throat can sort of get clogged and trigger the gag reflex just like when I was younger.

In other words, she's not doing it on purpose, she's just really upset. Perhaps letting her hold a favored doll or blanky (whatever it is) might help her calm herself enough to handle it.

Answer 2

Perhaps throwing up is a ploy, but i find that hard to believe in a 3 1/2 year old. Also she can't tell time, shorten the time out to two minutes or even one if that works. Don't hold her head under a faucet, that is abusive. You could give her time out in the bathroom as well so there is no mess. I never had this problem and find it alarming. Perhaps you should ask your doctor. I really think a quicker timeout would prevent the vomiting, but you will have to see if it corrects the bad behavior. Some children don't require much discipline to correct bad behavior.

Answer 3

Be consistent. You have some very good suggestions listed.
Make her help clean up the mess with you.
Insist she finish her time out once the mess is cleaned up.

But above all however you deal with her, handle it in the same CALM way each time. Part of it is attentions. She may think you will feel sorry for her and she will get out of being on time-out. My 2 year old used to pull this. When she was placed in a play-pen for time-outs she would look right at us and stick her hands in her mouth to gag herself into throwing up. She probably didn't exactly think this, but it was her usual response for a while.

In her case we compromised and let her help determine a time-out place (I was running our of carpet cleaner). Now we have a 'time-out' chair. It is small so it can be easily moved around the house depending on what we are doing. But it has arm-rests and when she is on time out the chair must be facing a wall or corner and her hands need to be on the rests so we can see they are not in her mouth.

My cousin has a time-out bean-bag chair. Doesn't matter where it is, but that is what her kids sit in when they are in trouble.

It takes time. Kids at this age are stubborn creatures.
Good luck.

Answer 4

My 20 yr old did that when she was a baby. It was soooo frustrating. I just had to have her sleep with me. I also found out later she was deathly afraid of the dark too. Had to leave lights on for her until she was 7 yrs old. Drama queen! But the throwing up thing was the worst!

Answer 5

Don't budge and make her clean it up. When she gets tired of cleaning it up....she will stop! I had a child that did this also, and I made her get some cleaning spray and spray it down and rub it with a towel. (of course I cleaned it after her, but that isn't the point) She hated to have to clean it up b/c she didn't want to get it on her!! Then, after cleaning it up, she had to finish her time out. She only did this about 2 more times!

Answer 6

I asked around my office, the older mothers say that it is something she will get over if you use consistant time-outs. The younger mothers think she may have some sort of physcological disorder. I have to agree with the older women...just use consistant time-outs.

Answer 7

You can't just not discipline her, but maybe find another way to do it. I can't think of anything right now, but think of something. No matter what you do she is going to cry though because she is upset and wants to get her way. Maybe just keep going with the time out and she will grow out of it.

Answer 8

You must keep asserting yourself. She must know that you're in charge.
By all means help her when she throws up, but once she's cleaned up, continue the time out. It's the only way she'll learn not to misbehave.

Answer 9

When this happens, especially if she has a temper, put her head under the faucet (not so that she drowns), that should take care of the temper and make her clean her mess. She won't like it and will eventually stop.

Answer 10

Sounds like you need to figure out a different consequence. Is she an extrovert? Maybe being in time out is way too stressful for her if she thrives with people around her.