I was driving in the car yesterday with my 5 1/2 year old daughter when she decided to ask the question "Mommy, how do babies come out of their mommies tummies?". I don't want to brush off the question because I want to be honest, but at the same time there is ~too~ much information that you can give a 5 year old. Where is the line between being honest but not going over her head?
2007-01-17 07:09:45 · 12 answers · asked by thelilred_whocould 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I am pregnant and my daughter is 3. We have watched several shows about labor and delivery because I want her to understand how the process of a baby is born. I want her in the delivery room with me and my family. It's important for her to be there. Not so much watching the birth but being beside me and her understanding that once the baby is born and she sees it that it's not in mommy's tummy anymore. If I didn't let her in the room then even after I had the baby she would be confused and still might think the baby is inside my tummy. I don't want her to be lost in all this. I want her to understand what's going on and how it happens. Although circumstances are different for me because I'm pregnant. If I had not been I know I wouldn't have told her this early. But some kids are more ready than others. It's a wonderful miracle and I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of telling her. I don't think you need to go into detail about how being pregnant happend. You'll do fine. You'll know what to say and when to say it. The number one thing you have going for you is the fact that you want to be honest with her. Good luck with you. :)
2007-01-17 07:20:48 · answer #1 · answered by bellas_mom2003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the child. My brother didn't know where babies came from until he was 10. I asked my daughter to guess where the baby came out. After pointing behind me, I said no. She understood that the baby couldn't come out of my belly button so she guessed again and this time got it right. She was 6. The line, "a special part of daddy comes together with what is called an egg in mommy" is good enough to explain to a 5 year old how the baby grows in the uterus or "tummy" as most of us say.
2007-01-17 07:22:04 · answer #2 · answered by AMEWzing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find out what she really wants to know. This might seem like a simple question but ask her what she means or why she is asking - something to figure out where she is coming from. Have you heard of the little boy who asked his mother "where did I come from?" So she gives him the whole birds and the bees explanation and when she is finished the boy says,"Johnny says he comes from New York, I just wondered where I come from!" Having said that 5 yr olds can understand a lot already - you know her best so you need to determine what she already understands and what she can take in. I agree that it is important to be completely honest - which doesn't mean telling everything.
2007-01-17 07:35:05 · answer #3 · answered by Cherry Blossom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that no matter how old (or young) your child is you need to answer their questions. If you don't, they will go to someone else to get their answers. I have always answered honestly but given as little information as necessary to satisfy them. My four year old asked me the same question, and I told her that Mommies go to the hospital for the doctor to help take the baby out. She was happy with that answer. I'm sure someday she will want to know more, which at that time I will give her more information. I strongly believe that you need to bring up some topics with children if they don't, such as puberty. I think it is important to explain things that will happen to them before these things occur so that they aren't confused or scared.
2007-01-17 08:03:48 · answer #4 · answered by funlovinlady27 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Age appropriate information that starts much younger than 5 years old.
2007-01-17 07:17:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At the age 6 or 7.
Get more into it during the year goes on.
2007-01-21 06:28:43 · answer #6 · answered by hal 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's "how do they come out", I suggest around the age of 8 upwards would be ok.
Say something like 'They come out from between your legs'.
It may be worth explaining those parts of her body at the same time, to kill 2 birds with 1 stone.
...Good luck!
2007-01-17 07:18:21 · answer #7 · answered by NATTATTACK. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would base this decision on the child. If they tend to understand things quickly I would try to the answer the question as simply as possible. And hopefully they don't ask anymore questions. Just don't tell a complete lie to her.
2007-01-17 07:14:38 · answer #8 · answered by HONEYB1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do not lie, it truly isn't any longer good, in basic terms say what I say to my sister: the daddy places component of the infant into the mummy's uterus, there is yet another component of the infant already iin the uterus, and both elements style jointly to make a touch one.
2016-10-15 09:09:08 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When they are old enough to ask intelligent questions they are old enough to get intelligent answers. Just don't lie to them.
2007-01-17 07:25:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋