What do you say when your child asks...?

Question

"Where do babies come from."

I am pregnant and I went to a Christmas party tonight where my professor's 5 year old daughter asked me how the baby got in my belly. I told her to ask her mom, but it made me think of a situation with my younger sister that made me chuckle. My little sister is 14 years younger than I am. I remember when she asked my mom, "where do babies come from?" Mom said, "Daddy plants a seed in mommy and then the baby grows in mommy's belly." A few weeks later my sister (who was about 5 at the time) went up to mommy and said "Mommy, daddy and I have been talking. We want another baby so I am going to hold you down and daddy will plant his seed."

Being an expectant parent, I am not sure how I will answer that question. What did you tell your child when they asked you where babies come from? Did you give them the "real" answer, perhaps a watered down version, or maybe a plain old fictitious answer (eg. the stork brings them)? What was their response?

I picture myself giving the "real" answer, just because that is how I am, but I was curious about how other people answered this question, and whether or not there was a funny/cute response, like with my sister.

Answer 1

Very cute story of your sister! My child just turned 4. When he was about 3 and a half, we started reading CHILDREN'S books about pregnancy, pregnant Moms, etc..
So far, my child knows he grew in my belly. He wanted to know how he got out of there, so I said the doctors gave my belly a squeeze and he popped out my belly button. He happily accepted that answer. He only asked once how he got in there, and I said his Mommy and Daddy prayed for a baby and one day he just started growing in there. He also accepted this answer.
I was told to not give too many specifics when kids THIS AGE ask questions like this.

Answer 2

That is sooo funny cause' that's exactly what I plan on telling my son if he ever asks. Although my son, at 23 mths old, is still too young to ponder... one day he will... and this what I plan on saying.
"You know how a flower grows if you plant a seed? Well, that's the same way babies grow. Daddy planted a seed inside of Mommy's tummy because Mommy's tummy is the safest place in the whole wide world for a baby to grow... kind of like a flowerbed is the best place for a flower to grow. As the baby gets bigger so does Mommy's tummy. And when the baby is done growing, Mommy will go to the hospital and the doctor will help Mommy take the baby out and then he'll get to come home and be your little brother!"

Answer 3

Honesty is the best policy if you want them to trust what you say and not start listening to other kids in the playground giving their version of the whole sex thing.

And always be clear about the question, I've heard some hilarious stories about parents telling their kids in detail how a baby is made only to discover that wasn't actually what they wanted to know.

My parents left it up the the sex ed classes at school and I really had noooo idea. For my own kids I've had the Where Do I Come From books on the shelf since they were toddlers. We have little age appropriate talks and I make sure they know I'm hear to talk anytime.

Answer 4

You need to give them an answer relevant to their age.

When a 14 year old asks "where does a baby come from?" they are not going to be satisfied with the answer , "from Mummy's tummy"

Likewise a 3 year old does not need all the gory details just yet and can be fobbed off with the seed story which will keep him happy so he can run off and play.

Answer 5

I told them the truth (minus any obscene details). I said that daddy put his penis in mommys vagina and released a little thing called a cell and daddys cell met up with mommys cell in her belly and that when they got together, a baby started growing.

Answer 6

When I was 4 I asked the same question. So my mom and I sat down and she explained everything. Every detail and how I was born as well. *Note* my brother had been born about a year prior, so that experience was explained as well.

I felt so proud to know the whole 'procedure' and told my dad all about it that evening while my mom was out :-) He was a bit shocked but her honesty made me feel a bit empowered and curious to know about other things, like how animals made babies and so on.

Personally, I will follow the same approach because I feel like you are just cheating your child if you're not honest.

Answer 7

I gave the real answer but extremely watered down and as vague as possible but still understandable for a 2 year old (the age of my daughter when i had my son.) My philosophy is honesty is the best policy. I don't want them to lie to me so why should I lie to them.

Answer 8

all my 6 year old knows right now is that "mommy and daddy put the baby in there, we made it. and it grows in mommy's belly until he's ready to come out."

*this was when I was pregnant w/ his little brother*

Answer 9

That's a good question!

Now a days...I believe you have to be honest with them and tell them the truth depending on their age..
Trust me..if you don't tell them..they'll learn it from some where else and be totally misinformed...

Daddy's and mommy's special time when we show each other how much we love each other. which is what marriage people do when they're married..and so on...

Answer 10

Don't make something up and don't even mention the stork. Other people have already given some insight about ways to answer your child's questions about sex. Remember, just answer the question. You don't have to go any further than that. Kids want simple answers to their direct quetions.