Advice On Disciplining A Baby

by mlc469

posted on 11/05/2009

Discipline might seem like an odd word to use when talking about a baby, but setting boundaries and beginning to teach about good behavior when children are very young can provide a good foundation for later discipline efforts. Although babies cannot understand rules, by the time they are crawling and exploring under their own power, you can establish a few simple methods to begin to teach them limits. Discipline for babies should not involve punishment, but rather start to teach babies that they should listen and that there are limits.

A firm tone of voice can be a good first step when beginning baby discipline. When an older baby is being held and pulls hair a firm "no" along with their name lets them know you don't like the behavior. You can eventually add other simple words like "ouch" or "stop" so a baby can begin to associate these words with unwanted behavior. After you have used the simple stop or no commands babies should be distracted with a toy or moved to some other activity.

A baby will not remember the boundaries without lots of repetition. You may have to repeat the correction over and over so be sure the you are using the discipline technique for something important. Consistency is key. Do not discipline a baby one day and then let the behavior go uncorrected the next. A baby needs consistent discipline and repetition so at first it is best to use discipline in situations that are potentially dangerous or where harm is being done. Example such as slapping, biting, pulling hair, grabbing cords, or bothering pets are all situations where discipline and correction are appropriate for babies.

As a baby gets older and understands more it may be appropriate to add timeouts as discipline technique. For an older baby that repeats bad behavior after you have said "no" or "stop" a short timeout can help them understand that you are serious and you want them to stop. Time outs can start as young as ten months but parents should judge when or if they feel their child will respond to timeouts. Timeouts for babies should be no longer than a minute or two and should end with a hug and some praise. Discipline for babies should never involve hitting, yelling, or harsh words. A firm calm tone of voice and gentle handling should be used at all times.

A few simple discipline techniques can be started as young as six months old to begin to teach babies about boundaries and good behavior. Babies will require repetition to learn good behavior and parents need to be consistent and nurturing when trying to teach through discipline. Disciplining a baby can be an excellent foundation for later discipline efforts.

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