How should I discipline my 17 mnth old son?

[bethalicia]

I have 2 sons aged 17 mnths and 2 1/2, and 2 step-sons aged 3 1/2 and 4 1/2. I have been using the naughty spot with the older ones, and it has really worked wonders. Even my 2 yr old is appologizing now!
But, from the episodes that I have watched my youngest wouldn't benefit from the naughty spot. I don't know what to do with him. Generally he is sweet tempered. But he has started taking toys from his brothers and hitting them. And if I don't let him have his way, he tries to hit me, or yells 'no' or 'stop' at me. At first I would just say he's a baby and doesn't understand what he is doing. But I don't tolerate this behavior with the older boys, and I don't want them to feel like he is getting special treatment, or start a negative trend. Their pediatrician say that it is okay to give them a gental swat on the bottom. But I would really rather not do this. I don't want him to hit me, so it's not okay for me to do it, right?
Sorry this is so lenghty. I just am at a loss.
Thanks!

[#1fan]

For the youngest child, they should not be put on the naughty spot yet, but go down to the child's level and tell your child what he/she is doing wrong. Got a hand full of kids?

[bethalicia]

I would say I have a handful, yes. I always wanted a big family!
Okay, so when I go down to his level to talk to him, he hits me in the face. I take his hand and gently touch his face and then mine, and tell him soft touch. He laughs and hits again. I know he's just trying to get a reaction with that. But this past weekend he started climbing on the coffee table. Everytime I would turn around he would be up there, kind of dancing. And of course laughing. I finally just put him in his crib for a few minutes just so I could get the other children settled. It's like he knows what he's doing is wrong, and it's funny!

[motherofmerci]

honestly - I started modified time outs around 1 1/2 - which you are nearing with your youngest...

I simply would give the warning, for example, if he hits you in the face, you very sternly say "____ Hitting is NOT nice...we do soft touches, not mean ones. If you hit again you will get a time out"

if it is ignored, you take the child away from the environment and either have him sit in a high chair with no toys, or his play pen with no toys - this way you know they aren't getting distracted or what not...
put the child there for a minute, then go back and repeat to them why you put them in time out, and that it's not nice to do...

once they learn that the bad things they do WILL have consequenses and in turn learn to behave nicely.

hope it helped