My girls will be 2 next month and I'm having issues with time outs. Mainly it's that the other two kids interfere by bringing toys to the one in time out, aggravating the one in time out, hanging off my legs/running circles around me so that I t

How to you GET control of the 3 of them & keep it during time outs?

http://raisingtripletsinhighstyle.blogspot.com/

I'd LOVE to know what people think! We've got this same problem (mine are 2). The other problem is how you control 2 or 3 of them who need to be in time out at the same time...

I talked to another mother of triplets in our local group this morning about this issue. Her triplets are in elementary school now, but she said at this age, she bought a cheap high chair that she used only for time outs. That way the one in time out was forced to stay there and she was free to deal with the other two. I'm thinking that I'll go that route b/c it makes sense and it's better than using my feeding table, which I've done on a few REALLY bad occasions w/ one of my girls ... although it worked, I'm not crazy about the idea b/c I don't want to send mixed messages about what the feeding table is for.

As far as what to do when more than one needs time out, I don't know ... intervene before the second kid starts doing something wrong?

http://raisingtripletsinhighstyle.blogspot.com/

Hi,

I also started time outs when my triplets were 2 and it was a struggle. I had that problem too. I would put the one girl on the bottom step and keep the other 2 busy by putting on a video or giving them a book to look at. Now it is much more easier since they are almost 3. They listen so much better and when I tell them to stay away from time out they actually listen and will stay away from their sister. I think as they get older it will get easier for you to do time outs. They understand the time outs much better than when they are 2 and they actually work.

Karen
mom to ggg trips born 4/5/07

I bought 3 small footstools from Ross (so small they are useless as real footstools), and those are the time out stools... only used for that purpose.

We haven't had issues with not understanding what is going on when someone is on the stool. A few times the siblings want to go over and talk/interact with the offender, but they are re-directed and it hasn't been an issue for > 6 months now.

Sheila
GGB 10/29/06 (33 weeks)

At that age I picked up the offender and placed them in time out in their crib and closed the door. If the other 2 went to the door, tried to go in, etc, they were warned once that if they did not go play in the playroom or if they went in then they would be in time out as well. It took once following thru on the threat and they figured it out.

Now that we are out of cribs they are sent to their bed to sit for a time out. But the rule is still the same and understood that if the other's interfere they are put in time out as well.

But I have to say, THIS issue is one of THE hardest and most frustrating things about multiples. They learn that they can get away with things when I am disciplining one. Like when you call them and they all 3 run opposite directions. You grab the first one and put them in time out, but the other two are totally getting away with it! (for a few minutes anyway)!!!.. ..it's just really hard when they outnumber you.... hang in there. You do the best you can and then don't worry about the rest....

Tiffany
BBG @ 31.4 weeks
on 11/27/06
3.11
3.6
2.14



baby girl born on 7/24/08

Hey,

Our gbg trips are 3yrs. We have them in two bedrooms (girls and boy), and they have gates on their rooms. Time outs for me are easy. Whoever is being put in time out is put in their bedroom. Sure they have toys in there but the whole idea of having to be in their room seperated from the group is all it takes for our bunch.

Tabitha - Parrish - Chloe
01/01/2007

I agree with the pp who said interacting with a sibling in time-out will get you a time-out yourself.

How long of a time out is appropriate for 2.5 year olds?

People say to use 1 minute per year of child, so depending on how precise you are it would be 2 to 2.5 minutes.

I am less of a stickler about time. I use the above guideline as a guideline, but I still use 2 minutes for my 3 year olds and it works fine.

Sheila
GGB 10/29/06 (33 weeks)