Is it safe and legal to wash toddlers mouth out with soap?

Question

I know someone who practices this and somehow it doesn't seem right. Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to get a 3 year old to stop saying 'bad' words?

Answer 1

This is abusive and very cruel and I would hope illegal! A Child in most cases are (REPEATERS) what they hear they repeat!

Answer 2

Yup, for the most part, I agree with some of what other people are saying. What they hear, they will repeat. Not letting them watch TV with curse words is not going to help. Can't do that forever, and unless you're the only person around that kid 24/7, that's not gonna work. And I curse, but my kids no not to say those words. And of course, initially, they've said it once at a young age. But after I told them that those were big people words, they stopped and they know not to say them even though I do. But at that age, if he's getting in trouble and he's still saying them, then Uh-oh. She's got a booger on her hands. Just a bratty kid. And someone on this post has watched a little too much Nanny 911.

But soap in the mouth is nasty. I never got it because after me and my cousin were caught saying bad words in the pool, we got our azzes beat, and never said them again. I still don't curse in front of my elders and I'm 30. lol. But it's different for each kid though. I know back in the day, older people were always talking about washing your mouth out with soap. It seems cruel, but it all depends on how you do it. Puttin soap on the toothbrush...was clever. That was a good one. Actually sticking a bar of soap in the kids mouth is bad. Kid may actually swallow the soap, in which then it may be child abuse. I dunno. Kind of grew up hearing that, so I don't think it's that bad. Only if it works. If you have to do it more than 2 times, it's not working. Move on to something else.

Answer 3

My mom use to do it to me, and I definitely learned to stop doing whatever it was that she had told me not to.

It really didn't harm me in any way; she simply put a little bit of soap on my toothbrush and brushed my teeth. I remember it tasting disgusting and the after taste was, well just as bad.

I'm not sure if it's legal, but it's not like you're poisoning/abusing the child so I wouldn't see why it would be illegal.

If you don't want to use this method, try not saying any "bad" words yourself. Three year olds seem to mimic what they hear. Also, whenever he/she says something you don't think is appropriate, get on his level, tell him that what he said was wrong (in an authoritative voice), and make him sit in timeout for a few minutes.. or until he apologizes for what he has said and promises to not do it again.

Answer 4

yeah my parents did it to me when i talked back! just make sure the child is old enough so that they wont swallow the soap. if this method of discapline dosent appeal to you, sit down and talk to your child. explain that the word is not to be used and that they will be punished if they sat it again. give your child another word to replace the 'bad' one. good luck!!

Answer 5

If a 3 year old is saying bad words, either the parents say them, other children they are around say them, or they heard them on tv. The best thing to do is not cuss around your kids, don't let them watch tv with cursing in it....and ignore them if they do say it once. If they don't get a reaction they tend to stop.

Answer 6

My parents used to completly ignore any curse words i said. As for washing your mouth out with soap. I guess what ever works for the parent really.

Answer 7

There are two stages in the development of a child that throw many parents: the first is toddlerhood, and the second is adolescence. Both stages are very much alike. In each stage, a life force emerges which propels the child to push his parents away. The goal is independence—the teen wants to stop being a child; the toddler wants to stop being a baby.

Fired up by his new speech and mobility, the average toddler is a whirlwind of activity, and everything is an adventure. Imagine for one minute what it must be like to be a toddler…everything is new. Kitchen cupboards filled with all sorts of things are especially attractive, k***s and buttons on the VCR and dad's computer are extremely interesting; even the drain in the bathtub is fascinating as the water disappears. And since toddlers are still babies, almost everything is tasted and smelled. Toddlers are absolutely free spirits. They have no interest in toilet training—it doesn't bother them a bit to have a full diaper. And forget self-control, because toddlers do not have a conscience yet. Oh, they may listen to a 'no' when mom is right there. But the moment mom is out of sight, toddlers do what they want to do. They operate mainly on the pleasure principle: if it feels good and it is fun, they want to do it.

Knowing a little toddler psychology can go a long way toward turning this challenging stage of life into a wonderful experience. Here are some tips for helping you to manage and enjoy your toddler:

The Right Attitude

It helps to have the right attitude during this stage of development. During this stage, creativity, imagination and curiosity are being born, and you need to understand that your toddler is not being bad as he explores his world. Suddenly, he is not a baby anymore and the whole world is open to him. This is very exciting for a child so young, that he has barely any self-control and cannot cope with any frustration.

Limit Your 'No's'

This is an easy stage to overwhelm your child with a ton of 'no's,' because toddlers are forever getting into things. But if a parent proceeds in this manner, a child soon learns to ignore all 'no's.' So you are wise to limit 'no's' to the important areas of a toddler's life. To limit 'no's,' it helps to child-proof your home. For example, cover electrical outlets, put cleaning supplies up high and out of reach, tie together the k***s on the stereo cabinet, remove your expensive china statues from the end tables, place the plant in another room so the soil isn't eaten or spread throughout the house, cover the sharp ends of your coffee table with foam, and lock the basement door so your toddler doesn't fall down the stairs. The more you can child-proof your home, the happier you and your toddler will be. I have also found that the use of expandable gates is very helpful in child-proofing a home.

Have Reasonable Expectations

Time and time again, I see parents expecting far too much from their toddler and then launching into a program of punishment when their toddler can't comply. Don't spank, slap hands, or wash your toddler's mouth out with soap or place pepper on his tongue and lock him in his room. And remember, when your child smiles while you are scolding him, he is not defying you: your toddler will often think you are playing a game with him.

Avoid Prolonged Day Care

If at all possible, avoid 11 hours of day care five days a week. Toddlers need to bond with their parents and feel adored during this stage in order to grow…day care workers will not adore your child and be thrilled with each of his new accomplishments. I realize some families have few options, but do what you can to avoid having your child spend 11-hour days away from mom and dad. For example, some parents rely on relatives or grandparents to pick up their child from day care and thereby shorten the time a toddler is away from family.

Read Up On this Stage of Development

I don't know why, but many parents avoid reading about toddlers and teenagers. These are the two most difficult stages of parenting, yet many parents choose to wing it. Somehow, many parents think parenting skills and parenting knowledge are things you're born with, and that suddenly when you become a parent, you'll know what to do. Wrong! Parenting is the great equalizer. It doesn't matter whether you're the president of a corporation or driving a bus, we all have to learn how to parent and what to expect at different stages. You can learn how to do a great job, though, and here are three suggestions for books that can help:

Making the Terrible Two's Terrific, by John Rosemond.

What to Expect the Toddler Years, by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff & Sandee Hathaway.

Wimpy Parenting from Toddler to Teen, by Kenneth N. Condrell, Ph.D.

A lttle toddler psychology can go a long way toward turning this challenging stage of life into a wonderful experience.