Reasonable discipline for 2 yr old?

[JumpJockey]

DD is 2 in about 3 weeks (yikes) and has over the last few weeks taken to kicking my tummy when she's having her nappy changed/clothes on. Basically she lifts up her legs then swings her feet down hard onto my tum - I've got a 6month PG bump so this is very painful. I tell her no, that hurts mummy, but she usually laughs and does it again the next day. She will say sorry when prompted, but I'm not sure she really understands what she's sorry about.

Today I reached the end of tolerance and said If you kick mummy again, no bedtime stories. She did it again, so we had a sit on my lap for her milk and I gave her a cuddle but no stories.

Is she old enough to understand why I did that? She was saying Book book, but I said again No because you kicked mummy.

I think the key when they're so young is that the consequence is immediate, and you're consistent. With DD who is 2.3 we use a time out (like the naughty step, but no specific spot, just put her in a place away from distractions for a very short time). We usually give her a warning first, unless it is something like hitting that she knows perfectly well is naughty. It seems to work ok, and I can now say 'I want you to do x now, if you don't you will go to time out' and she understands. I like it because it's always the same so she knows where she stands.

I think what you did was fine if the stories would have been straight after the kicking, but not if there was a gap as they forget so quickly. It's also worth thinking about what you will do if/when it happens at another time of day- would you want to remove another privilege?

I agree that the punishment has to be immediate at that age.
My DS turned 2 last week and I have found his behaviour to be more 'testing' recently.
Today I put him on the naughty step for the first time for hitting his sister. I only left him for a short time and made him apologise afterwards.
Other than that I talk to him sternly when he does things wrong. Sometimes he looks quite upset and sometimes he runs away and hides, so he definitely seems to know right from wrong.

It was just as she was getting into her PJs, so yes stories would have been next on the agenda.

She often seems to know that she's doing something wrong, she'll say sorry, but then do it again.

Not sure what I'd do at a different time of day - I try to move away if I see her legs getting ready to thunk down, so can sometimes avoid it...!

I think you should just walk off for a few mins if she kicks you - as long as she is not being changed high up. Less attention for bad behaviour and don't delay the punishment.

Alternativly time out straight away for 2 mins in some boring room. I don't tolerate any violence at all - so wouldn't even count down from 3 in this situation.

You must also try to have fun, praise and play with your child lots so they want to please you.