Discipline: What do you do?

We're just getting started on discipline really with my son. He's 14 months old. He gets a swat if he is doing something that could hurt him or someone else and we've already told him no recently (like poking the dogs in the eyes or standing on the back of the couch). One thing that works for my nieces (they are 2.5 and 6) is everytime they do something bad their mom counts a number, starting with 1 of course. It adds on throughout the day with every thing they have to be asked twice or more getting another number. The flip side is that if they do something without being asked to, they get a number taken away. The goal is to stay below 5 for the day. If they stay below 5 for the day, they get an extra story, and an extra chapter of Junie B Jones. They also get a sticker on their sticker chart, and when they get 10 stickers they get a small toy. It works really well for them. And that is probably what we will do with my son when he gets a little bit older. Right now he doesn't care enough about what is going to happen a few hours from now for that to be effective. Plus he can only count to 3. :)

I have the naughty step or put them in their bedroom ( where the toys are away ) The normal time is a minute for every year of their age! My daughter and i have a system where if she is ignoring me or not doing as she is told I count to five (three doesn't give them enough time to calm down or think about things!) and if she still won't do as she is told there is trouble - don't quite know what cos I haven't got to 5 yet! The one thing I would advise you to avoid is threatening to do something and not carrying through with it! This is the best age to start getting them used to doing as they are told (where possible!) as it only gets harder as they get older! Just so you know I don't think there is anything wrong with giving a child a smack on the bottom - espescially if they are doing something dangerous! xxx