Laughing at discipline...

[Calluna]

I dont think he's trying to be naughty, but sometimes he seems like he wants to hurt me.
I've tried the playing the emotional card, so far he just doesn't care. Well, not so much he doesn't care, more that he doesn't understand the emotion. Itms?

Must be tired tonight, I'm not making much sense, sorry.

RE your shopping trip, must have given such a fright.

[ss_storm]

I think at this early stage of toddler-hood they also have little to no impulse control, so while he might understand what 'no' means, he just can't help but touch/do what he isn't supposed to. DD is usually pretty good, but when it comes to my laptop which sits on a table next to the lounge, she can't help but touch the keyboard/screen. she knows not to because she'll look at me and go "uh uh" (which is what we say to her along with no) then turn and touch it. The only thing that works is removing her from it and distracting her with something else. In time he will understand and obey, I think (IMO) he's still a bit young for actual 'discipline' like time outs, although popping him in his cot for a few mins might work. I did it last night with DD because she was throwing a tantrum at 1am (yeah..I have nooo idea what it was over, probably because I was trying to stop her going sideways on the bed so she didn't fall off the edge!) and wouldn't stop. Put her in her cot to scream it out for a few mins, until she would accept me picking her up to calm her down.

[Shanti]

At that age, a firm "no" seemed to work for my DD but now that she's a bit older (22mths) I am finding I need to use "consequences" for her instead and that REALLY seems to work!! I give a warning first..... ie "if you do that again, I will have to take away your necklace and you won't see it until tomorrow" (she understands VERY well!!) and she will immediately stop what she was doing and say "nooooo" and grab her necklace tight
if she continues to ignore me, I follow through with what I said (always follow through).

I think every child is different and what works for them last month may not work as well this week...kwim? Good luck. HTH

And don't worry about what other parents are doing with their kids....you know your DS and what works best for him.....if that means giving him a gentle smack on the hand (depending on what it was for) then so be it. If that works, then great. I've had to give my DD a gentle smack on the hand once for doing something very wrong (which I felt so bad about ) but she just laughed at me so i haven't done it since.