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Original poster

Is it right to smack a child aged bewteen 0-3 years?

107 replies

countlesscookies · 25/02/2019 16:06

Hi fellow mums! I need some advice and opinions on whether you think it is acceptable to smack your child as a form of discipline? This doesn't involve gently tapping a child's hand away from a fire for protection, I am referring to smacking your child anywhere on their body as a modification to their behaviour? I am curious about the different perspectives on this, as my friend (who is expecting a child in May) and I (who already has a little girl) were discussing our very different view points on it earlier this morning.

Thankyou!

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GiveMeFiveMinutes · 25/02/2019 16:28

No, it's not ok imo.

It's one thing to smack their hand away if they are reaching out to touch a fire, but entirely something else to use violence as a form of discipline.

The law doesn't prohibit smacking, as long as you don't leave marks. I wish the law were different.

SlinkyDinkyDoo · 25/02/2019 16:31

No. Never. At any age.

LegoPiecesEverywhere · 25/02/2019 16:34

No never. Not at any age. You would be showing your child that violence is ok. Isn’t it illegal?

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Lottapianos · 25/02/2019 16:35

It's not ok to smack a child at any age

Wallsbangers · 25/02/2019 16:37

No, smacking is always wrong. It's abuse. Takes a special sort of scumbag to even think about smacking a baby.

oatmilk4breakfast · 25/02/2019 16:38

No. It teaches them that they can’t trust the person they should be able to trust not to be violent towards them and undermines everything you subsequently try to teach them about kindness and gentleness

Boobiliboobiliboo · 25/02/2019 16:38

Have you thought about the question you’re asking? It’s like asking if thumping a hamster or cat is okay if you don’t like what it’s doing.

It’s ABUSE. It should NEVER happen.

GroggyLegs · 25/02/2019 16:39

Nope. Never.

Children will push your patience to its limits, but you walk away.

Fairylea · 25/02/2019 16:39

Never okay at any age. Ever.

PickAChew · 25/02/2019 16:40

If it's not OK to do to an adult, it's not OK to do to a child.

LadyintheRadiator · 25/02/2019 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 25/02/2019 16:41

No it’s never appropriate. It doesn’t teach the child anything.

LoudBatPerson · 25/02/2019 16:41

Not ok as a form of punishment at any age in my opinion.

Adults are not physically punished so why some people think it ok for much smaller and weaker humans to be is beyond me.

RoryLeighGilmore · 25/02/2019 16:41

Of course not. Not at any age at all.

LauraPalmersBodybag · 25/02/2019 16:42

No. You don’t hit children in any circumstance. You are just teaching them to react with violence if so and you’re abusing your position of care and trust if you hit a child of any age. There are better ways of disciplining a child.

Quartz2208 · 25/02/2019 16:42

No at any age confusing punishment that doesn’t work

LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 25/02/2019 16:42

No. It's not ok at any age.

MargoLovebutter · 25/02/2019 16:42

No, never.

ryanreynolds · 25/02/2019 16:43

I wouldn't hit another adult if they 'misbehaved' so why would I hit a child.

Never ever ever.

StrumpersPlunkett · 25/02/2019 16:43

I will probably be roasted for this.
I had the opinion it was not wrong.
At timed I smacked my first child 2 or 3 timed. The main thing I noticed was it never worked to modify his behaviour all it did was make both of us feel more rubbish than we did at the point of conflict.
What genuinely worked best was making sure he was safe and removing myself from the situation.
He missed me he hated me turning my back on him. It gave me a moment to calm down.
And by the time he was 3 we had found our own way of managing his behaviour without smacking.
If your friend is interested in discussing it more I am v happy to chat.

PazRaz10 · 25/02/2019 16:43

No it's never right. How can anyone think that inflicting pain on a child (or anyone for that matter) is the right thing to do.
You cannot teach a child not to hit others, when they are being hit by an adult that is supposed to love and nurture them.
There are so many other ways you can teach a child right from wrong.
Do you/they (you don't say which one of you thinks it is ok) think that it's OK to smack another adult if they did something wrong - I'm guessing not...then why would it be OK to smack a child.

Mrscog · 25/02/2019 16:45

No - not ok.

ItsAHardKn0ckLife1 · 25/02/2019 16:49

No, never imo.

Our old next door neighbours used to smack their little one so hard we’d hear it through the walls Sad that was from the age of roughly 18 months. Was fucking awful. We reported it time and time again but since the parents had a “clean record and not known to police” it was never taken further Angry Also reported it to a health visitor who actually laughed at me!

Anyway sorry OP, derailing!

LilQueenie · 25/02/2019 16:52

never and it is illegal. Im surprised you needed to ask which makes me question if it is you or your friend who uses violence towards children.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 25/02/2019 16:52

Is it illegal? I think it is illegal in Scotland.