Babies exploring their bodies...?

Question

I'm interested to know how others out there react when their babies (boys) begin to discover themselves and touch it and laugh during diaper changes. I don't stop my son, nor do I make a big deal out of it. But a lady at his daycare said she tells him "no" when he does that. I really don't agree with that. I'd like to hear people's opinions on this.

Answer 1

As a mother of two boys, its natural, and baby girls do it also. I would tell the daycare worker to stop telling him no! Hes just curious!! Im sure she has her hands between her legs a few times here and there, and who tells her no!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

as far as i think babies need to discover not only their own bodies but also their parents body too. The babies usually like to feel their skin as at young age as 3 months they start licking their hands . My son 11 months old like to hold is private part when i try to change his diapers or sometimes when i leave him naked for a while. I saw him playing with it with both hands and making humming sounds with it . When ever i breast feed him, he likes to touch my tummy ,and licks the shoulder of every person (like my MIL , niece, nephews, hubby) who carries him lovingly. Well i think the day care lady could be worried about some other reasons. It would be good to ask her why she tells him "NO

Answer 3

My son does it all the time. He's 15 months old. He's been doing it for a while now. I asked a nurse at his doc's office and she said it's totally normal, not to push their hands away or tell them no. It's a new sensation to them and at times it can be soothing to him. I got worried cause he'd get little hard ons, and he found a way to get to it even with his diaper on (going through the leg of his diaper). For your daycare to tell him no is wrong. It's natural, and I would've had the head of someone who tells my son he can't do something that's not hurting him or someone else. That's the first thing my son goes for when his diaper comes off for diaper changes or baths. Sometimes it's funny cause it seems like he's gonna rip the little thing off, or squeezes it so hard that my husband winces at the thought of it. When my husband's mom started telling him no for it, I calmly asked her not to. It's his body and it's not hurting him. Now she'll laugh and tell us how much better he is during diaper changes now (he used to throw a temper tantrum when she'd push his hands away, and tell him no...then he'd try to roll over and get away from her).

Answer 4

My daughter is 2yrs and my son is 4.5months. My daughter has pointed to her crotch and says, "eew!". This is due to my ex-hubby teaching this to her. I don't agree with this and tell her, "That is your vagina" so she knows the proper terms. Even if she knew another word for it I would still find it ok for her to learn about her body. It's natural! I have yet to see what my son starts to do, from reading the other replies looks like I have something to look forward to. As far as the daycare provider, maybe ask her to not say, "No" and instead ask her to ignore it OR maybe direct his attention at something else if she is uncomfortable (such as a toy while changing his diaper) good luck!!

Answer 5

Telling a child "no" in regards to their explorations of their bodies teaches them that something is wrong with them. They grow up believing this and wind up having problems with their sexuality later on. I completely disagree with the lady at your son's daycare. I feel she's inhibiting his personal development. As a parent, I would be furious. When my daughter began exploring, I did the same as you....I didn't stop her or make a big deal out of it. It is a perfectly natural thing. I wasn't going to interfere with it.

I know from personal experience what it is like to be told that such things are wrong. It caused me to repress my sexuality as an adult. It took a lot of hard work on my part and a lot of patience on my partner's part to overcome the ridiculous notion that touching ourselves is wrong.

Answer 6

I agree with the answers that advised you not to say "no". It is a natural part of infancy to explore everything including their own bodies. Telling a baby no, should be reserved for something that will physically harm them, not for curiousity that is part of childhood. Babies and little children are innocents and mean no harm by learning all sorts of things that are around them. Be glad that he is normal and curious. Try not to get upset over little things that are of no consequence. When they are older you will be very busy hoping they will not touch hot stoves, run into busy streets, etc. Let them and yourself enjoy their infancy. Just love them now, and leave the worrying to the years ahead. Worrying is not a good thing but as a mother, it is difficult to control. Save your energy while you can.

Answer 7

It doesn't bother me a bit. In fact, at my son's (who is 13 months) last doctor appointment, we were told to let him explore himself for many reasons but manly so that his skin doesn't grow back over where he was circumcised. It's healthy and normal. My sister and great-aunt are like the lady at your son's daycare. They threw a fit when I told them I like to give my son some "naked time" after a bath. They said I was going to turn him into a nudist! It's only about 5 to 10 mins and he loves it.

Answer 8

I know that all children do it. My son did the same thing. i did not make a big deal abt it and my hubby thought it was weird. I told him that the more you make a big deal the more the child will do it. Just tell the day care person that you prefer to let him just do it. It is a normal thing for children to do it.

Answer 9

tell her you don't agree with her telling him not to do it. ALL children touch themselves and they have every right to, it is their body after all! You don't want him to have a complex about sex when he is older and think it is wrong to do it, because as we know, it's not wrong or dirty, it's perfectly natural!

get her told, you don't care what other parents wish for their children but for you, it's ok for your son to do it. If she's too embarrassed to witness it then tell her to get another member of staff to change your son. Either that or she shouldn't be in daycare for a living if she can't handle natural occurences.

Answer 10

my cousins lil baby girl does that i babysit her a lot and she is only 3 months she will be 4 in a few days but it is a normal thing all kids do it but not as young as my lil cuz that i watch but they usually do it when they first start discovering their body parts so its normal tell that daycare to lay off of him he is a baby wanting to explore but you might want to stop him b4 he is like 3 because this other lil kid i watched his mom never broke him and he started hunchin people so let him explore until he gets old enough to do that

Answer 11

I never told my sons no when they did that. Its a normal thing that all babies go through. They have no idea what they are doing. They just know something is there that they didnt realize was before and its interesting. She really shouldnt be telling him no or thinking its wrong. Its normal.