Is a 2 yr old being abused, when his mouth is being washed out with soap?!?

Question

I am concerned about my nephew as I have heard of other worse things going on.

Answer 1

um.. you need to just tell him no.. dont say that word or whatever. he's too little to understand so he shouldnt be punished like that.

Answer 2

That's not abusive. If he knows not to say a word and he does it anyway, he will be punished. Simple as that.

Answer 3

I presonal would think so...why would anyone want to do that...2 year is a difficult age to handle but should not be handled like this ... they are so many better ways to teach a toddler that washing/putting soap in his mouth

"Just because you can control the life of a toddler because he is so little you should not be doing that"

Answer 4

it depends on the situation.... older 2s start learning 'potty words' and sometimes that is a last resort especially if they are around older children

if it is a child who is not doing what they are told because they are too young to understand

then yes

Answer 5

Not in MY book it isn't---I used it on my 3 grown sons back in the day, and it really worked.

Maybe you should investigate the "worse things" instead of the soap!

Answer 6

Twenty years ago, spanking was the most accepted form of punishment. However, most of todays parents have figured out punishing children with pain does not work.

In this case, the two year old is not going to make the correlation between the soap and what ever the offense is. Correct the offense, calmly, and institute consequences for continued offenses.

If the child is injured, physically or emotionally, by a punishment it should be considered abuse. In this case, both injuries occur. Imagine your parent/guardian forcing you to consume a non-food item.  The emotional damage, and although temporary physical harm constitutes abuse, and the punishment should cease.

Answer 7

Possibly.  A 2 year old really doesn't fully understand right and wrong behavior.  They should be corrected and discouraged from bad behavior, but punishment like that is a little too harsh for a 2 year old.

Answer 8

that is soooo much abuse.  for instance, if you had a friend that made you eat soap every time you two hung out, do you think you would want to hang out with them alot?  what is wrong with their parents?!?!?  they only say what they hear....you might want to tell them to treat their baby a little better. plus soap is definately edible!  i would never eat soap ever! where does it stop? oh yeah, and definately take action about the "worse things" .... it has just become your responsibility.

Answer 9

I don't think it's considered abuse. I agree that abuse is kicking, punching, slapping, and hitting out of anger. Washing a child's mouth with soap isn't however soap might have harmful ingredients if ingested. If your child at the age of two is saying something bad, remember he/she is picking it up for someone around them and that person needs to be addressed.

Answer 10

YES......soap is poison.....ask them how they would like it if someone put soap in their mouth.......very mean to do to a 2 year old......my nephews are 3 and 4 and their mother does that and i wish i could do something about it it really bugs me that people do this......maybe once they are teens then do it but why would you poison a 2 year old

Answer 11

I dont personally do it but it isnt considered abuse I dont believe, abuse is more hitting, kicking, denying food ect ect...

Answer 12

Soap, I wouldn't be worried about. You might want to suggest his parents dipping there finger in vinegar, then sticking it in his mouth when he mouths off. But I would worry about the "worse things"

Answer 13

People are just foul. I can't believe this.

Answer 14

Why in the h**l is a 2yr olds mouth being washed out with soap??   What could he have said at TWO YRS OLD to be that bad?    This question is either a joke or you have a really f'd up family.

Answer 15

yes he's 2 little

Answer 16

I don't know that I would go so far as to call it abuse but I do think it is inappropriate for a two year old.

Most two year olds are simply incapable of correlating soap with the "crime" which means this type of punishment isn't going to be effective.

I have 5 children all under age 6. My children are very well behaved and I do believe in doing what works and that the punishment should fit the crime. Soap in a two year olds mouth is not something I'd condone.

It sounds like the parents here don't really understand the mentality of a 2 yo.

e.g. the words that we use when we speak to our children are sometimes difficult for them to understand. I had a very difficult time recently with my almost 4 yo lying to me. It was pathological with no rhyme or reason and I couldn't figure out why he was doing it. Turns out, when he heard his 6yo brother "joking" with Mom, he thought he should do it too. However, he was "joking" about SERIOUS things. When I kept telling him to stop lying and disciplining him for it, he just didn't understand what I meant. It was quite stressful for both of us until I figured out that he thought he was joking around.

The point is, our children, bright as they are, don't always understand as much as we think they do.

Answer 17

Yes.  A 2 yr old does not really have the capacity to understand right and wrong.

Answer 18

thats messed up. the fact that there are worse things doesnt make it ok. if the 2 year old learning that language, the parents have failed to keep the child away from foul adult mouths, or their own late night tv habits. just where did the 2 year old learn this, then? oh well, im sure h**l find his own way to "thank" them when he gets older. maybe a lil soap in gammy and grampies metamucil.