I need advice on how to discipline/correct a 15 month old.....

[mzbeers]

Wasn't sure if this is the right place to put this, mods, please move if not posted properly.

My 15 month old is really starting to test me. I need advice on how to properly discipline her. She gets in the fake plants, and gets the fake moss all over, she gets in the dog food whenever she sees the pantry door open, and tries to eat it. There are many other things she is doing, but I don't know quite how to handle it.

Any suggestions?

[AshburnMom]

Sorry, I don't have any advice for you. I went three (or more) rounds with my 19 month old this morning and guess who lost! I'd love to hear what folks are doing too 'cause it was the morning from hell!

[snafu4me]

put them out of reach until her curiosity has lessened

[mzbeers]

Sorry, I don't have any advice for you. I went three (or more) rounds with my 19 month old this morning and guess who lost! I'd love to hear what folks are doing too 'cause it was the morning from hell!

LOL....thanks for the laugh! I hope we can get some good suggestions!

[loaslaen]

There are so many parenting styles, and children react differently to different styles. Here's a few options:

1) Remove anything from her reach that she shouldn't be getting into. Of course, that doesn't really teach her anything though...

2) Remove her whenever she gets into anything she shouldn't. Put her in a crib, playpen, swing or something with limited access, as a "time out".

3) Firmly say, "No" and tap her hand the first time or two. If she continues, then firmly say "No" and smack your own hand. Eventually, she will respond to just "No". By tapping her hand, she learns that her action has a consequence. Preferably if you catch her starting to get into something and say "No" and tap your hand, it is a warning of that consequence, and she may back off knowing that.

[Mothernature]

put them out of reach until her curiosity has lessened

I agree. If you are not able to move everything, stop her and say "no" in a firm voice.

She is too young to understand the behavior/consequence issue.

My son is almost five. He sticks his nose into things he shouldn't. I count to three and he stops. He knows three is a spanking. If he continues to do what Dh and I ask him not to, I take his favorite toys away for 4 days.

[Ruddysgirl]

I use to take them to what ever they were getting into and firmly tell them no.

I am not a believer of moving things that you do not want them to get into. Other wise you would have stuff all over the place. They need to learn at home and when you take them some place not to touch/get into things.

I went round and round with my grandson one day when it was about 18 mos. old. He liked to take everything off of my coffee table. He would grab a duck and take off with it while my DIL sat there and laughed about it. I told her he is grandchild #7 and they all tried this and I did not allow it with my children and would not allow it with my grand children. She told me her mom moved stuff. I said either make him stop, take him home or let me take care of it. She told me to take care of it, but I could not spank him.

Every time he grabbed something, I firmly told him NO and put it back. He would smile, look at me and run. I would get him by the hand walk him back to the table and say, Put it back. I took his little hand and sat it down. Oh he would wait 30 seconds and do it again.
After 2 hours of his game he realized he was not going to win.
He is now 3 and when he comes over he walks over to the ducks looks at them, touches them smiles at grandma and walks away.
You have to be ready for the battle to win the war. These little people are so darn smart. They know what they are doing and will push you until it is not longer fun. I hope the helps you.

[Alexdur85]

I agree that she is too young to really understand. I would wait to do any real disciplining (did I spell that right?) until she knows why you are saying no. My daughter is one and so far has learend hot.. but she tests us... she goes by the fireplace and trys to touch the glass but will pull her hand away and shake it (which is what we do when we tel her hot.. like ouch) and even know she never actually touches the glass she still looks like she is trying to.

When my daughter would fall and hurt herself we'd always hit the floor or coffee table is she fell on it and say "bad table" but then we started noticing that when we did something she didn't like she'd hit us. So we stopped and she's lessened her hitting as well. We've learned that smacking her hand or whatever wouldn't work for us becasue just as fast as they learn the word "no" they learn to hit as well.

[puakinikini]

I agree. If you are not able to move everything, stop her and say "no" in a firm voice.

She is too young to understand the behavior/consequence issue.

My son is almost five. He sticks his nose into things he shouldn't. I count to three and he stops. He knows three is a spanking. If he continues to do what Dh and I ask him not to, I take his favorite toys away for 4 days.

I agree with doing heavy supervision and repeating "no" in a firm voice, as well as redirecting her to an appropriate activity. Say "No" then "we do not play in the plants, we play with this (give appropriate toy)" It is important to be consistent right from the beginning with your kids.

We have a drown-proof water bowl for our dog and my youngest (10 months old) would love to play in it. It took several rounds of "no" and redirecting, but now she does not touch it. It is not an option to remove it - the dog needs access to water (it is hot here in the summers) and moving it outside would not help in the long run. The important thing to remember is that each experience of getting into these things (plants, etc.) is very rewarding, so you want to catch this behavior fast and stop it (otherwise the reward of successfully getting into the plant will outweigh the "punishment" of no).

I personally do not spank with the exception of safety issues - I have spanked my son twice for not holding hands in a parking lot and my daughter several times for biting her brother (thankfully that behavior went away). I think when you reserve spanking for the big stuff (whatever you define that as) and reserve timeouts and other behavioral modifications for non-compliance, you can have a very effective parenting style. I do not raise my voice at my kids unless it is a safety issue - and that definitely gets their attention. This is all personal choice, but I have found it effective.

[MrsPinecone]

There is no real discipline at that age-- they are not developmentally ready to understand it.

Learn how to divert her attention, and learn patience. It only gets worse the older they get.