It’s obvious that still advancing through stages of development is not a free pass for bad behavior. Should you consider disciplining your baby if they won’t take no for an answer? Absolutely. “Disciplining a baby” doesn’t have to carry a negative connotation – it’s more about teaching than punishing. Teaching your infant from a young age to decide between correct and incorrect has a significant share in their development as a human being. And while you may feel that every “no” or “don’t touch that” goes in one ear and out the other, this does not mean that your baby’s behavior problems are unsolvable. What is the right age to begin educating a baby? How to discipline a baby? Most parents do not acquire the required information by the time they must start educating and disciplining their child. Some practical tips and ideas are available in this section of discipline for infants. These tips are mainly offered to help parents to take care of their baby while teaching them certain rules to respect on a daily basis.
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How Child Development Impacts Discipline
During the course of their development, children will go through various developmental phases that will, let’s be honest, have a direct impact on their discipline. They will test boundaries, they will challenge, and they will be more “collaborative.” In short, they will go through different stages and all in all, you will have to adjust a bit during a journey of discipline for infants. Believe us, this is all part of the big picture. Which child hasn’t gotten over the “terrible two” phase? None. What educator hasn’t survived this stage? None. Nevertheless, these different stages require some amount of adjustment on the plate of the adult. We have prepared a summary of the different important stages of childhood that have a direct link to discipline. We will go over how to discipline infants, visit the 9 months era, and finally arrive at the “terrible twos”.
Education for Children Aged 0 to 1 Year
The “baby” period is probably the one where the term “discipline” requires an altered subtext. Meeting basic needs remains an important part of daily life. Quietly, the child will explore, be more curious, more restless. They will also need to be protected, since the notion of “danger” does not yet exist in their mind. Of course, there is no great discipline to be done, but it is important to gradually establish a clear framework, to impose your limits and to learn to say “no”. These are the important basics at this age. The rules should be very simple, few and very concrete. Babies aged 0 to 1 year old deserve a certain attention from their parents. How to discipline a 6 month old? Parents are not yet disciplining their children but must focus on understanding their child’s needs. The same goes for the question “can you discipline a 7 month old?” A 6-month-old and a 7-month-old are not that different, there is not a threshold they surpass and suddenly become responsible.The parents are forced to learn guessing every action their baby develops. Above all, they must try to decode the language of the child who is not yet expressing themselves correctly. How to discipline a newborn? Instead of “disciplining,” starting from this stage of life, it is advisable to focus on creating a bond with your newborn. This will give your baby a sense of security so that they can easily explore the world while getting prepared to face life. From ages of 1 and 2, babies learn to walk and are eager to discover their world. During this period, discipline for infants is a bit more intense to pull off and requires constant supervision from the parents.
The Education of the Baby Between (approximately) 1 and 2 Years
The age of 1 and 2 is essentially the age of exploration for every child. How to discipline a 9-month-old? They have learned to take their first steps to discover what surrounds them and they now tend to touch everything, which can be dangerous. They also imitate the reactions of others and begin to show exploratory behavior. How to discipline a baby at this age? Parents must start diverting their baby’s attention if they are near a dangerous object. This may be achieved through entertaining them with their favorite toy. When they hit or bite to test the reaction of those around them, you can simply say a firm “no.” After that, you should kindly teach them a more appropriate replacement behavior. You can have some flashcards around to quickly show and initiate a game that would keep your baby away from the danger.
At 2 Years Old, the Ideal Age to Begin Educating a Baby
The “terrible twos” period is probably the most talked about and documented period. The little “baby” of the previous period is now giving way to a more oppositional, assertive and “explosive” little being. It may be hard to believe, but this period is full of positives: the child is now developing their own interests; they have their own needs and desires. This probably explains the way they react. How to discipline a baby during this time? Here’s what’s important: establish a clear framework, set your limits and be consistent. At all times, the concepts related to the 5C’s (clear, consistent, coherent, concrete) are of paramount importance when it comes to discipline for infants. During this time, the rules must be doubly clear, and you must be very consistent. Give the child choices and decision-making power. These tactics can lead to the child being more cooperative. The desire for autonomy is great, but their abilities are somewhat limited; this will sometimes cause frustration and anger. Aggressive actions will also be a part of the picture.
How to handle infants? To put it simply, the adventure, in particular the implementation of extended discipline techniques for infants really begins around the age of 2. The time has come to learn how to discipline a baby. It is from this moment on that the child develops a greater capacity for autonomy, therefore authority, discipline and supervision should no longer be taken lightly. Since the child is now able to walk on their own and express themselves verbally, parents must take a greater interest in their actions. It is at this time that the baby reveals signs of contesting their parents’ instructions and throwing big tantrums. How to discipline a baby? This is where parenting comes in to teach the baby to better tolerate small frustrations. Parents need to establish a clear and consistent framework to ensure that their baby learns. To help the child reduce the frequency, duration and intensity of their tantrums, it is important to establish consistent limits and coherence between the parents’ approaches.
7 Important Pieces of Advice on How to Discipline a Baby
Helping your baby slowly understand what’s okay and what does not can make all the difference later in their life. Through implementing discipline techniques for infants, you are helping them become a good individual who follows moral guidelines and controls their impulses. At this point, we have some more tips on discipline for infants and toddlers.
- Make them feel loved: The cornerstone of raising a baby is love. Unconditional love is an inseparable bond between a parent and a child. Whether your baby acts like a sweet angel or an angry monster, this love continues to be present in infinite amounts. Ultimately, it is love that motivates your child and enables easy discipline for infants.
- Repetition is the mother of learning: How to discipline a baby? Raising a baby is a lengthy and repetitive process because babies have limited attention spans and memory capacity. Once you have told your baby not to hit the floor with the toy, be prepared to say it 150 more times. It is important that you remain calm, patient, and consistent.
- Understand that every child is different. Surprise: there is no one approach to parenting babies that fits all. Every child and every family is different. When trying to solve your baby’s behavior problems, you must consider your character, your baby’s temperament, the circumstances, and the rules in your family.
- Be consistent with your limits: If hitting with a toy is unacceptable on Monday, it should also be off the limits on Wednesday. If you don’t enforce the rules consistently, you won’t get far with your baby’s education and will only confuse your little one.
- Avoid saying “no” too often: How to discipline a baby? Too much negative language can negatively affect your baby and increase behavioral problems. You must know or acknowledge how to discourse to your child without saying “no” too often. Abstaining from negative language – words like no, don’t, and stop – are an important part of raising your baby. How to discipline a baby? Your goal should be to train your baby’s brain to have a positive attitude. So instead of saying “Don’t touch the vase,” say “Let’s look at the vase together.” Guide them.
- Draw a line: Even though your baby might resist and test your limits on a regular basis, they “need” those limits. Boundaries make babies feel safe, grounded, and loved. This is a key component on how to discipline a baby. So don’t hesitate to set a boundary or two when your little one hits the floor with his toy or tries to knock over your coffee. Moreover, you need to summon up boundaries that are age appropriate.
- Control yourself: It’s normal to lose your temper from time to time. After all, you are only human! However, remember that you are a parent of a child who needs a role model. If your baby does something wrong, take a few seconds to cool down yourself previous to your response. The big answer to the question “how to discipline a baby” is patience. Try to calmly explain what they did wrong. Even if you lose your control and shout at your child, try to apologize in the aftermath. Acknowledge your own wrongdoings and show that they are also respectable and improper actions performed towards them are also consequential. This way you can achieve the best and manage toddler tantrum as well as your own.