Henderson Happenings

So Kale had his 9 month check up today. He only had to get one shot which was good. I hate hearing him cry when they stick him. He was 23lbs and 8oz and 30 1/4 inches long. I was told I can start giving him more table foods. We have already been giving him a little and he LOVES it. There is nothing we have given him yet that he doesn't like. Heck he would eat the dog food if I let him.
On another note...behavior to be exact...I gained some pretty good information. I got a 9 months checkup sheet that talked a good bit about discipline. The information confirmed what I was already doing. There are three different ways in which people raise a child these days.
1) The distraction method
2) the "baby proofing" method
3) the say "no" then pop their hand method.
The distraction method simply rewards the behavior that you don't want. If you continue to distract him you are rewarding him with two things...your attention and a toy, book or other fun thing. If you keep rewarding him you are causing the behavior to be repeated.
The "baby proofing" method is moving the items you don't want them to touch out of reach. This is only teaching him he can play with anything he can get his hands on. This may work for home, but what about when you go places. This is not teaching him the things he can and cannot handel.
The say "no" then pop their hand method is teaching what you want. However, there are several "don'ts"
~Don't yell. Use a calm firm voice.
~Don't move him away. He needs to learn to leave it alone.
~Don't ask. Asking implies he has a choice.
~Don't threaten. Just tell him, "No!"
~Don't tell him twice. The most frequent mistake parents make is repeating comands.
When he leaves that 'thing' alone you can praise him.
However, if he doesn't leave it alone, then you need to give his hand one spank...hard enough to make it sting. If he cries, pick him up and hold him. Explain to him what just happened by telling him " I told you to leave that alone. You disobeyed me. Whenever you disobey me I am going to spank you. But I still love you very much." He won't understand at 9 months all the words but he will eventually. If he touches it again go through the same routine again, but if it happens a third time you sneak up on him and spank his hand. This will get the point across to him that the plant is off limits even before Mamma says anything, even when Mamma is not in the room.
I have to say I have been doing the say no then pop their hand since six months and Kale already understands the word 'no'. He has even gotten to the point of when I say 'no' and he continues and I got to get up to spank his hand he will drop what ever it is, whine and crawl away.
I only get one shot at this so I want to do it right. It has only just begun!