Time-outs

[zazou]

It has come to the stage where we have started to implement time-outs with Medina. We started when she turned 18 months old as she is sometimes a rather cheeky little girl. Is anyone else doing or planning on implementing it? If so, for how long? We go for two-three minutes. We warn Medina twice and when she does the deed for the third time, then she goes to her room for time-out.

If some of you won't be doing that, what other discipline strategies will you be implementing?

[kaprovea]

The problem with giving him quiet time on the stairs is that you can't expect him to sit still and part of the punishment for them is that you remove yourself from the situation which they don't like .. I also wouldn't use his room or crib bc you don't want him to associate it with bad things .. That is why I put Joel in the pack n play bc we only use that for changing diapers and I know that he is safe and can't escape.  I would try finding something like a pack n play type thing that you can put him in and know he is safe but also you can walk away from him.

[Crysi]

I'm just starting time outs with Lochlyn for the same things. He chases my Mom's dogs around and pulls on their tails or fur, which is not only mean but dangerous. Although both dogs are extremely well tempered there is only so much you can expect them to tolerate before nipping, and I can't keep shooing them out of the room. At David's he does the same thing with the cat. I am thinking of doing two minutes on the stairs. I don't want to use his room because he loves his room and his crib. He will just sit and have quiet time in his crib after naps and I don't want him to associate his room with punishment at all.

Any tips on getting him to stay sitting?

[kaprovea]

Yeah we are having the same problem with Joel hurting the dogs .. He is really starting to be defiant and knows that we don't want him to do that.

[zazou]

Thanks for the answer. We do see Medina stopping doing what she is doing when we also tell her if she wants time out in her room. We use it especially if she really hurts our cats (like hitting and pulling tails when we tell her repeatedly to stop).

[kaprovea]

We started time outs wtih Joel when he turned a year .. We just do it for 60 seconds .. You are just suppose to do the number of minutes that they are old.  We only do it for Joel for things that are malicious or dangerous .. He totally understands bc when I say do you want time out he immediately stops whta he is doing.