I just had to wash my DD3's mouth out with soap (update pg 4)

[tidoublegger]

I am LMAO.

And as to where she heard it...well, no one's perfect.

But how can a parent wash a child's mouth out with soap when the child probably learned the word/words from the parents themselves. JMHO.

 

[shatzjsl]

Odd...I don't remember my daughter being three. I must have blocked it out.

 

[piglet too]

As much as I love my DD (who is 2 1/2) and would never trade her for all the money in the world, there is many a time I wonder ...... "Why did I want a girl????"

 

[JVL1018]

But how can a parent wash a child's mouth out with soap when the child probably learned the word/words from the parents themselves. JMHO.

Because parents are grown ups and are allowed to do LOTS of things that kids aren't. It doesn't matter where they heard it, the point is she was told over and over and over again to stop..and wouldn't, and THAT is the real issue.
Julia and Nick's Mom, I feel for you. Isn't 3 FUN? I put a drop of liquid soap in DS mouth a few months ago because he would not stop saying a curse word. He has never said it again.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Not only did my DD act just like that, she also has the dark brown ringlets that made her look an angelic Shirley Temple type as well. I bet you get a lot of comments from strangers about how cute she is.

Oh - Julia knows how to charm everyone (including her father and I) and generally speaking I could not ask for a better child - she has just been in rare form today!! It takes us forever to walk through the mall b/c she has to stop and chat with EVERYONE!! Yesterday we left her dentist (who is just for kids) and there was a woman leaving the general dentist office across the hall and Julia looked at her and said "Where's your kid?" Which the woman thought was hilarious and she and Julia preceded to have a 5 minute conversation!!

As for where she learned the word - my DH and I accept full responsibility!

 

[tkyes]

I remember having soap in my mouth, it worked for me!

As to where kids pick it up, it could be anywhere. I have a SIL who swears all of the time and she's a mother of 4. DH will just have a field day when our son picks up a wonderful new word from his Aunt.

 

[luckywife]

But how can a parent wash a child's mouth out with soap when the child probably learned the word/words from the parents themselves. JMHO.

She also said she washed her mouth out with soap for sassing her and spitting on her all day. No one knows exactly where the child heard the word from. There's no way anyone can say "it was PROBABLY from the parents." We don't know that for sure, none of us were there.

I don't think washing her mouth out with soap will do any long term damage. My brother had his mouth washed out a few times and he's now a healthy, happily married 34 year old with a son of his own.

 

[tidoublegger]

Well she said dd learned it from her and dh. I just think parents should really watch their language in front of little ones. I am not telling anyone how to parent their child. If the soap thing works, well, it's your child.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

But how can a parent wash a child's mouth out with soap when the child probably learned the word/words from the parents themselves. JMHO.

We have discussed the word with her and told her that Mommy and Daddy shouldn't say it either and she has given my DH the lecture she got verbatim since then - I hope she doesn't bring out the soap if one of us says it b/c I would take the punishment as well! Although she does understand that there are things in life that adults get to do that kids don't.

Point is - she was given a consequence and chose to openly defy me - I do not feel bad at all - and I know it worked b/c now she is snuggling in my lap and telling me how sorry she is!

 

[Jennifer S]

I did this once. Once because it worked. All I have to do is threaten the soap and the behavior stops. Must taste pretty yucky.

When children are openly defiant and you tell them the consequence and they still do it you have to follow through or you lose all credibility. I think parents these days are too soft. I think that's why kids are so out of hand these days.

Good for you sticking to your guns. Good luck. 4 is better than three so hang in there. I always thought three was the worst age for bad behavior (so far).

 

[frndshpcptn]

How do you actually wash someone's mouth out with soap? Seriously.

Do you just put the bar in and move it around? Is it a brand new bar? Or one that has been used before?

 

[BrinxFam]

I'm sorry but this is too funny! I remember when oldest DD was about 3 and she kept sassing after her daddy told her not to. Well, he brought out the bar of soap and she proceeded to bite it! Well needless to say, it worked and she felt or should I say tasted the consequences for a little while. You know even in your teeth soap lathers up well when water is added! She remembers it and laughs about it now and she just turned 15! We actually put that bar of soap back in the box and wrote her name on the box so it was not used for anything other than washing out the mouth!

 

[mrsltg]

The most trying time of my parenting life was between 3 and 3.5 for Dierdre. She knew every button and WOW did she push. I told my husband that if he came home from work and saw a trash bag moving around on the curb to just leave it and come inside. I was sooooooooo proud of my "parenting skills" because she was never a terrible two - HA! Instead she was a miserable three. Things definitely tapered off as we rounded the corner toward her 4th birthday and I am happy to report that she is once again human.

One note about the soap - use bar soap, not liquid. I read somewhere and my ped. confirmed that liquid is toxic for some particular reason and bar soap is not. Anyway...

Good for you for standing your ground!!!

Erin

 

[JVL1018]

How do you actually wash someone's mouth out with soap? Seriously.

Do you just put the bar in and move it around? Is it a brand new bar? Or one that has been used before?

I just put a drip of liqud soap on my finger, told DS to stick out his tongue and just barely touched his tongue with my finger. That's it. Just a taste was enough to cure him.

 

[always quiet]

Here's a little hint for the future for you. I noticed you have 2 kids. There will come a time when they will fight to the point of driving you insane!! When my older 2 would do this, I used the time out method, but put a little twist on it.........I made them stand, facing each other, and they would have to HUG til the timer rang!! Talk about cruel and unusual punishment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey! I haven't used that in awhile...........maybe it's time I threaten them with that!!

 

[birdiesunshine]

As for where she learned the word - my DH and I accept full responsibility!

So the next time you say it in front of her are you going to wash your mouth out with soap?

 

[beattyfamily]

I try really hard not to judge others on their parenting techniques. It's up to each family to decide.

I personally thought this was funny but a bit extreme and something I don't think I'd do but I haven't had the problems the OP is having so who knows if my 8 year old suddenly starts swearing at me...I wouldn't say I'd never do it.

But I could NEVER do this if they learned the words from me. How could I wash my DDs mouth out with soap for something she's saying because she learned it from me? No way. Couldn't do it. But that's just me.

I'm really not trying to judge the OP but give my opinion.

 

[Parkhopper]

I had to do this once or twice. Not trying to sound too nasty, but liquid hand soap works better..........and that icky taste lasts longer!!!

You made me LOL! My son was a soap expert before he learned not to say things he shouldn't. He would say "Mommy, that word wasn't bad enough for the liquid soap, that was a bathroom soap word"

Don't worry, it DOES get better.

Suzi

 

[julia & nicks mom]

So the next time you say it in front of her are you going to wash your mouth out with soap?

As I said in my previous post - if she called me on it and told me that was my punishment I would accept it - DH and I are making a concerted effort to be more careful -

I should point out - this was not just about the word - she really has only said it about 4 times - it was about being sassy & defiant and using the word. When I told her the consequence of saying it again - she looked me in the eye and said it. Backing down on my part would have been irresponsible.

She is normally none of these things but has been upping the antics the past few days and I decided to nip it in the bud! I put a tiny bit of soap on my finger - brushed it on her teeth and let her spit it out and wash it out with water.

It really has worked as she has been delightful for the past hour!

 

[Amberle3]

Aren't there a lot of things that parents do that children aren't allowed to do? I mean aside from the BIG one that's done behind closed doors. Like... cooking, lighting matches/candles, driving, etc.

I think that if you told a child more than once that X activity is not appropriate for children and they keep doing it, that whether or not the parents do it is irrelevant.

I wouldn't want my 3 year old playing with the stove, but that doesn't mean I'm would stop cooking.