I'm not sure I agree with him getting a lifetime ban or whatever. Sure what he did to a 4yr baby is brutal and was not just a 'spanking'. It was excessive and unnecessary. But, if it was just a one time incident and there's no pattern of ongoing abuse, suspend him for the year, make him take some parenting classes, and re-instate him next year with the stipulation that any future incidents of any sort of domestic violence and he's gone for good.