Hellobee Boards

on the bottom step

We aren't doing them yet because he is only 18m and anything I've read has said they're ineffective before two at the earliest (which is supported by the anecdotal evidence I see at play dates lol!) but we hope to do something like this: http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/positive-time-out-feature (I think waiting until three seems to err on the other side but it probably depends on the kid).

I know several people who use standing in a corner bc it was usable anywhere, not just at home.

@scg00387: personally/our experience disagree, but that's interesting!

My 20m old definitely gets it! We have been using it since March, but still (thankfully) only a handful of times.

Nothing in public needed yet.

She has a book nook in her room, and sits on that and we close the door. We leave her there to CIO to an extent, then go in and talk it through with her (at her level) and when she comes out she usually is apologizing and/or giving someone a hug, and she definitely hasn't done anything again she's gone there for!

It has four big pillows, books, stuffed animals, and is basically a dog bed recovered to match her room (lol) so is a cozy, safe place she can be alone and get her shit together, lol. Gives us a break from her noise so we can sort out the best reaction/treatment rather than in the moment too!

@scg00387: it's been AMAZING for us. We started at about 18m; my son is 20m now.

Ours is in our bedroom, on an empty wall. He just sits cross -legged. It happened one day (he hit me) while we were in my room. Ever since, I've been doing timeouts in there to keep consistency.

Eta: we do a solid minute with 100% ignoring the temper tantrum that ensues immediately upon me walking away.

@CupQuakeWalk: that sounds frustrating! we haven't hit that stage yet, knock on wood

In his crib.

We don't do time-out in the traditional sense (and don't plan to) but we do a "calm down time" when she's worked up or throwing a tantrum where I pick her up and hold her facing me (in the carrier if it's handy), take her to a quiet place, and talk to her until she calms down.
I'll say things like "I understand that you are very upset because you want to play with my phone and you aren't allowed. But if you calm down and stop yelling, you can play with the spray bottle instead." Or whatever. Basically just letting her know that I understand her frustration but still enforcing the rule.

It works really well. Usually within less than a minute she's calmed down hugging me. So far I'm really happy with this approach.

Edited to add: We also do this for hitting. I'll hold her and hold onto her hands in mine if she is still hitting, and just talk to her. "I am sorry you are upset, but if you want to get my attention you can call me, not hit me, ok? We only use gentle touches. See? *strokes her arm* Can you show me gentle touches?" etc.

We do time out in her room. I put her on her bed and shut the door. She is usually crying at the door by the time I go back in.

Timeout has worked well for us with the following qualifications:
-reserved for safety issues or repeated defiance (hitting and biting mostly)
-it is a timeout from attention so it doesn't matter if she yells or fusses
-a minute for age
-I think this is the most important: timeout is followed by a "time in". With the time in, I go in and pick LO up, sit with her in the rocking chair. I talk to her about her feelings and how upset she is until she is calm enough to hear what I need to say about why she had to go in time out. Then she needs to apologize or fix what she broke, and then we move on.

We do not need it often, but it is an important part of our discipline approach.

I have him stand in a corner facing the wall, in the LR. I thought it was a good spot - but now he plays behind the curtains at the window next to the corner haha.

In her crib. We've never used a step/corner/chair because the constant escaping is incredibly frustrating for me. She gets it in the crib, so we've been doing it there since about 14-15 months. I don't know what we'll do when we move her to a regular bed.