Anyone have a problem with their 3 year old daughter touching herself?

Question

i have been catching my 3 year old touching her private part. she keeps telling me and her father that she wants it off and she yanks on it and won't leave it alone, she is my first child and i have never had to deal with this before and i am really getting nervous about it. Is this normal or do i need to do something other than keep telling her to leave it alone and redirect her. Please my husband is getting really upset about it and i don't know what to do to get her to quit.

Answer 1

I recently caught my 3 yr old in a similar situation. I didn't see her actually touching anything but she had undressed herself in one area. I just didn't make a big deal about it and told her to pull up her pants. I said, "We don't do that, don't do it again." So far so good. Maybe just try not to make a huge deal out of it. Just tell her that "We don't do that, " and see what happens if you haven't already tried that. Little kids exploring themselves is pretty normal stuff. If she keeps it up tell her she's going to time out or a spanking.

Answer 2

I have two grown children and three grandbabies, all of which at some point in their young lives started exploring their bodies. My granddaughter right now is 22 months old and she has been curious now for the past 6 months. It is normal for children to explore their bodies, it is one way that they become aware of their environment and their relationship to it. Usually simple redirection is effective in getting the child to stop, but if your daughter continually does so, and says she wants it off, then maybe something is hurting her, she may have a UTI(urinary tract infection) or yeast infection, which is not uncommon in babies, and if this is the case, than it might be that her privates are itchy or irritable, in which case she might need to see the doctor for treatment. Good luck, hope this helped a little :)

Answer 3

ok first it is quiet Norman for your daughter to be doing this. But do not tell her not to do at all tell she needs to go to her bedroom or some place private for her to do this. But what I find concerning is a 3 year old saying she wants to get it off. First of all is she trying to pull her clituris off by this statement or does she mean like she wants to come to a climax by saying she wants to get off. If she just means she wants to take her clituris off then you and your partner needs to explain to her that it wont come off its part of her body. The other thing is if she means she wants to get it off like in reaching a climax then this bothers me. where would she hear such a thing. Is it possible that she is been touched by somebody ? sexually that should not be touching her in her private parts. If there has been a change that somebody has been touching her. you need to take her to see a Dr that part is not normal. Good luck.

Answer 4

The best thing to do in this case is to absolutely NOT make a big deal out of it. Simply tell her that from now on, she can only touch herself there in the privacy of the bathroom or her bedroom. If she starts to touch herself, remind her gently and then guide her if you have to into one of the rooms. This is something that a lot of kids (especially girls) do, and it should pass.

Answer 5

Hi this is normal in some circumstances, a family member of mine also started doing this & when we took her to the dr we found out she had been molested.. I am NOT saying this is the case with your daughter, but I would talk to the dr about it.. Talk to her & tell her this type of behavior is not accepatble to do.. especially if she starts doing it in front of people..
It is nothing to worry about most of the time, be glad you dont have boys that is never ending

Answer 6

Don't mess her up mentally by freaking out over this! I have 3 kids and each one has touched themselves when they were little. It is not a big deal. But if YOU make a big deal out of it, then it could possibly make her have issues later in her life. Don't make her ashamed of her body. But I would mention it to her doctor, maybe her "wanting it off" is indicating some kind of pain.

Answer 7

It's normal behavior...to an extent. She may have a yeast infection if it is bothering her. Does she say it hurts or itches/burns? Did she have thrush (yeast in the mouth) on the bottle? Try giving her plain yogurt and see if it clears up. Kids in general should see the doctor once a year.

Answer 8

Children between the age of 3 and 5 begin to experience what it is to be a male or female. This is toltally normal, and they will begin to look at their genatalia or even touch it. Many children this age will say things to you at home or worse at a public place things such as "do you have a vagina or a penis" "are you a girl or a boy" "what kind of pee pee do you have" they are not asking these questions to be gross or because they dont no what they mean. They say them because they want to know what sex you are, they think it is cool to be "thier sex" i, e male or female.

Answer 9

I've read in a book that that's normal becuz it feels good to the child, but they don't know what there doing just don't make it a big deal and scold her becuz she'll be embarassed and it can scar her for life.

Answer 10

......IT IS VERY NORMAL I HAVE A NIECE AND 2 GREAT NIECES ...MY 22 YEAR OLD NIECE DID IT AND NOW HER 2 AND 4 YEAR OLD R DOING IT....IF YOU BRING ATTENTION 2 IT ,IT WILL MAKE THEM DO IT MORE. IF IT BOTHERS U THAT MUCH ASK YOUR DOCTOR WHEN YOU GO AGAIN, I WOULD NOT GO RUN OUT AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, JUST THE NEXT TIME ASK. TIB-BIT
I HEARD SOMEWHERE SOMETIME AGO THAT KIDS (GIRLS) WILL ALL (SNIFF) THEM SELF( TOUCH THEN SMELL IT) IT A FORM OF ..LIKE A ANIMAL TO RECOGNIZE THERE SCENT... I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I HEARD IT BUT I ASK MY MOM AND SHE SAID MY SISTERS AND ME ALL DID IT 2.ASK YOUR MOM AND MOTHER-IN-LAW (IF SHE HAS ANY GIRLS)AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. I KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT OF MOMS OUT THERE THAT WILL HELP YOU MORE BUT I JUST HAD TO TELL YOU WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS U AND YOURS