What age is appropriate to introduce time-out?

Question

As a parent, what age do you feel a child is developmentally ready to be in a "time-out" situation? This could a designated area, a playpen, a chair, etc. My son is 10 months and I know he can understand when I tell him no, but I worry that he is just too young to understand the concept of time out. I usually just attempt to distract him from the thing he shouldn't be doing with something that can keep his interest. But eventually time-outs will probably be necessary, so when is a good age?

Answer 1

10 months is a bit young. I'd wait till he's a year and a half. Then he can understand. I wouldn't put him in a play pen however. Try on the couch with a parent supervising. By the time hes 2 and a half, you can introduce spanking. He then needs to know that along with a time-out, when he misbehaves or disobeys you, he will get a sore bum. Hope this helps!  

Answer 2

3 years old he still needs to  be showed whats right and wrong he will know what he cant and cant do My son used to try to push the limits he was so funny..we had this little Gerbile and I was cleanning the cage and he stuck his fingure in the cage she bit him he started to bleed and cried  I cleaned it put and band aid and told him no dont do that he looked at me smiled and stuck his fingure right back in. Some are slower than others LOL

Answer 3

1yr

Answer 4

I would say that around a year or 14 months would be a good time to introduce a time out chair or something like that.  My son was probaby around 15/16 months before he really got the idea but introducing it a little earlier was good .  Good luck and give it time.  They say that you make them stay in time out a minute for every year of life, so start off with a minute in the time out location.  

Answer 5

Evidently I was about 1 year old when my parents introduced "time out". I had to sit on a play chair for 1 minute. If I got up the 1 minute started again. As I got older the time increased according to my age (2 yrs = 2 mins, 3 yrs = 3 mins, etc)

Answer 6

nooo way at 10 months..he wont understand a d**n thing!..i agree..so perhaps a good age would be around..2, the toddler years..and id say that could last until like 9-11 or 12..then punishments of taking away liberties and such start