where do babies come from? (my 7yo asked)?

Question

I want to tell her the truth, as "when mommy and daddy want a baby, we take some special mommy/daddy time" doesnt work anymore... heh.

Anyone know any good resources online? And when did you tell your kids the truth?

She knows they grow inside my tummy, she has watched it happen twice now. heh, she is wanting to know specifics! XD

like I said, I want to tell her the truth, I am just wanting to know if anyone knows of any online resources I could use as a teaching aid. =)

Answer 1

At seven most kids are old enough to know the truth in age appropriate language. Some girls these days get their periods at 8 or 9, so it is time for her to learn about puberty also. I suggest getting some books from the library and reading them through yourself first, so you know you are comfortable with them. Then read through one or 2 of them together and leave them for her to look at by herself. A book will help answer all the questions (the pictures help a lot) and also will take some of the pressure off of you, and off her too!

One book I really like is: >It's so amazing! : a book about eggs, sperm, birth, babies, and families< by Robie H. Harris. It is for ages 7 and up. Or if she is a young 7 or you are uncomfortable with that book, try >It's not the stork! : a book about girls, boys, babies, bodies, families, and friends< also by Robie H. Harris, which is for ages 4 and up. Both books are straightforward, with drawn pictures (not photographs) and clear, clinical but not explicit language. >It's so amazing!< presents sex as a loving thing that growups do. It has a drawing of a man and a woman cuddling in bed, but there are covers and though you can see they are naked, you don't see the "parts," just the love (there are hearts drawn around them, awwwh). The text says "When a woman and a man want to make a baby, they hug and cuddle and kiss and feel very loving, and get very close to each other -- so close that the man's penis goes inside the woman's vagina. When this happens, it is called 'sexual intercourse.'" It also says that "kids are much too young to have sexual intercourse." and "loving and taking care of a baby and a child take a lot of time and work. That's why it makes good sense for people to wait to have a baby until they have had time to grow up and are ready to become parents."
It also talks about what love is and different types of love (parent to child, friends, etc.), and also briefly (at little over a page) talks about homosexuality. That part ends "A person's daily life -- having friends, having fun, going to work, being a mom or dad, loving another person -- is mostly the same whether a person is straight or gay." I say this just so you know. This book also talks about "Okay touches" and "Not okay touches" and adoption, and of course a lot about how a baby develops in the womb and after they are born also.

If you want something more basic, there is another book called >What's the big secret? : talking about sex with girls and boys< by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown (the author of the Arthur books). It is pretty similar, but doesn't get into sexuality, unsafe touch, adoption, etc., -- it is strictly male and female bodies, puberty, and where babies come from.

Your library will also have books designed just for parents to explain how to talk to children about sex, and what types of language and how much description work for what age and developmental stage. These books can help whether or not you use a book with her, because ideally this won't be a one time conversation but an ongoing dialog. I don't have a specific book to recommend here because the ones available at our library right now are a little old--maybe not ones you would find. But I'm sure your library will have several.

It is great that you are open to doing this and that you want to tell her the truth. Don't worry if you don't cover everything all at once or if you don't say something quite the way you meant to--she will come back if she wants to more information or talk about it more. If you can find a book you feel comfortable with, that will help take the pressure off of both of you and defuse embarrasment and she can read it by herself and think about it and then come back to you. If you find a book you both like at the library, I would probably buy a copy, so she will have it to refer to as questions come up.

Good luck--you'll be great!

Answer 2

She is still kinda young.... usually you wait till they are in 4th or 5th grade.. around the time you talk baout puberty..... but just for now tell her that... When a mommy and daddy love eachother very much they go to a place filled with abbies and pick one out..... this makes them feel special also because you chose them out of all the other babies... you could also take her to the hospital and show her the babies.... or you can just tell her that when a momy and daddy are ready for a baby then a baby jut begin to grow inside the mommy..... there are the stories of the stork or the cabbage patch and a lot of others... you can even look some up on line to tell her.. but you should wait till she is more mature and metally able to handle the information.

Answer 3

I'd tell her the truth. After reading this question I asked my 10 yr. old son if he knew where babies came from, he smiled and said "no." Well now I gotta tell him the truth. I would use simple words, nothing graphic, explain the science in it all and don't forget to tell them sex is for two consenting adults who love each other. I would also explain about STD's and how serious they can be. It's better they find out early and from the parents instead of learning it in the streets or when it's really too late, in the "Bed" when they're 14 not having a clue as to what going on. God how scary. I lost my virginity when I was 15, I had not a clue about anything. The thing that scares me the most is trying to explain the feelings and emotions that come along with sex, we all know it's there and we all as humans (that are sexual beings) have them. Don't you wish kids stayed little forever!

Answer 4

As far as I remembered I always knew because my mother told me rather early, The earlier you hear about it the more natural it becomes.
You could however keep it to "Daddy gives a seed to Mommy which grows into a baby over 9 months in mommy's stomach" but he might be a little too old for that...

Answer 5

You could tell her that when a daddy and mommy really Love eachother and decide to have a baby... God puts a tiny baby in the mommys tummy and the baby grows until he/she is ready to be born.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

Time for you to let it all out mom!
We did it at 6 years, then added info as required and as he matured.
We were lucky, that our school had a great family life program so we could use their resources as well - a parent handbook and a copy of the student text. It was a Catholic school, but some of the info is universal, of course. Here's the link to the info online - maybe you could use some, they have it divided by age/grade and themes -
http://www.occb.on.ca/english/fullyalive.html

Answer 7

You should start talking about sex to your children when they start asking about where do babies come from. Just enough information to answer their question and to keep communications open on the subject. Try to relax and not get all uncomfortable. Talking about Sex with your kids is not something that you need to come unglued about! It is wonderful gift from God between a husband and wife. No shame in the sexual act. Parents need to approach sex with a laid back attitude and an informative approach. Teach your children about love , marriage and sex and that they are not exclusive of one another and they will have a good foundation to make later choices!

Answer 8

I think you should tell her the truth now (but don't use the language some other's have suggested here). It's best to tell them early. If you wait until they are 10 or 12 you might be too late.

Answer 9

My daughter is only five so I have not had to deal with this yet...But my sister has three boys and she always used the correct terms with them so when the oldest was 9 he asked about girls periods, so she explained it to him and told him that girls had to have periods so they could have babies... so when he asked why she had to explain that mom and dad have sex( didnt explain that one yet) and then the baby grows in the mommas belly and then the baby cames out the vagina. It hurts the momma but it is all worth it!!

Answer 10

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