I would never use my hands to hit a child. Never.
And I would never use a belt, or anything other than what God tells us to use. A rod.
A rod will never leave any lasting injuries, no matter how hard you hit with it (as long as you only hit on the fleshy part of the buttocks.)
Get a copy of Fugate's book, What the Bible Says about Child Training. He makes a great deal of sense and lays out the entire plan for child training, not just the part about the rod.
Something I have noticed about alot of children who are undisplined are that mom and dad did not do, or very little, of quiet stuff with their children. Coloring, reading, board games, etc. I think kids who have trouble being disiplined (having self control) have never been taught such a thing. Sitting in front of a TV is not the same either. JMO:)
Becky