Thoughts about my friend....

[AC7179]

who just told me that she has spanked her 10 month old daughter once, for not laying on her back while getting her diaper changed.

This is in response to me saying that my 18 month old ALMOST got a spanking this week, but got the naughty seat instead because she is teething and when in doubt, I don't spank. I've actually never spanked, although I'm not opposed to it, just because I think she's a little young. I'm swatted her hand before, but probably not enough to hurt. Before I spank I want her to know that what she has done is wrong, and I will probably only spank for direct disobedience.

What do you think about spanking the 10 month old?

 

[kristen821]

IMO-10 months is a little young. A swat on the hand for something that is dangerous maybe but nothing more then that. Although I wouldn't consider it abuse if someone else did it(as long as it wasn't hard), but I wouldn't personally spank a 10 month old.

 

[beckmrk04]

I think it's ludicrous. I'm not totally opposed to spanking/swatting (always opposed to beating!!) in certain circumstances, but that was just plain ridiculous because 10 months is so young. Poor kid probably has no clue what they did wrong.

 

[andromedaslove]

I don't know that I would actually do that at 10 months old, but my 18 month old has been popped on the butt for kicking the mess outta me while I was changing his diaper. He was throwing a fit and doing it on purpose. Again, though I happen to think that 10 months old is a bit too little to understand why they were getting popped. Also, did she actually spank the baby or just a pop on the butt, those to me are two totally different things.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I got very good at changing my wiggly toddlers diapers, on the floor, with me holding them down under their arms with my feet. Kind of funny to picture, but I figured it was exercise for me. I'm not in the anti-spanking camp for all reasons, but a 10mo? Way too young, in my opinion. That's a baby. At that age I used to have toys handy for them to play with.

 

[HunnyPots]

A 10 month old is too young to understand. The only thing that one so young will learn from spanking is not to trust the parent doing the spanking.

 

[FreshTressa]

I wouldn't do it, but parenting is frequently a trial and error thing and I don't fault her for trying it out.

 

[pearlieq]

Oh heck no! I don't believe in it at all, but doing to a 10 month old is disgusting!!! Who hits a baby???

 

[lw49033]

I wouldn't do it, but parenting is frequently a trial and error thing and I don't fault her for trying it out.

I agree with that. With my first child, I think I occasionally gave his butt some swats for wiggling around out of sheer frustration, so I can relate. I was fully aware that it wasn't really going to do any good at that age, but I didn't know what else I could do. Judged against a standard of perfection, I guess it was a bad thing, but there's perfection and there's reality.

For the record, I am unapologetically pro-spanking once they get to be old enough to know what they did wrong.

 

[slo]

Spanking a 10month old sounds a little harsh to me. My DD used to give me a hard time about laying on her back, but instead of spanking, I had certain things that were only given to her during diaper changing time to keep her interest (different teethers, rattles, etc.).

If your friend says something like this again, maybe suggest for her to do the same. Sometimes new parents need suggestions given to them if they are at their witts end.

 

[joshsmom]

A 10 month old is too young to understand. The only thing that one so young will learn from spanking is not to trust the parent doing the spanking.

I agree

 

[Hannathy]

Wow 10 months is too young..I have never spanked mine which I interpret as repeatedly hitting them BUT I have given them a swat on the behind or hand when they were toddlers not babies. If you reserve a smack for when it is really important they get the message that whoa I really better listen. My DD 14 has only gotten 1 good swat on her butt in her life but it worked! She was about 2 and kept running out of the driveway after repeated warnings and retrievals my DH scooped her up and said with a good swat you will not do this again. She never went out again I think she was so shocked it really drove the message home. Now that she is 14 I'm tempted again... but now she could scoop me up so.... They have gotten smacks on the hand for dangerous or bad behavior.
Don't all 10 months old wiggle I seem to remember getting very quick at that age,especially with boys and their surprise attacks.