When I take my boys a bath every evening, they start playing with their genitalia? Is that okay, or should I discourage it? They only touch themselves, and I've sat down with them through their TV times and monitored what their watching, and nothing seems unordinary! I need real mommies / daddies advice, not children.
2007-08-17 05:57:44 · 22 answers · asked by the_ghostfairy_returns 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
This is very normal. I have a little boy and I never made a big deal out it. Now that he is four he has out grown it some, he won't do it when someone is watching only in his room. They are just exploring themselves and learning. I really don't think it is a big deal. If they start to do it in public just try to explain that they are private and you can touch and look but only in the bathroom or their room as they wouldn't want other people to see them.
2007-08-17 06:01:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
They are just discovering their bodies. Its normal for them to be curious. They aren't thinking about sex when they're doing it, they are just feeling. All children do this. If you discourage them and make a big deal about it, they could begin to feel ashamed of their bodies and themselves. It's hard to resist natural urges, nearly impossible. You don't want them feeling bad because of normal behavior. I would say you should only discourage them if they are doing it in public.
You should make them wash their hands after each time they do it. Not only does this sanitize, it also discourages them because they will get sick of washing their hands. That is what we do at the early childhood center where I work.
Also, you can say tell them that those are their private parts and they shouldn't touch them unless they are in private. If you haven't to walk past their room and you see it, I'd just keep walking.
What your children are doing is completely normal. If they begin to touch each other,
(which I have seen in my line of work and is also not abnormal) that needs to be stopped. But, as long as it is their own body parts, it isn't hurting anything.
Good luck with everything!
2007-08-17 06:11:19 · answer #2 · answered by Pregnant with Baby #2 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's normal....in fact in some baby books it's like a milestone (for both sexes). Just tell them that only they can touch their private parts, or a doctor when Mommy or Daddy are there, or Mommy & Daddy when they think something is wrong & that they should only touch themselves in private!!! My son use to touch himself when he was in his underwear so I'd just put shorts on him, because I'd yell at him & he'd be like "Oh, sorry" because he didn't even realize he was doing it!!!! He grew out of it.
2007-08-17 08:02:32 · answer #3 · answered by Vick 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah it is very normal I have a 2 1/2 year old. I know one morning he kept crying saying his "donkey" (that is the term we use in our house) hurt and he was having a "hard on". I didn't know what to say or do. I mean I am a girl and was born and surrounding by all girls. So, this was my first experience with boys. And yep it is all normal. I think they are just curious and eventually they will only do this when mommy and daddy aren't around.
2007-08-17 06:11:03 · answer #4 · answered by Mommy2 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not sexual-it's just curiousity. Don't forbid it but do tell them if they want to do it, it's a private thing and they can go to their rooms. Don't shame them-it's totally normal.
2007-08-17 06:05:28 · answer #5 · answered by Dalice Nelson 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
since they are 2 and 3 its OK but when they get a little older i would just sit down with them and tell them that it is OK to do that but they need to do that in there own privacy because you don't want to see it you should never make something out like that to be a bad thing cause it might hurt them later in life
2007-08-17 08:06:59 · answer #6 · answered by jessiegirl33 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's normal. Just ignore it. If you tell them to stop - you are telling them that their is something wrong with their body and they should be embarrassed. It's okay to tell them that they should not do that infront of people though. At this age, it is not sexual. It is exploration because they know that it feels strange when they touch down there.
2007-08-17 06:03:03 · answer #7 · answered by Ashley P 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
it's totally normal. They are just exploring their body parts, and I don't believe would find anything sexual about it at that young age. Maybe just explain to them not to do that in public if they ever do?
2007-08-17 07:27:07 · answer #8 · answered by FiFi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well im not a mommy yet 37 weeks 4 days and COUNTING!! lol but this is very normal, I have read parenting books that say the child will likly out grow this phase and if they do it any other time than bath time, it said to encourage them to go to their rooms and tell them its a private thing, not to be done infrount of other people. But thats just what the book said, I can see where you are comming from.
Good luck
2007-08-17 06:02:57 · answer #9 · answered by Katy 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
nothing is wrong with your children,all kid's do it.their just exploring.they don't know what their doing they just think that it feels good and that's all.it doesn't mean that they have been abused or watching things that they shouldn't.
their just exploring.hope i helped
mom of 2 and 8weeks prego
kids are 7boy and girl 5
2007-08-17 06:03:55 · answer #10 · answered by momto3 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋