Can you discipline a 19 month old?

[Anonymous]

If so, how?

Every time we try to get serious, make eye contact and tell him “no”, or grab him sternly away from a situation, or try timeout, he literally laughs and thinks it’s a game a keeps doing what he was doing.

I’ve even lightly slapped his hands and he laughs.

Thoughts/tips?

[Anonymous]

Don't hit him unless it's a safety issue (he's about to stick a fork in a light socket). He's too young for timeout. If he does something he's not supposed to, you say no, and you redirect. Every time. You will be doing it over and over and over and over again. For years. Consistency is key.

[Anonymous]

20 month old DD responds better when we don't react with anger or repeat what we have already said. Last night she wouldn't let go of the toothbrush after I told her time was up and so I just looked at her quietly.

[Anonymous]

We started timeout at 18 mos so yes.
I would say NO in a serious voice and make her sit on the floor or the bottom stair for one minute. Then I would tell her she could get up again when the minute was up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't hit him unless it's a safety issue (he's about to stick a fork in a light socket). He's too young for timeout. If he does something he's not supposed to, you say no, and you redirect. Every time. You will be doing it over and over and over and over again. For years. Consistency is key.

+1

I’ll just add that you need to always stay calm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We started timeout at 18 mos so yes.
I would say NO in a serious voice and make her sit on the floor or the bottom stair for one minute. Then I would tell her she could get up again when the minute was up.

I know all kids and families are different and I legit don’t judge but no study has shown time outs to be effective discipline and they can be kind of bad for emotional health. Maybe important for the parent to be able to cool down though.

[Anonymous]

Jesus, don't slap your under two year old child. Children don't have the capacity to process situations in the same way adults do, you get that right? So while you perceive your child's (lets be honest here, your baby barely a toddler) laughter will all of the attachment you as an adult have to laughter, they're really just releasing emotion in a way that's safe.

I'm no expert but resources to try

https://www.janetlansbury.com/
https://www.ahaparenting.com/
https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Kids-Will-Listen/dp/0743525086

[Anonymous]

Redirect their attention. That's the best you can hope for at that age. Don't smack his hands -- that will damage your relationship and not help with behavior at all.

[Anonymous]

No hitting!

19 months is too young for most anything. Just be consistent. Controlling the situation is your best bet from here until about 3 years old. Remove him, prevent the problem - those are your best bets. He has no self-control and won't for a while.

[Anonymous]

Don't hit your kid!
Jesus.
Just redirect into something else.

[Anonymous]

My pediatrician told me to limit "no!" to really serious stuff, like running in the street. Otherwise she said they start to ignore it. She said otherwise we should do things like "we eat our food. Food is not for throwing."

Also, just try and avoid the situations as much as possible. If they are throwing their food, for example, give them just one bite at a time. If they are climbing on chairs to get to the table, just get rid of the chairs for awhile.

This all would've sounded silly to me with my first child, but my second child is like OP's. "No" just isn't working right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If so, how?

Every time we try to get serious, make eye contact and tell him “no”, or grab him sternly away from a situation, or try timeout, he literally laughs and thinks it’s a game a keeps doing what he was doing.

I’ve even lightly slapped his hands and he laughs.

Thoughts/tips?

Stay calm. Repeat the no and don’t let him keep doing what he’s doing. I don’t understand how he keeps doing it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started timeout at 18 mos so yes.
I would say NO in a serious voice and make her sit on the floor or the bottom stair for one minute. Then I would tell her she could get up again when the minute was up.

I know all kids and families are different and I legit don’t judge but no study has shown time outs to be effective discipline and they can be kind of bad for emotional health. Maybe important for the parent to be able to cool down though.

I am the PP and it worked for us. I acknowledge its only one kid but it worked. When she was 2 and3 I could take her anywhere, restaurant etc and she would be well behaved.

[Anonymous]

Redirect their attention. That's the best you can hope for at that age. Don't smack his hands -- that will damage your relationship and not help with behavior at all.

This. It's all about distraction and redirection at this age. Essentially, distract them and engage them in the desired behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started timeout at 18 mos so yes.
I would say NO in a serious voice and make her sit on the floor or the bottom stair for one minute. Then I would tell her she could get up again when the minute was up.

I know all kids and families are different and I legit don’t judge but no study has shown time outs to be effective discipline and they can be kind of bad for emotional health. Maybe important for the parent to be able to cool down though.

I am the PP and it worked for us. I acknowledge its only one kid but it worked. When she was 2 and3 I could take her anywhere, restaurant etc and she would be well behaved.

Well, you don't know that it worked for you, right? There are others who did not do time out who can also take their 2 and 3 year olds out and the kids will behave. Others who did do time out cannot take their 2 and 3 year olds and expect good behavior.