DArnit... gave my Pediatrics Nursing book away liao.
But if I remember correctly, before they're 3 or 4 years of age,
it's NO USE reasoning to them because their critical faculties
haven't exactly been developed fully yet. Before that, they HAVE to
understand cause and effect, ie. I do this, I kena something bad
and not nice one! 
In other
words, they have to fear the authority figures, their parents,
somewhat because they will constantly be testing your limits to see
what they can get away with. This is the time to instil a healthy
respect for authority and to establish certain boundaries.
But of course, bleedin' hearts would say otherwise, and go on to
produce children who cry foul at every li'l thing and can take the
hard knocks of life as well as a piece of tofu can resist the
devastating effects of the cleaver. 
I think you can't exactly choose to produce an even-tempered baby
cause it's kinda wired into the genes liao! If you and your husband
were both even-tempered babies, the chances of you having one is
then, much higher! 
