talk to me about time outs

zubenescamali

maybe DD isn't ready for them yet, although i would like to at least try.  i can't think of a place in the house, or a way that she will actually stay quietly in one place though.  how did you start TO and how exactly do you make it successful (step by step please!)

Wally3

I really like how time outs are explained in this blog https://prettybabies.blogspot.com/2007/07/wfmw-how-to-do-time-outs-correctly.html about using time out correctly and I try to do them that way for the most part.

GoombaGirl_79

I think they work differently for different kids. DS gets a time out mostly as a "last straw" if he's just not listening. I'm not angry and I don't yell but if he just won't calm down or stop mis-behaving after I talk to him and give him a warning, he gets to hang out in his crib for a bit. The crib works for him, and he still sleeps just fine in it when it's bed time. If we're out and about he listens well to my telling him "you are doing ______, please stop it or we'll go home" for example if we're at a park.  If he doesn't stop, I make sure to go home so it's not an empty statement, and tell him why.

When he's in a time out if he's screaming and yelling that's fine but I let him know he can come out when he calms down (since that is the main thing for his time outs..to calm down a bit and relax, not to be "punished"). He usually quiets down after a few minutes and even says "okay... ready". Its kind of cute.

It seems to work well for us! But as I said, every child reacts a bit differently to discipline so you have to see what works for you 

beth&anth

I just do 2 min. (that 2 min is the longest 2 min EVER!).  I sit her on the bottom step, if she gets up, I go sit her back down- I calmly tell her she needs to sit until the timer beeps.  When TO is over, I get down to her level, and tell her "mommy doesn't like it when you hit." I do make her apologize.  I know there are some that don't used forced apologies, but I think at this age she needs to learn the words.  With that being said, I am not going to get into a struggle with her if she would not say it (which she hasn't).  I use TO when she hits or throws things and won't stop. 

My biggest mistake when starting TO's was saying "do you want mommy to put you in time out" her response "yes!" So, I quickly learned not to give her an option