English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

I smack her on her hand when I feel she is misbahaving but I don't know if I am being fair she is 8 months old. I don't smack hard but I feel terriable doing it.

2007-04-26 10:28:55 · 26 answers · asked by ShayforSale 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting Newborn & Baby

26 answers

At 8 months old, i think it should not be physical punishment yet. You are the parent, your voice is designed to be stern and authorative sounding. Just make sure she hears the tone in your voice and sees your unhappy face when she is being naughty. Don't scare her w/your voice or unhappy face. Just make sure she knows that it's a No No. Teach her No by shaking your head NO and NOT smiling. Then, when she does something good, make your tone really happy, higher pitch and smile really, really big. That way, if you are out somewhere, you see your baby getting ready to do something naughty, she can look at you and you can shake your head no instead of yelling at her. She will learn your facial expressions. It should not get physical yet. (it shouldn't at all - but sometimes, I know it's hard not to punish by a little crack on the hand) but 8 months is way too young sweetie. She's just a baby. That is why you feel bad, because I think deep down you know that she is too young. She is just learning right from wrong. You need to teach her what is right and wrong. Don't crack her hand when she does something wrong, she doesn't know yet. It takes a while for babies to learn from us. For instance, if she grabs something off the coffee table, and you tell her no, don't touch that and then 5 mins. later, she goes to grab it again - your probably wondering why she is grabbing that again after you just told her no. She hasn't grasped on yet why she shouldn't do it. I think the facial expression and tone in voice would work much better in teaching right from wrong.

2007-04-26 10:42:16 · answer #1 · answered by Brooke's Mommy 3 · 4 1

You should think of it as teaching your baby not punishing, what does smacking her hand teach her. Saying no and removing them from situations is much more effective, you will have to do it over and over again because they will repeat the behavior until they make the connection that they don't get the response they want from you for the behavior. Easier said than done but no one ever said being a parent was easy.

2007-04-26 10:58:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

Punishing an 8-month-old seems a bit stupid and pointless. I mean your baby will be afraid of you before she can even say "Mommy, I love you."

Shower your baby with love. Don't get into the habit of punishing her for every little thing that she tries to explore. You might end up beating your little baby black and blue sometime soon.

A baby's (and a child's) job is to learn. And you're supposed to giude her. And not stop her cold in her tracks every time she tries to figure out stuff about everything around her.
Why not just gently take her hand(s) and say (gently) no, don't do _____. You might have to say it a zillion times, but that's what you signed up for when you became a mother.

Good luck and treat your little baby nicely. She'll repay you with her unconditional love!

2007-04-26 15:11:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

As long as you are not hurting her, but only "annoying" her, a little hand-swat can be a smart way of teaching her not to touch. Babies are very simple. If something makes them physically uncomfortable, like beaning themselves in the head with a rattle, they quickly learn not to do that.

As long as you are not really causing pain, but merely suprising her a bit and annoying her by it, this should be OK. Babies understand cause and effect, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Say the word "HOT" when she touches a not-too-hot object or some hot water from the faucet, and she will learn quickly what "hot" means, and to stay away from it. NEVER put the child in harms way, or let her risk being burned, but she can easily learn how to navigate her world more safely of you are being attentive to this.

Incidentally, I have three kids, and have never ONCE used a playpen. My toddlers always at least pause and look at me if I say "no touch", because of a few fairly painless hand swats. I mean, not even enough that they would cry about it, just enough of a little thump, with two fingers, that they stop and look up at you. Say "no" at the same time, so she learns what this means. I find it appalling that parents refuse to tell their toddlers what the "no-nos" are, then presume to tell parents like me that I am being "cruel" by letting my kids know what I want them to do! You will give out far fewer time-outs in the future if you start out with tiny bits of discipline now.

2007-04-26 10:58:30 · answer #4 · answered by Junie 6 · 0 1

I feel that 8 months is too young for a smack on the hand. She does not know what she's doing because she is still sorting out the world using all of her senses. She has not established autonomy and is not misbehaving, but merely trying to figure out the world. Once she realizes that she is her own person between eighteen months and two years, then she is capable of misbehaving.

2007-04-26 10:39:09 · answer #5 · answered by Deanna 2 · 4 1

I think that is a bit too young unless she is reaching for like an open flame, or a knife or something. *which she shouldn't be near anyways*

My thinking is in this circumstance she is too young to know right from wrong but needs to be taught what things are definitely off limits for safety's sake.

I do not spank my child, and only smack her hand in the most dire of circumstances. As you said not only do I feel bad but I don't want to teach her that if she hits someone my response is to hit her. That just teaches her violence is the way to resolve conflict.

Besides at eight months old she isn't doing anything out of spite or the need to be naughty. She is just exploring her world, and kids that age do that with their hands and mouths.

Good Luck

2007-04-26 10:34:49 · answer #6 · answered by moonshadow418 5 · 1 2

I think it is too young, say no and move her. Repetition is how kids learn, it is tiring, but just keep moving her and give her something else to focus on. Go with your gut, if it makes you feel bad then you should not do it. It does not hurt to put a child in their crib with toys for a while if you need a break as long as you check on her. But she is too young to understand and will probably start mimicking the hitting. I think patience is one of the biggest things a child teaches a parent.

2007-04-26 12:58:14 · answer #7 · answered by Miss Coffee 6 · 0 0

By 'misbehaving', I'm going to assume you mean "doing things that could cause herself or something/someone else harm", because a baby of that age cannot truly disobey or understand boundaries. If your child is getting into things that she shouldnt, get down on her level and tell her "no" firmly, but not meanly. Remove her from the situation and give her something else to do. Do not "punish" natural curiosity and exploration. These are important and crucial for healthy development. Just help TEACH her what things are not safe or are not appropriate, and guide her to do things that are.

2007-04-26 10:39:50 · answer #8 · answered by Bomb_chele 5 · 4 1

Someone asked this exact same question earlier today (8 month old). This really, really upsets me. You don't punish a baby. They are too young to know what is going on.

At this age, you need to stop the child and redirect them. That's all. No hitting. It's ok to yell a loud "NO" to get their attention. But do not hit your baby.

If she is doing something dangerous, simply pick her up and take her away from the situation. Then, set her down someplace safe and get her occupied with something else (distraction.)

2007-04-26 10:45:03 · answer #9 · answered by purplebinky 4 · 2 2

We teach our children what is right and wrong they aren't born knowing. I believe that a child cant misbehave under the age of one. How can they misbehave if they don't know its wrong? I did pop my son on the hand (not hard) to get his attention if he was doing something that could hurt him but otherwise I didn't punish him until he was a little over one. i just removed him from the situation and gave him something else to do.

2007-04-26 10:39:18 · answer #10 · answered by Kristin Pregnant with #4 6 · 1 1

fedest.com, questions and answers