help going crazy?

Question

my 3 year old little girl will not quit messing with her peepee i know for sure she's NEVER been messed with so don't go there is it normal for a 3 year old to play with her self

thank you for all your input i didn't know what to do when i was little it was bad to touch or talk about your private area i just hope she quits soon

Answer 1

She's discovering more of herself everyday....now it just happens to be her front area. It may tingle when she touches it and it's all new to her. Pretty normal. Just kind of guide her in the direction of not touching it so much but don't make her feel she's a bad person for it. Then she'll think that that's a "bad" area. Gotta think like a little kid sometimes...

Answer 2

1) It's normal - every kid does it.

2) As much as possible, ignore it, and it'll eventually stop -- in psychology, it's believed that paying attention (praise OR punishment - either is attention) to a behavior (good or bad) CAN make it more likely for the behavior to happen again. (not that this is always true, but punishment can backfire...) The less you reinforce it, the faster it will become extinct. Don't punish her or call it dirty -- the behavior will stop one way or another, but if she feels bad about it or like there's something wrong with her, the negative feelings will stay long after the behavior is gone.

3) When you can't ignore it, like in public or when there's company, find a way to make her stop with as little fuss as possible. Ex: very quietly tell her "Honey, that's your private body. Private means by yourself, not around other people." LOL I know that sounds silly, but she's only 3, she hasn't learned that yet. She will.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Yes, it's normal for a child to explore her own body and see what's what. Just explain gently but firmly that we don't play with our private areas.

She might also have an itch that needs some medical attention, and no, it doesn't have anything to do with molestation. Sometimes laundry detergent can irritate tender skin, or she has an allergy to cotton, etc. Go get her checked out!

Answer 4

my 2 year old does too. She's with me every day all day so i know the same as you she's never been touch. But our doctor said it's normal just to keep an eye on her because kids WILL hurt them selfs she said some kids will try to use objects. I just tell her to stop it and wash her hands after she's stopped.

Answer 5

Its normal. They fell the same way we do if we touch ours. Just tell her its something private and she cant do it in front of people or in the middle of the living room. Teach her her "privacy" is something private. Dont shame her or embarrass her about it. I think it will cause her issues about it when she's older.

Answer 6

She might have a yeast infection. Ask her peditrician, but it should be okay to give her a couple teaspoons of yogurt with acidopholus. You can also put a few cloves of garlic in her bath water. It is a natural antibiotic.

Answer 7

it is perfectly normal. If you make a fuss out of it, or blow it out of proportion, she will grow up with an unhealthy attitude towards her vagina - something you dont want to encourage :)! If you can distract her, do. Otherwise, let it go - she will outgrow it eventually.

Answer 8

Totally normal even though it may seem odd. Don't make a big deal out of it if you can.

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Answer 9

it's normal. tell her to not do that when people are around. i wouldn't tell her "NOT" to do it... you don't want her to have a negative feeling about herself and her interest in her body... just tell her that's private (yes, even at 3).

Answer 10

Very normal. It's hers...