Reiri told police she hadn't hit the child in the face but had "tapped her to the ear", Mr Wilson said. Mr Elliott said Reiri was remorseful for her actions, which was evident as she wiped tears from her eyes as she stood in the dock.
"She accepted it was an over-reaction. There was no injury to the child as a result. She regrets her actions, sir," he said.
He asked for a suspended sentence for Reiri. Mr Wilson said she accepted responsibility for her behaviour.
Judge Walsh told her it was serious to hit someone in the head, especially a child.
"It's obvious you may have been under some stress but to strike a child in the head is always dangerous," he said.
He convicted Reiri and sentenced her to come up if called on within six months and ordered her to pay $130 court costs.
