I have been lurking a bit and getting my head around GD. Neither DH nor I had GD at home and we do not really have any role models - yet this is very much how we are approaching discipline with our 15 month old. We are using distraction whenever a situation starts to get out of hand. Essentially both DH and myself do not feel that using 'no' and consequences to behavior are appropriate for a 15 month old. He doesn't learn anything from the experience, and we are not comfortable with getting into a battle of wills. We feel much more comfortable creating an environment that allows DS to explore and learn in a safe way without battling out what he can and cannot touch, do etc. Of course he is not allowed to play in the toilet or climb into the dishwasher - both firm favorites of his 
Anyway, the problem now arises with DS having started to slap us. He thinks it is hilarious. It started last night at bed time and we did not want to distract him from going to sleep - but in the end we got up and took him out of the bedroom.
We tried to stop his hands from reaching us by catching his hands and putting up pillows. This just frustrated him, and he would cry, only to laugh and slap again if the barrier were removed. We also tried putting him down on the floor while we stayed in the bed - and again he would just cry until we brought him back into bed, and then he would smile and slap. (we will not be trying that again - putting him out of bed. This is how we discovered we do not feel comfortable with consequences for 15 month olds)
Essentially my concern is that by using distraction, we will lose any bedtime routine we have, and I am not too keen on that happening.
DS is not hurting us when he slaps, but at the same time, I do not want him to be slapping us, or anybody else. Realistic???
I did have to deal with a biting breastfeeder - but managed to get him to stop by removing him from the breast whenever it happened. I guess this is what made me think of using consequences......
Any tips or insights would be very much appreciated.
Anyway, the problem now arises with DS having started to slap us. He thinks it is hilarious. It started last night at bed time and we did not want to distract him from going to sleep - but in the end we got up and took him out of the bedroom.
We tried to stop his hands from reaching us by catching his hands and putting up pillows. This just frustrated him, and he would cry, only to laugh and slap again if the barrier were removed. We also tried putting him down on the floor while we stayed in the bed - and again he would just cry until we brought him back into bed, and then he would smile and slap. (we will not be trying that again - putting him out of bed. This is how we discovered we do not feel comfortable with consequences for 15 month olds)
Essentially my concern is that by using distraction, we will lose any bedtime routine we have, and I am not too keen on that happening.
DS is not hurting us when he slaps, but at the same time, I do not want him to be slapping us, or anybody else. Realistic???
I did have to deal with a biting breastfeeder - but managed to get him to stop by removing him from the breast whenever it happened. I guess this is what made me think of using consequences......
Any tips or insights would be very much appreciated.
