Knowing how to discipline a child is tough and different for every family. There's timeouts, taking away toys, and sending them to their room. Spanking is another highly debated option. In fact, 19 countries have actually banned the action.

It's legal in all 50 states for a parent to spank their child. But that doesn't mean all parents or experts agree on the action.

Every parent has had to deal with it: a child screaming, throwing a fit, and not listening. This type of behavior usually comes with a consequence.

"If they misbehave, they lose their movie time and they really get upset when they lose their movie time," said Wendy Miller, a mom of two.  

Kjerstin Smith, a mother of two, said, "Somebody gave me the advice that if they're out of control, the best thing you can do is shrink down their environment."

"We've done time outs a lot and spanking for things like hitting and we'll do that because we need to stop those actions that are dangerous to other children," stated Jennifer Noble, a mother of three.

Spanking has long been debated as a form of punishment and the reasons for it and against it vary. For Wendy Miller, it's about the way her parents punished.  She wasn't spanked and doesn't want her children to be either stating, "Through the way I was raised, I just don't feel it's the right thing, the right way, to do it. There's other ways of punishing them and letting them know it was wrong."

Kjerstin Smith found when it comes to her boys, a spanking stops the action, but doesn't keep it from happening again. She said, "I have resorted to it once or twice to get attention, especially in a dangerous situation, but I've also found the lasting effects aren't there in terms of changing the behavior long term."

And with her three kids, Jennifer Noble says spanking helps teach them right from wrong stating, "They have that happen a couple times and they think 'OK, I don't want to do that.  I add one plus one equals two and no! I want to stop because I don't want that consequence.'"

But who's reasoning is right? Deb Aden Ripperda, Assistant Director of Social Work at the University of Sioux Falls, says the debate continues, stating, "Should we or shouldn't we? I mean, what kind of discipline is in the best interest of the child?"

While it may be hard, Deb says parents need to step back from the situation before any action is taken. There can be a fine line between spanking and abuse.

"Never discipline out of anger. You as a parent need to stop, look, and listen, or stop think and listen, and just take some deep breaths," said Aden Ripperda.

Aden says many parents punish their children the same way they were punished. After all, we learn what we live. But she says parenting classes are never a bad idea. Aden Ripperda stated, "Would you go to a doctor that hasn't done their research or kept up on the times in 20 years? So if you're raising your child the way you were raised twenty years ago, you haven't upgraded your parenting skills whatsoever."

We tried to reach quite a few experts on the subject and many didn't want to comment. For those who did, and according to many parenting books, spanking isn't seen an effective form of punishment.

"The research that I've studied shows that it does diminish the child's self esteem. That it does show aggression in a child," said Aden Ripperda.  

Each parent must use their own judgment and use what works for them.

"Much of the time, parenting is hit or miss and sometimes you make mistakes, but you do the best you can and you let your kids know that you love them," said Smith.

Deb Aden Ripperda suggests keeping the action you use consistent so your child can recognize when they're doing something wrong. For tips on how to make discipline stick, tune in Wednesday for KSFY Live In The Morning.