Is 3 too young for my son to learn about the basics of sex?

Question

I just found out I will be having a second baby in October. My 3 1/2 year old son asked me how the baby got in there, so I told him. I also explained how the baby will come out etc. etc. So many people I know are appalled that I would teach my 3 year old the truth. Please tell me how you have dealt with this situation and what you taught your child in regards to having a new baby or explaining about the basics of sex.

Answer 1

The basics of sex? No. Now details, yes. Once you told your son that you were expecting a baby the wheels were already turning in his head. Approaching you with how the baby got there or where babies come from is only natural. You should feel good that he asked you and not some random person at school or a friend.

I think answering his questions with honest age appropriate answers is smart. The issue is that not everyone is going to agree on what is age appropriate.

I know that teaching the PROPER names for private parts is very important. If a little girl is molested and is ever interviewed by the authorities and refers to her vagina as her "cookie jar" then the courts have no case against the monster that hurt her because she can't even identify the parts properly. Same goes for calling a penis a "rosebud, bird, willie, or many others I have heard."

Anyway, I am sure as his mother you knew what information he could handle and what would be too much for him. I commend you on being honest with him and not trying to skirt the issue.

Answer 2

there's a fine line between knowing about sex and knowing about making a baby. I think at this age it would be appropriate to explain that " it takes a daddy and a mommy to make a baby" and that "mommy is pregnant and has a baby growing in her tummy" you may even go so far as to say "there is a very special kind of love that mommy's and daddy's can do together and it makes a baby". I don't think you need to lie to your child and tell the the stork brings it, I believe in honesty but age appropriate, there's no need to be explaining posistions or anything. :)
Also, explaining how the baby comes out seems like a good idea especially if your son will be present at the birth which could be scary if he's not prepared. congratulations!

Answer 3

At 3 our son saw a video of a horse & a cow giving birth. He immitated it months later. A year or so later he asked if the baby came out the b-hole. I just said no, God gave women a special hole for babies. (We do teach correct body part names, but sometimes draw the line at giving more information than others might want to have spouted back at them someday. I think the church grandma might be a little more comfortable hearing "Do you have a hole for babies?" than "Do you have a vagina?" I did tell him that this is private talk and we don't talk about it with other people - but you never know...)

Too much info at this age can make a lively conversation in front of people you'd rather not have involved in the discussion.

What's done is done. You'll still have more questions on it as he grows older and comprehension of what you told him begins to dawn.

Answer 4

I think each set of parents has their own philosophy on when to tell their kids the truth about sex. I didn't have to answer the question when my kids were that age, but only because they never really asked. However, my youngest 2 (now 5 & 7) have asked a lot of questions so I was completely honest. Why lie, when a few years down the road they are going to find out the truth (especially when I preach to them about not lying to me). Their questions stemmed from things they had heard older kids talking about on the bus, so I was kind of forced into the talk. They accepted my explanations, but I'm sure there is more to come. I guess, explain it when you feel the time is right, it's every parents decision based on personal and religious beliefs. Everyone of us is different, therefore will handle it in a different manner (I can't say one is right over the other).

Answer 5

well if you don't want to give him some magical story about the stork i would keep it very simple at this point. children around the age of three (coincidentally enough) are beginning to become curious about their own bodies, you know- i'm not trying to be gross but this is when the fundamentals of masturbation start for many.

i'm not saying that this in itself is bad, it's a healthy and normal thing to do at the correct age.
but an overload of private information at this point could be determental, he or she probably just mastered potty training- so yeah i do think it's too soon to introduce the mechanics of sex.

let your child be a child, don't make them grow up too terribly fast with details and unnecessary information.

keep it simple. mommy and daddy made a baby.

concentrate more on the baby's arrival, that will be a huge milestone for the sibling and much more important than how baby got there

Answer 6

If done in with the appropriate age vocabulary and not to graphic there is nothing wrong with explaining the basics. My friends 4 year old, told her how the baby came out in a few quick sentences, she was a little surprised. As others have said, it is up to you and if they have questions they will get the answers from somewhere. Little ones are curious and if you answer only what they ask they are usually satisfied. My oldest son is almost 2 and I am sure questions to related to that topic will eventually come. I intend to tell him the truth as he needs to know.

Answer 7

Most kids of that age don't really want to know about sex. My son was 3 when I got pregnant again, we watched alot of tlc a baby story and he liked to look at the pictures in my what to expect book. But he never asked HOW the baby got in mom's belly!!! Or how it got out(although he did figure out the mom pushed the baby out)just not from where!!! He won't understand or remember so don't worry about scaring him for life or anything!!!

Answer 8

He is human...people need to realize that children have instinct's too. Watch boys for instance...they are always competing over things, that is male instinct. Little girls are always playing with baby dolls because that is a womans instinct. To descrip sex in a porn way wouldn't be a suggestion but letting them know that baby's come from an act of a male and female in love isn't. This is 2007 and to be honest the more educated children are about these things the less confused they are later on and will trust you more to be honest with them when they have a serious question. All the power to ya!

Answer 9

Hair growth can initiate good after the genitalia start to strengthen. commencing to strengthen does not unavoidably recommend that it truly is measurable growth of the genitalia at that think approximately time.. So in case you have the shape of pubic hair and additionally you do not observe a metamorphosis in testicular length (and that i may be shocked in case you may have that a lot factor approximately your son at this age), that does not recommend that he's growing to be hair early interior the degree; it in simple terms skill that the puberty has started out and each and all the adjustments linked with puberty are coming. you will in all possibility observe the adjustments as they ensue. i might say that he's many years earlier than all and sundry and he might very nicely be out of puberty till now a number of his classmates have even all started.

Answer 10

My kids are 6 and 7 they both know how the baby comes out they have always know cause we watched it on t.v but they DO NOT know how it got started so if the little guy realy wants to know just tell him I would .Nothing to be ashamed of it is a part of life .