Comments | parenting: Time-Out

cozyjeans in parenting

Time-Out

Dec 10, 2008 20:29

Okay, I'm not a parent yet, but it's not for lack of trying. LOL. I do, however, take care of a 13 month old girl. She's extremely bright and happy, but she likes to get into things she shouldn't, and is very sneaky about it. I'm just wondering what age it would be appropriate to start using time out as a punishment. Is she still too young? I ( Read more... )

Comments 5

missrenee14 December 11 2008, 04:08:50 UTC

in my opinion that is still a little too young for time out. if you were to use it, i would only have her sit for literally 1 minute and make sure you explain why she is sitting so that she understands what she did that was wrong.

i would more so try to babyproof as much as possible so that there isn't a lot for her to get into trouble with. keep consistantly reinforcing what is appropriate and not appropriate for her to play with.

some children are just very persistant about some things though, and while you cant/shouldn't change everything around, it might do well to change things that she just cannot resist getting into. just until she gets past that stage. pick your battles, as they say. :)

cozyjeans December 11 2008, 15:24:12 UTC

Yeah, I did use it once yesterday, but only for a minute. Pretty much long enough for me to use the bathroom, and then I went and got her and explained why she'd been put there. She seemed to get it, because she didn't go over there again. Thanks for the comment.

svrsek December 11 2008, 14:21:57 UTC

You could start time out, but you might be doing a whole lot of it. Instead, try redirecting. Have a stash of toys available at all times that you can bring out or present her with when she starts to get devious! We did start time out early with ours, but I think it was a bit closer to 15 months. She did understand it then, but it was a lot of work.

ber_waves_of December 11 2008, 16:03:40 UTC

At that age, I think baby-proofing and redirection will be more effective than time-outs.

lexispice December 12 2008, 03:06:43 UTC

My son is 16 months old and we put him in his crib for "time out", which is about 15 seconds or so. I only do it when he touches the stove or pulls my hair, or else we'd be doing it all the time :)