How do you disapline a 6 month old?

[juicychops]

my ds has started kicking his sleeping bag off and kicking the bars of his cot at night when i put him down to bed. I don;t know how to disapline him so i say 'No' in a quiet but serious voice. He just laughs at me and then tries to say no himself. How old do you start disaplining a baby? how do you do it? am i being mean doing it this early?

I wouldn't class this as discipling, but I would probably say something along the lines of "it's sleep time, not play time" I wouldn't expect it to make a single bit of difference at this stage, but I figure that if you say it enough, then one day the child will understand. And it avoids saying "no" all the time.

I would second the signing suggestion. Some babies do start this early and it is fantastic fun once they get going with it.

Can't you set him a bit higher up the cot so he can't reach the cot bars?

I wouldn't see this as anything to discipline him over - plenty of time to worry when he's climbing out of the cot .

The screeching IS talking. She can't exactly say 'Please, mummy, can you hand me that rusk?', can she?

And I am aghast that anyone would want to discipline a six month old. Blimey. How can a six month old possibly even understand that he or she is being naughty, never mind that there are unpleasant consequences?

This has to be a joke, surely? Please tell me it is?

maybe he's just not quite tired enough and so feeling a bit bored, or just wants you to play with him. Personally, I've not had my little boy fall asleep on his own since he was a few months old (and his big sister never falls asleep on her own! lol).

re the sleeping bag, is it unzipped? I thought babies couldn't get out of them. Or maybe if he wants something he can move about in better, try a fleece sleepsuit? Keeps my little ones warm even when they kick their blanket off.

In any case, can't think how you'd discipline such a young baby! They're still exploring things and aren't actually being naughty.

I think some of the best advice I got was to ignore, ignore ignore the stuff you don't want to encourage. our kid used to bang her legs in the cot and make a huge noise... and sometimes get her legs stuck too. but she settled down, now she rips wallpaper off walls. not her fault it was tearing anyway and too tempting

i wouldnt disapline a 6 month old baby.he doesnt 'know' naughty.

i had 4 cot bumpers round my ds cot

not naughty behaviour it may get on your nerves but leave him to it

they kick and explore at this age perfectly normal and when they can stand they'll jump up and down and shout and babble again ignore as long as they are safe and happy and able to settle themselves should see no problem with it

used to love listening to my ds giggling and kicking i just left him to it

he's doing it because he can and likes to stretch and/or the sound not because he wants to wind you up. He'll tire of it when something better comes along. You're at least a year away from any sort of meaningful "discipline".

Agree with mawbroon and bubblagirl.

He's not trying to be naughty (probably doesn't know about naughty yet) but is just playing with his favourite toy - you, supermummy!

It can be tiring tho, especially if it's been a long day! Leave him to it if pos, or will he be happy if you just sit in room and maybe 'chat' at him? - I have been known to read the paper, or a book or even a childrens' story as the bubs settles down and bounces around the cot!

IMO from 6 months babies do have an increasing grasp on language and CAN understand the word 'no' as well as other words (mum, dad, sis, rusk, milk etc) Signing can be great and help kids a lot thru the terrible twos as they can explain what they're trying to tell you, so don't get so fed up with talking to the daft adult who just doesn't understand...

DS could sign for milk from 6 months (OK, it's a bit of a baby obsession...) so I jry not to underestimate just how much language he can understand.

Good Luck

I mean try

6 month olds don't understand 'naughty' or do things to tick you off. They aren't designed to meet your needs.
Kicking, dropping things etc is all about learning about the world.