[crick]

not child abuse in my mind.

[DinPAis2adopt]

Not Abuse as far as I'm concerned. I may even try it if my son ever forms that bad habit!

[joskimo]

another vote for not abuse. I'm still inclined to lean towards soap though, I know it's not a food but effective.

[LoveRiddenDad]

I don't think my labelling or judging will fix anything, but it's not a method I'd use for the following reasons:

1) It might damage the young, sensitive lining of his mouth.
2) The punishment seems to only serve to embitter him and make him develop a dislike of you.
3) He might end up liking it and thus the punishment becomes ineffective. (I have a child who can swallow habenero peppers.)

I agree with some of the previous posters; it's all about getting a reaction over you. Words are just words, in the end. But suppose I point a shamanic death-bone at you and recite a curse? Or utter a Magick Word that alarms and threatens you as much as a simple "f-word" threatens Methodists? We never "know" organismically all that we know theoretically. Parts of us remain simian, childish, inertial, mechanical etc. Words have a huge effect on us if we allow it! If you ignore my curse, eventually I'll stop out of boredom.

[roomformore]

Not abuse but would only use a pea sized spot on tongue NOT a teaspoonful. Did you have to fight him to get it on his tongue? To me that would be kind of traumatic........He obviously learned his lesson so I would call that a success. My Mom got me with soap in mouth once I think-that was all it took and she definately was not abusive.

[bab040462]

Not abuse if it worked and solved a major problem. When a child is very disruptive and little things do not work as parents we have to come up with sensible and logical punishments. Hot sauce will not harm him, may burn for a While but that is the purpose. I say do it again if he thinks you have eased up and he starts cussing again. Good life lesson.

[MommyofEli]

Not abuse! I would do it. My grandma put hot sause on my thumb to get me to stop sucking it. But I don't know about soap...If the child swallows soap it can give him/her diarrhea which could lead to them getting dehydrated. But anyway if it worked go for it...after all it is a food and alot of people like the taste, he just doesn't.