What would you do?

[krisein]

So here is the story:

DD2 is 22months old and hits DD1 for various reasons, when DD1 is in her way, sits too close, when DD2 wants something DD1 has but doesn't want to give etc etc.

I have dealt with it by saying to DD2 'this is not nice, say sorry to your sister, and be nice to your sister (and I show her how we are gentle etc)'. DD2 usually says sorry and is nice to DD1 afterwards, but then 10 min later this happens again.

I have just kept doing the same in the hope that this is just a phase and she will stop it eventually when she is a bit older.

Now DH wants to put DD2 in time-out in her cot when she hits her sister. I kind of think she is too young for a time-out and am not sure whether I am ready to start down that track just yet. Perhaps when she is 2.5 and should know better, but not now. Time-outs worked well for DD1 when she was about 3, but not much before that.

What do you think? Time-out or not or any other methods you would suggest?

[lulululu]

We have the 123 magic videos. He says time out from 2 years, so yeah, I agree, she is too young

[lulululu]

Having said that our nanny says with little ones you can do a modified time out where they sit beside you. Would have to have the right kind of temperament though. I know there is no way in hell my one year old would sit beside me if he didn't feel like it!

[lulululu]

Also a warning about using the cot. You could possibly create a negative association with the cot and if you have sleep issues that might be additional problem.

[Mischief]

Time out worked for us. Just a minute, BUT NEVER THE COT! Make it somewhere else, you dont want them associating their place of sleep with time out, or you will never get them to sleep! LOL

[Jelly Belly]

In my work in the childcare industry over the past 12 yrs with this age group, i have found that children generally grow out of this phase very quickly.
Time out is really a hit and miss endevour and is not for every parent. Time IN however, can work wonders. Instead of having a negative space to send your child, you could try creating a positive one. In this space you could take a quick five minutes to look at a picture book of childen being affectionate with each other and discuss this with her using simple questions such as "what are the children doing?" when DD2 gives you the right answer (being nice, having a cuddle) reward her with a hug of your own. Tell her how lovely that makes you feel and suggest that she may like to make DD1 feel like that too with a hug to say sorry. Children this age respond so well to feelings - they read your facial gestures all the time to see how you are feeling, so when she does reach out to hit/hurt DD1, show her with your face that she has UPSET you.
It might sound a bit wishy washy - but in my experience as a carer and mother - sometimes anything is worth a try!