How are you choosing to discipline your toddler with their tantrums?

anna.ce

How are you choosing to discipline your toddler with their tantrums and when s/he is hitting you? This is new to me and I know it's dumb but idk how to go about teaching her that it's not nice and it isn't allowed AT ALL. I'm starting time outs tomorrow but was wondering what others are doing.

Also, during her gymnastics class, she screamed and started to hit me and I knew she was getting tired bc we were just ending the class, I didn't know what to do besides tell her "we don't hit". It was embarrassing. I'm thinking I should put her in time out during the class if this happens again? Parenting is hard!

kjsmith9

We say "hands are not for hitting, gentle touches please." And then put her down and walk away as long as she's somewhere she is safe. When they know it doesn't get them attention , it'll lessen a lot.

anna.ce

I still have so much to learn that I'm afraid of making mistakes and make if worse =\ so much for being a confident parent huh?

BabyHope2013

We are in prime time for tantrums right now at DS's age currently. If we are at home. I will just walk away and not give him attention. Obviously, I don't go far and make sure he is in a safe place. Then before I know it, he will come walking into the next room looking for me. 

If we are out places, I stop what I am doing and get down to his level and tell him he needs to stop. Then I give him another option---like, "would you like to go home" or "can we go play on the swings now". If it ever got so bad then I would pack up and leave. So far I haven't had to do that. 

We only use time outs for if he is doing something wrong--like reaching for the knobs on the stove after being told to not do that or hitting the dog with his plastic baseball bat. I feel like if he is having a temper tantrum, then putting him into time out isn't going to be very successful. 

anna.ce

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it!

ashiscute

I started time outs with both kids at 17 mos for hitting.  If they hit once they were given a warning.  If they hit again they got a timeout.  They both figured it out super fast.  Not saying they don't still hit occasionally but when there is a consistent consequence for an action they will get it.  

I do timeouts in public as well.  So if my DD was behaving that way in gymnastics I'd remove her from the room for a time out and then bring her back in.  If she continued to misbehave I'd leave.

Also, tantrums are normal.  Ignore until they calm down.  And stay calm yourself.  

MommaHen1984

We had this issue this morning. He did NOT want to get in the car to go to daycare and started smacking me. I took his hands and I quietly but firmly told him" do you want your truck"? ( we keep a few little toys in the car) he nodded his head and I said then you have to stop hitting Mommy or you will not get it. He stopped. That method usually works. I guess that's bribing? Oh well, it works. 

anna.ce

Thanks ladies, I've been working on time outs at home and in public when she hits me. I need her to know that it is not ok to hit and that it hurts. I just hope there's a small positive change at least.

Jbunny100

@Nicb13‌ How do you do timeouts when you are away from home? At home we put DS in his playpen with no toys and walk out of the room. Obviously this wouldn't work if we were out and about.