Discipline?

MsLs

Just to make sure I'm not crazy, there's not much I can do other than redirecting for a 15 month old? Our DS has been a tornado of madness lately and DH and I are at odds about what to do. I'm camp he's just a little too young to understand consequences and time out; DH seems to think a hand slap, time outs, and taking away things is the way to go. I bought 1,2,3 magic and after a quick read I feel like he's still too young for it to be effective does any one any advice or tips or books or anything that could help? I'm lost and hoping that with the ridiculous amount of teeth and lack of sleep and starting preschool that DS is just having a bad couple of weeks.

shadypines

I think 15 months is too young for time outs.  I encourage redirecting. We started time outs at 18 months.

MsLs

Thanks ladies! It's just so frustrating.

ASmallWonder

Team mostly re-directing but with the caveat that time outs can have some effectiveness on certain kids at that age.  We started them at 15 months and he did understand but re-directing was the first step.  Timeouts were more for creating physical distance between him and the object of physical aggression.  He always knew he was there because he had hit/kicked/etc.

insertclevername

I am team redirecting and reinforcing positive behaviors.  For the vast majority of children, time outs are not effective at 15 months old.

AZ123

Tell your DH you dont' want to handslap at an age where hitting and biting can get your kicked out of places! Don't teach him hiting because it will backfire.

At that age, we did mini time outs. They were more as a way to introduce the big timeouts. I would give a warning and a command like "No throwing food" then the second time "No throwing food or you'll go to timeout". Then, I'd pick him up and put him in the time out spot, which is just a spot in the same room or where they can still see you. Sit with them for about 10 seconds and then say "mommy put you in time out because you threw food. No throwing food. Please say sorry and give me a hug." Something like that.

Also, at 15 month the best strategy isn't to redirect but to be offensive. To plan the upcoming event. If you see him reach for food to throw it, quickly just pick up the tray and take it away. If you see him getting frustrated or can predict a particular toy will cause frustration, immediately go over and help before it gets to the point of a temper tantrum.

Also, remember all this is temporary. They move on to other evil behavior so don't overthink it too much. Just be calm and consistent.

EMOmamma

I agree with the mini-timeout.  We redirect but if she really needs to be taken out of a situation we always take her to the same spot and help her calm down.  That's what we call it for my older toddler too.  If he needs a time out we usually say "we don't hit - you need to go calm down" (followed by an age appropriate talk and apology) and send him to the same place.  So the mini-timeout in that place is setting her up to have a future calm down safe area.  

I think they get really frustrated this age because they understand so much but don't have the communication or physical skills yet.

hmp1

We started time outs at 20 months but he didn't really get it until almost 2. He would just sit in the corner with me and laugh. 

Meeshe

I disagree that they don't get it at 15 months.  We started TO with my DS at that age and he definitely got it.  When I'd go in after a minute and ask him if he was ready to make good choices, sometimes he'd repeatedly say no...he understood it. And when he was ready, he said yes.

With my DD we started around 18 months but that was a result of their personalities more than anything.  He was just much more of a tester.

If you decide to do it, and follow the method consistently, they get it surprisingly quickly.  They understand a lot!