Yeah, that's why the soap punishment is done, to discourage the kids from making the same mistake. And it's both the soap itself and the shock of it, which is why it makes it such a good punishment imo. Like, soap itself tastes bad to most people and is hard to completely get out of your mouth. But also, the kids have to put it in their mouths (or let you put it there) on purpose, which is almost never done otherwise. And it can swell their lips and tongue, hurt/burn their mouth, and give them a stomachache if swallowed. But those things go away even if they're allergic, as long as you only use a small amount and give water before too long. I think an important part of that punishment is making them knowingly take the risk of those things, which is why I said to show them the warning label. Do you agree with that?

Yes, people still do the soap punishment today, maybe not as much, but you can find it plenty still if you look on social media. And a spoonful of soap isn't much at all lol. Yes, I did try it out of curiosity before. I used a bar and it made my tongue swell up until sometime the next day, plus gave a burning sensation when it was in my mouth. But it was ultimately temporary, so I think it's fine. I tried liquid soaps much later too; they just tasted bad. Can you elaborate on the discipline part you agree with? Do you agree with how I described to do it, and showing the warning label? Or how would you do that? I think it's important to understand that parents/babysitters/guardians/caregivers get frustrated sometimes, so it's being done for them too. Like once you put yourself in their shoes it's easy to see why that punishment is used, especially if it's a really bratty, misbehaved kid they have to deal with. And obviously it's something you'd only do rarely, which is why you can be a bit lenient about the safety part of it.

I think washing the mouth out with soap can be a good way to discipline children if it's done appropriately. Like, as calmly as possible and talking to them before, during, and after it, explaining why you're doing it. And don't overdo it. Like if using a bar, they should just have to hold it in their mouth for a few minutes. And it should be a new bar unless they said something really inappropriate on purpose or if it's a repeated offense; then a used bar is appropriate. If liquid, they should only have to swallow like a spoonful. Or you can brush their teeth with the soap in either case instead, so it gets stuck for a while. It's a punishment that kind of has to be done in the moment, so you might need to just use whatever's closest, maybe even detergent or another kind of cleaner; it can't be done completely safely, nor should it be. But give them water after only a few minutes too. Even show them the warning label on the soap if there is one and explain why they need to follow that at all other times but should ignore it for the punishment. The idea is to make them remember not to swear, but at the same time, not traumatize them; be reasonable about it.