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

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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!

Sorry, 0-3? Surely even the people who think this is acceptable for a 3-year-old wouldn’t do it with a baby? Ugh.

I'm in Scotland and it was made illegal last year. Same as the emotional abuse etc that too became illegal.

Of course it’s not, it’s not okay to smack anyone, let alone a baby or toddler.

Why do you need advice about it? Surely you already know it's wrong.

Never ever.

You wouldn't hit an adult for 'misbehaving', or smack a vulnerable person for acting out of line, therefore hitting a child is also wrong. And illegal (I think?).

It's very lazy parenting in my opinion and those of the 'i was smacked when I was younger and I came out fine' brigade are misguided.

ITS never acceptable to abuse another person in particular one so much smaller than you. If I found out anyone was smacking their DC’s, I would be reporting them to social services and the police.

Nope not acceptable at any age. Smacking is the last bastion of shit parenting.

I think you already have your answer. I don't understand the 'tapping' hand away from fire either - I just remove my toddler or the object and say 'no touching' - no tapping or smacking of hands required.

It's interesting, whenever a smacking thread comes up I've asked 'pro-smackers' at what age they consider it ok to hit their child and how young would their kid need to be for it to be unacceptable.

I've never had an answer to that question though.

Only scumbags hit kids.

No, not ok.

No, never!

My DS is nearly 2 and there are days he has really tested my patience but I have honestly NEVER ever contemplated it.

Not in my book, but it is still very common in many cultures (and I was raised with it and didn't become violent as a result).

Is it ok for a man to hit a woman, just to modify her behaviour a bit and bring her into line? No, not ever!

Why would it be ok for an adult to hit a small child?

I had my children 28 years ago and regularly smacked them as a punishment, it NEVER EVER WORKED. It was a release for my massive frustration and it is my one and only regret as a parent that I raised my hand to my children☹️ I remember saying to my dad, xxxx is so naughty even smacking doesn’t help, he replied”well, you are not smacking her hard enough then”. I am so glad that times have changed and this is no longer an acceptable thing to do. If it is you OP that thinks it is ok please heed my warnings that it is only a release for your own lack of control and frustration and will never work. Shouting is lazy parenting and smacking is abusive parenting. I am lucky my children still want to have me in their lives.

My little boy will be 2 in may. Besides the fact that it would be beyond evil, smacking him would also be pointless. He’s not capable of being ‘good’ or ‘naughty’, he just doesn’t have the capacity to understand. I struggle to believe that even people who think it’s ok to smack kids would try to justify smacking a baby!

But no, it’s never ok to smack anybody, however old. It’s abuse and teaches the child to resort to violence if they don’t like someone’s behaviour.

Sowhatifisaycunt sums it up pretty perfectly!

No. IMO. Really not necessary especially for 0-3. Depending on the situation, various techniques from removing them from the situation, ignoring or diverting their attention, giving warnings, positive praise, naughty step, time out, ...etc are all effective for this age group.

Is it ok for a man to hit a woman, just to modify her behaviour a bit and bring her into line? No, not ever! Why would it be ok for an adult to hit a small child?

I don't agree with smacking children, but this argument doesn't really hold water to me. Would it be OK for a man to give a woman a bedtime and impose sanctions if she refused? Or give her TV and Internet privileges for what he considered correct behaviour, removing them if she was disobedient? The two relationships aren't comparable.

naughty step, time out,

I’d argue about their efficacy full stop, but a 0, 1 or 2 year old absolutely won’t get those methods.

Of course not.

It’s not acceptable to hit an adult so why would it be a good idea to hit a tiny vulnerable child. What are you doing to start saying to them when they start hitting back?

I was spanked as a child and often times it was when I'd done nothing wrong but my dad just went bonkers and started smacking all of us when one misbehaved.

I am firmly against any sort of corporal punishment as I don't think it does any good and will make your children fear you which is very different from respecting you.

I have a very strong-willed 2 yr old DS and sometimes he makes me crazy but I will never spank him because I think it's abuse.

What sort of person needs to hit a child?

I was only spanked twice - both times for something my bloody sister did.

Nope, never right. Your are just showing your child that physical violences is acceptable.

NO... just no!

It's abuse end of story