Your question seems to indicate that you do not understand the developmental level of your baby. I recommend a good book on parenting that will discuss this matter. Penelope Leach is an excellent resource. Do not worry about commanding respect from your baby. Your role as a parent is to give respect to your baby.
Children learn respect by being respected.
Punishment, especially physical punishment interferes with your child's healthy development and forms a barrier to normal communication bet. Skinner et al. and operant conditioning has shown negative reinforcement and pain to be quite effective in changing behavior. There is also a big difference between grand larceny and shop lifting. The more violent the punishment, the more serious the byproducts. There is no problem that is ever solved by physical punishment.