Natural consequences?

[RainandRedemption]

Originally Posted by Minniebees Your child is about one and a half, right? Too young for natural consequences, IMO. I think at this age is when you start laying the groundwork for the basics, like making sure they know that when mommy says no, she means no, learning that you have expectations of good behavior, etc. I don't discipline at that age, but just start in with "We use gentle hands." "You have to hold mommy's hand in the parking lot. Look for cars!" Stuff like that. I don't really expect obedience, but just start yapping about stuff we do and stuff we don't do, but in a very positive way. For the situation you mentioned with the changing table. Meh. Just a part of changing a baby's diaper. I don't consider that something to discipline. If you are worried about safety, then change on the floor. Use a changing pad you can wipe off easy, and try to make changes fast and fun. Babies that age are in too much a of a hurry because there are so many fun things to do, and they don't want to stop for a diaper change. All my kids went through that phase, and they outgrew it. For the girls, it was pretty short lived. Took a little longer for the boy, lol.

I agree. At that age the only thing you can do is patiently tell him over and over what you expect from him. My dd is 2.5 and I don't think she started understanding natural consequences until recently, maybe the past few months.

[mibarra]

At this age, even if your child KNOWS they should not do something, the vast majority of children lack the self control to not do it. It's completely normal to have to tell them a million times, sometimes in a row, not to do something. They are not trying to defy you, they are just exploring, it's the stage they are at. It's not necessarily that they don't understand the consequences, but that at this point a consequence or time out won't necessarily prevent future occurrences of the behavior. It's just development.

[dancermommy1]

Originally Posted by L&A'smommy I was in your DDC. Don't forget to praise the nice/good/gentle things they do. Check out the book redirecting childrens behavior. At this age it's all about redirection.

Hi mama--what's a DDC?

[HeatherlovesCDs]

Originally Posted by dancermommy1 Hi mama--what's a DDC?

Not her, but DDC = Due Date Club