Not only is spanking a poor form of discipline for any child, it may result in physical or psychological damage to the child. No baby should ever be spanked or slapped. Spanking a baby is dangerous. Many babies are injured this way. Spanking does not work. Babies are too young to understand, so they don’t learn from spanking. It just makes a baby cry more, and it will make you feel bad.

When your baby does something you don’t like, redirect him to something he can do. Show him a better way. Your baby may upset you by waking you up at night, crying a lot, or messing a diaper just as you put it on. Remember: Your baby doesn’t do this on purpose to make you mad. Your baby doesn’t think that way. He can’t help it, so it makes no sense and doesn’t help for you to get angry.

What can you do if you find that you are angry and want to spank your baby? Call a friend and ask what she would do. Get someone to watch your baby while you get some fresh air to cool down and relax a bit. You may find that you were just too stressed, and now you can come back with a new outlook on living with your baby. If you find yourself overstressed often, you may need to contact your doctor and talk to him or her about support groups and resources designed to help new parents.

This newsletter gives equal space and time to both sexes. If we write him or her, we are talking about all babies. Every baby is different. Normal children may do things earlier or later than described in this FAQ. This FAQ describes typical children at each age. Each child is special and develops at his or her own pace.