How long should i keep my 1year old in time out?

Question

My little girl is the cutest baby you've ever seen but she has her daddies dark side, when she doing something wrong and you tell her "no" she stops till you take your eyes off her then she goes back doing what she should'nt. we put her in her crib for a time-out and she starts to cry, my question is should i wait till she stops crying to get her out or is thier a time limit i should enforce? I dont want her to grow up thinking that if she cry's she'll get what she wants what do you think or know from experience?

the longest my wife and i have left her in time-out is about 30 mins
and she cry'd the whole time I "literaly" thought she was going to explode!!

Answer 1

You need a parenting class.

Infants don't get time out.

Answer 2

I agree - 1 minute per year of age. I wouldn't put her in her crib, because you don't want her to associate being bad with where she goes to sleep. Choose a naughty chair for her to sit on and have a timer that is close enough for her to hear it go off. At only a year old she won't really get the concept, but if you keep doing it she will eventually understand. It doesn't matter if she cries, screams or throw things around - as long as she sits there (for the most part) for the allotted time and you don't pay any attention to her that is the most important part. Then get down on your knees to get to her level, explain what she did was wrong and ask her if she's sorry. Then give her a big hug and kiss and tell her you love her.

You also need to make sure you aren't putting her in time out for every little thing. At this age, distraction or just taking her out of that situation works much better. Good luck!

Answer 3

I think 1 year old is too young for time out - but if you want to use that method, the experts say 1 minutes for each year of life. At one year of age she wouldn't understand the connection between what she did "wrong" and why she is put in her crib. Also, if you want to use the time out method - you should not use her crib as that is her place of refuge and safety and being put there as a punishment is confusing. That is another reason time out at one year of age is too young. You should choose a corner of the house with no distractions and put a big cushion there and tell her she has to sit there until she agrees to behave in the acceptable way. Another reason why 1 is too young - a 1 year old has not concept of keeping agreements. then when she comes out you make up and make sure she is doing what she agreed to do. I think time out is better started around 2 1/4 years. Do some research on the net on "time out" as a method of disciplining children and make sure you understand the whole concept and the methods thoroughly before you try to use it. it is a form of behavourial psychology and needs to be used correctly or it wont work and you may unwittingly teach your child to become a manipulator. Good luck with it all!

Answer 4

Your daughter is too little for a time out to mean anything to her. A time-out usually is most effective around 3 years of age and older. The time out should be equal in minutes to how old the child is. When the time out is completed it should be followed by a discussion of what happened, a reassurance that you are disappointed with the action and not the child, and a suggestion of how to make a better choice next time. What your daughter needs at this age is physical guidance away from the unwanted behavior and distraction with an appropriate behavior. She will not respond well to just being told "no". As an example, you have told her numerous times not to touch the buttons on the TV. She continues to do so. She needs you to take her by the hand, remove her from the TV and guide her to her own toys. Some children are "testers" of the boundaries. They want to make sure that what you say you really mean. Some children know how to do things that will get them attention. You don't have to spend all your time with her, entertaining her, but make sure she has plenty of your attention in a positive way. Read to her, play blocks, go for walks, play outside, put on some music and dance with her, whatever you enjoy. 1 year olds are busy little people, learning lots of new stuff and exploring the world around them. Save time outs for when she's a little older if necessary. For now, use the distraction method. You'll all be happier.

Answer 5

I don't think time-outs are effective at that age. My son is one and a half, and I'm sure he wouldn't even know why he is in timeout if I put him in one. A firm no when she is doing something bad is enough. She is not "evil" when she does things when you are not looking, all babies do this. It is a normal part of development to test the waters and see how far they can go. Especially don't use the crib for a time-out or she'll associate it with bad experiences and hate being there. When you catch her doing something naughty, just distract her with a more appropriate toy. I really hope you weren't serious about putting her in a timeout for 30 minutes letting her scream the entire time. That's really mean.

Answer 6

I use the 1 minute for 1 year rule of thumb. I have a 2 and a half year old, and a 14 month old. I don't believe a child under 18 months understands what a time out is intended for, So I think the way you are using it is not right at this time. However, if your one year old starts throwing a temper tantrum, then she needs to be put in her crib until it is over, that way she can learn to calm herself down, and you will know she is safe while tantruming.

Answer 7

Ummm yeah 30 minutes is way too long, unless you think she is misbehaving because she is tired and needs rest. At this age there is probably a reason for the behavior, hunger, tired, frustrated because she can't communicate or do something due to coordination, try to find the source of the problem first, then if your absolutly at your wits end a time out would work, but only one minute per year of age.

Answer 8

30 MIN????? that is insane! The time-out rule is 1 minute for every year of the child's life. 1 year = 1 minute 2 years= 2 minutes... and you also said you are putting her in her crib which is supposed to be a happy place that she settles down to go to sleep in each night...not a place to be put when she is Bad or in trouble. If you continue to put her in her crib for time outs, she is going to begin associating the crib with doing something bad. You need to designate a time-out spot and always put her in the SAME SPOT EACH TIME! if she gets up, simply pick her back up and put her back until the minute is up! It doesn't matter if you spend the entire minute doing the same thing (picking her up and putting her back) There are two books that my pediatrician recommended to me...Toddler Taming by Christopher Greene and The Happiest Toddler on the Block. BOTH EXCELLENT! I highly recommend either. My daughter is two now and behaves like an angel b/c I have read those books backwards and forwards and follow them like the bible! I get compliments on how well she behaves all the time! this can be a very challenging and hard time for both you and your daughter but hang in there and read up on it....GOOD LUCK!

Answer 9

OMG...30 minutes! gees....like it says above, the proper time is one minute per year of life...so a one year old would get 1 minute. she is only 1. I understand wanted to show her who is the boss, but understand that shes ONE. she is testing her limits and shes curious about the world around her. Kids learn by looking and touching things. if someone left out a couple hundred bucks, and said don't touch that, I'm sure you'd try to find a way to get to it. Just be patient. It will probably take a while before the time outs start to really work. Good Luck!

Answer 10

I am the mother of 3 and studied child development. I truly believe that a one year old is too young to be given time out. They really do not "get it" yet. Try redirecting her, take her to another room or give her a different item to play with. She does not know wrong from right yet, you need to be patient and loving. I would begin time outs at two years of age and then one minute per year of age.
Try a time out spot that is neutral, her bed or room is maybe not the best choice, try a small chair or stool in the kitchen or close by hallway.
Good Luck!

Answer 11

Ummm 30 minutes is way to long for her age it actually goes 1 minute per year so she should only be in time out for 1 minute until she turns 2 and then go to 2 minutes And then after her time out explain to her after that she cant do that anymore and give her a hug and a kiss

After like 2 minutes she wont even know why she is in time out anymore