How do you discipline a 13 month?

[AnnamariaHun]

Sorry if it's a bit of a silly question but is there any way i can show him that if he doesn't behave, he'll get punsihed? or is this just far too early? i understand that naughty step is faaar away but is there an alternative i could use something like an unused travelcot or am i just wasting my time?

Thanks

Too early for banishment to something like a travelcot im my opinion.

I plonk my daughter on the floor faced away from me and say "No biting/hitting/pinching," and ignore her for 5 seconds if she has done it repeatedly after a gentle admonishment.

She is 17 months and I think I have been doung it for around 3 months.

Far too early, and thinking of punishment is a tricky road anyway. He won't understand, he'll get upset and you'll be battling and both miserable. Distract, distract, distract, and start to brief him as to what's happening as much as possible - wee ones don't understand you have plans, so prior knowledge helps reduce what's been called by one MNer as the "WTF-ness of being a toddler".

fwiw I'm not big on punishment per se - natural consequences often just as effective (and they can be making everyone fed up so that they no longer feel like going to the playpark).

what kind of behaviour is your baby doing that needs punishing? could it be normal exploratory 13 month old behaviour?

Forgot to add, that's about all I "discipline".
Otherwise, I agree, distract works far better. Most hits can be turned into a high five or pat too.

yy to Kalo - ds is almost 14 mo and into everything - PITA as this is, it's what he's supposed to be doing right now, it's how he's learning and developing and we just have to keep more stuff out of the way...

For hitting we did with dd and are now doing with ds a change to gentle strokes - if he hits we take his hand, stroke our faces with it, and say "gently gently" with big smiles - this shows him touch which will be encouraged and enjoyed.

what's he doing?

Habbibu I did this too and it does work.

As others have said, your LO is way to little for discipline. Its hard work but distraction and teaching by example like Habbibu said.

If they touch stuff they shouldnt then you have to ask yourself - how is it that they can? Remove everything you dont want them to touch ..... yes, everything! Then as they get older and have learnt 'how' to respect things around the home, you can then re-introduce all those things you didnt want them to play with.

ok thanks for your replies, he's not too bad but things like bashiing the wall with whatever he finds(usually toys) as he likes the sound of it and it started to crack, there is not much i can do about moving the walls as he carries on but i guess we will just have to wait until he understands it's not right
thanks again

It is too young but maybe you can try taking the toy in question away from him and put it somewhere out of reach for a period of time. Explain to him what you are doing and say NO. It has to be done immediatly as the hitting happens. He might understand it, he might not. It's not discipline though, you are not taking the toy away to punish him, you are taking it away to show him that we play gently with toys.

buy him one of those wooden toys that have the hammer and bricks that go in the holes. that gives a wonderful noise and will save the walls. there is no harm in getting a playpen?? and if he still wants to hit the walls pop him into it for a while with said bricks. good luck