Time outs

jgoetz1

Hi there.  Any suggestions for how to handle an almost 2 year old, who acts up once she's in time out?  We have been giving her time outs for things like throwing her toys, hitting, spitting, and screaming if she doesn't get her way.  Once she's in time out she will sometimes run and get a toy, which I calmly take away from her and say no toys in time out.  Other times she screams and kicks our wall during a time out.  We have then been picking her up and carrying her to her room to isolate her during time out and it usually calms her down.  Thanks for any suggestions!

takmjs

I've read that time-outs shouldn't be in their bedroom, because it places negative feelings with their normally-safe room. You want their bedroom to be a positive place and somewhere they feel comfortable, not where they go when they're naughty.

Maybe try to find a different place where she can be isolated and "away from the scene of the crime" and a low-traffic area, so she's not entertained on time-out.

We haven't started time-outs yet, so I'm not sure where that place will be for us.

PetuniaFeatherbottom

My kid has never yelled or had a tantrum (21 months) but I guess when she does a time out spot might be best, other than her room. Makesure she's at a point though where she understands what happened and why she is in time out. No matter where you put her, it won't mean much if she doesn't see the connection between cause and effect.

cecilyandgautam

We've only used time outs half a dozen times but we generally were using the crib because it's contained and safe. We're shifting away from that now that she's older and presumably they'll get more frequent - I don't want her to get afraid of the crib. So far, I've been very swiftly picking her up and plopping her in a corner while saying "no hitting, you get a time out" and then walking away. She generally bursts into tears and stays in her little corner. Sometimes, I use the babygate to lock myself in the kitchen and keep her out and tell her it's a "time out" - she seems to take it pretty seriously.

I know that our kids are still little and full on time outs are little ways away, but I think us removing ourselves from the situation is the biggest punishment, so for now, a time out might just mean that mommy gets a few minutes to herself, whether that means baby stays in a corner, in a gated area, or you go somewhere else. I think if you sit there with them, consoling them, it's not really a time out - it's more like a calming conversation. 

mrsshawnavanb

If you have a pack n play, that's a safe area for a time out where they're safe and you too can have a few minutes away.

mrsshawnavanb

I dont see "edit" anymore, but wanted to add that we have DD's pack n play set up in the living room, which works for us.