DISCIPLINE!?!?!?!?!?

I'm a first time mother & my daughter is 8 months old and becoming aware of what she should and shouldn't do but often likes to get into things that she shouldn't. How and when do I start disciplining her? I'm not against spanking! My partner and I were both raised this was and it did neither of us harm and we were both very well behaved and respectful children. I am, however, against using instruments other than your hand to spank a child and would never approve of leaving a bruise. I believe that to spank a child you need to be in control of your emotions so you don't inflict any harm. I am open to 'time outs' and other discipline stratigies but have no idea where to start. Any suggestions are welcome but please don't get judgemental of other peoples discipline approaches.

IMO 8 months is way to earlier to look at discipline, at that age they are learning about their world and exploring. They have no concept of right or wrong, they just want what they want lol.

My DD is 7 and a half months, and crawling now so into everything. I find that all she needs if she is into something she shouldn't be I just say in a firm voice 'uh uh' and that's all that is required. As the PP said, she is not being naughty, just exploring, an it's me who is naughty as I haven't put things away out of her reach!!

I wouldn't say you can really discipline her now at this age, as it would probably be pointless, but start teaching her what she can and can not do/touch.

Maybe start saying No, you can not touch that etc and moving her away from stuff she is not allowed to be touching or playing with.

I did this with my DD and she learnt very well and we have hardly any problems. But so far she is only 14 Months, we haven't had to do any form of discipline as such, just directing her between right and wrong, so far so good, I am waiting for the day that she is down and out naughty cos she can be LOL

You can go on to spanking her later when she is really naughty and other things like time outs.

i agree with pp. she is too young to be doing anything naughty and will not understand time outs and things like that just yet. We just did the No and Uh Uh and if he continued, just moved him away from whatever he was doing. he could be sidetracked very easily .

I dont think its too early for discipline, but just make it so that it is suitable to a 8month old.

The limits i would do would be probably taking the 8mth away fromthe situation and placing them somewhere else.

KWIM?

I think, as she starts to get older, then i would make sure that what ever you do choose is consistent.

I have a tendandcy to not be as consistent, purely from me being exhausted, but then the weeks i feel great, i can really enforce the consistency and know it makes a big difference!

Posted by: Mum2RONJAM
'uh uh'

bahaha my cheeky DD started doing this back to me at about 10 Months, LOL so I was forced to go to NO cos she thought Uh Uh was hilarious. Little Monkeys they are!

As above- its too young for rights and wrongs. Everything is something to be explored at the moment for them. Just a firm no or uh-uh etc is all that needed and distraction. I tend to give a quick explanation too- like 'no, thats yukky' doesnt matter if they don't understand now- one day they will!

Alter the environment too, my dd is fascinated with the bin at the moment so that has had to go into the laundry for a while. It was just easier!

Posted by: StrawberryJane
Alter the environment too, my dd is fascinated with the bin at the moment so that has had to go into the laundry for a while. It was just easier!

I agree. If there are things you don't want them to get into you are better off moving it, makes life a heap easier. Our bin is up high so DD can't get into it, she thought it was great to play with the rubbish when she was younger lol.

Also anything breakable you are best moving rather then trying to teach them not to touch at that age.

Posted by: Staaria

Posted by: StrawberryJane
Alter the environment too, my dd is fascinated with the bin at the moment so that has had to go into the laundry for a while. It was just easier!

I agree. If there are things you don't want them to get into you are better off moving it, makes life a heap easier. Our bin is up high so DD can't get into it, she thought it was great to play with the rubbish when she was younger lol.

My DD is obsessed with the bin too, what is it about it that they like??? Ours is in the garage atm too.

Thank you all for your advise though I do want to say that I know my daughter is aware of what she is and isn't allowed to do already. I have been told by many people that she is too young to understand and then they spend time with her and realise that I am right. She has been crawling since 5months started standing with support at 6months and walking along furniture not long after that. She is now learning to stand unsupported and trying to take her first steps. When told no, she blows rasberries at you and continues with what she was doing. If you move her away and try distracting her she goes straight back to what she was doing and if you don't let her she throws a tantrum. She often even stops before doing something she shouldn't and calls for your attention before continuing and gives you a very cheeky smile! I promiss you, she is very aware of what she should and shouldn't do.

Are you consistent with it with her? If you see her heading for something start saying "Uh Uh" or "no" and then move her away. It will take quite a few times.

I don't think she is deliberately (sp) being naughty or to spite you, they are very clever, its about setting boundries, anything more than stern words and moving her away or moving the target away is not going to be effective at her age IMO