2 Year Old Exploring His Body?

Hi there. I don't know if it is normal or not but my son does it too. He also tries to do that when I'm changing his diaper. He's also two. I really think it's interesting to them and they are just exploring. I just tell him to get his finger out of his butt.

Perfectly normal! My son did the same thing and when I told him it's dirty his response was, "There's a funny feeling hole on my body!" Don't worry, my son is 5 now and would never think about doing it now!

Les

You've gotten some good responses. My son is almost two and he does this too. I looked at it this way. If an area of your body was inaccessible all day and you had an itch wouldn't it drive you crazy? And lets face it, you never know where an itch is going to strike! So, I just told him that is where poo poo comes out and it gets dirty and we use a wash cloth to scratch it and not our hands or toilet paper during the day etc. So, I have 2 wash cloths for bath time. One for him to "scratch and clean" that area with and another for the rest of him. Same for my daughter. I have checked the both for worms since I was aware that could be causing the itching, but they are both good. Dr.'s here say that area just gets hot with the diaper and gets sweaty and basically when the sweats forms it tickles and gets itchy. So, I wouldn't worry too much. He also has found his nose and ears and keeps trying to put gravel in them! That is what I worry about. Crazy boy!

Hi S.
Yes, your son could very well be exploring his body.
Worst case scenario is that he is being sexually abused somewhere - is he in Day Care? Check this out carefully because as much as we hate to even contemplate it, these things can and do happen.
He could also have an itchy bottom due to having recently had diarrhea (?) or he could even have intestinal worms which causes an itchy bottom.
You can get a paediatric worm remedy and see if that sorts the problem out - worms are quite common with children who play in sandpits and mix with other children who can pass them on.
Kind regards
Jewel

I would certainly be concern that someone else might be touching him inappropriately. Ask him if someone is touching him, use names. Is he in someone's care during the day. Also, he might be having trouble with worms, rectal itching, etc.

I have a 3 1/2 yo and a 18 month old, they never did that with their bottoms, now when my oldest was around my youngests age they both "pulled at their business" when i changed their pampers, i guess to check to see if its still there lol!! Hope this helps you

Hi S.,

It's normal - he's just exploring. Not all kids do it, but plenty do. If he's doing it regularly, you might want to take a peek to make sure there's no rash or anything that's bothering him. If you're taking him to the pedi, it's not a bad idea to mention it and have him/her take a look. But not something I'd worry over.

Cheers!
K.
Parenting Sexuality Educator
www.karenrayne.com

my son is always sticking his pee-pee into cups and rings that i have in the bath for him to play with. i notice that he is often sticking his hands down his pants but i think it is because his diaper or pants are too tight or uncomfortable. he is my first also and is 24months old.
i just tell him not to do that but do not overreact because that is as exciting to them to get a huge reaction from you. good luck!

Hi S..

My son is turning 7 this month and did the same thing when he was younger (especially at bath time). He has outgrown the behavior and I think it's nothing to be too bothered by. Kids are naturally very curious about their bodies and certain areas are usually covered which makes it even more interesting when they're not! We did explain (often) that this area has germs which can make people sick and it's better not to touch there. We explained that in the most age appopriate way we could - not to shame him, but for the simple fact that it's true. I have also told my kids as they have matured that our "privates" are our own private business and shouldn't be touched in front of other people and then (like all moms) I've stressed the importance of hand washing! I hope that helps some. Boys are a lot of fun and they really keep us on our toes!

My step son did the same thing around that age. We decided that it was just a new hole to explore. When we asked the doctor how we should handle it she said to gently discourage it and just to insure not to make a big deal about it because it would encourage his actions. He eventually gave up after he had finished his exploration and moved on to picking his nose.

Hi S.,

I just recevied an article from babycenter about it . . .

" Toddlers are naturally curious about everything — including their genitals. Just as they played with fingers and toes when they were younger, they'll begin to play with their genitals now. It's nothing to worry about — unless it's happening nonstop. When your child touches himself in public, don't make a huge deal about it. Just explain that some things are done only at home in private."

If you want to read it all you could log on http://www.babycenter.com

good luck!

Dear S..

this does sound normal. There is a huge amount of literature about children exploring their bodies (most of which I haven't read, but have encountered some of the major issues in related material). You might even be able to google something like 'anal phase' or 'children exploring bodies' or 'infant development', etc., and find some useful explanations.

Sounds like no big deal to me!

G.

I had 3 daughters and they never did that. i would ask your pediatrician. Maybe something is wrong there.

Yes, a two year old will explore his/her body like you are noticing. However, if he seems to be itching both when he is bathing and perhaps when he is sleeping, he could have pin worms. Doesn't have anything to do with being a good or bad mom....if kids are around animals or play outside it is pretty common. Two of my three had them...and when my daughter did, I thought it was something I'd done or not done, but my doctor assured me that it wasn't (and medicine and cure are simple). So, it is normal for toddlers to see what their bodies are like, but if it seems to be an itching problem, check w/you pediatrician.

My son did this when he was around two. I just told him that it is not a clean place to stick your finger. Treat it like he's picking his nose. Tell him in the same calm manner that it is not good. They will explore there bodies and find things that they never knew where there before. The only way he knows he has it is by touch. It is normal and I am sure it will pass. I told my little boy that there were nasty bugs there and when we put our fingers there the bugs get on our hands and then can make everybody sick, tummy aches, throwing up and stuff. He thought what I said was funny. But I kept working with him and eventually it stopped.

My experience with my own son tells me that, yes, your son is just exploring. If it gets to the point that it really bothers you or you just think it's too much, you might take him to the doctor.

You may want to have him checked for pin worms.. They can usually get this from playing in the dirt... Also it can be transfered from other kids... You can wait until the child is sleep at night and check his bottom.. you may need a flash light to see in side of the rectum area. because pin worms usually surface to the top of the rectum during the dark this may cause children to put their fingers in there bottom because of the movement of the parisites. They are tiny white little parisites resembling small thin worms. Your child doctor may also prescribe medication if this is in fact pin worms.

My 2 year old did the same thing for awhile when I would put him in the bath. I would just move his hand and say "no" but not make a big deal about it. After a few times of telling him no and moving his hand he stopped. I think it is normal for curious kiddos to explore a little.

Hi S. - this is absolutely normal - he is just exploring and discovering - to him it is just another part of his body. I would just let him do it and maybe even tell him that's his bottom then move on to his leg, foot, toes, etc.... making it fun. If you make an issue out of it, he will sense that and either shut down or want to do this all the time. Keep it simple with him - it's just another body part.

If this continues out of the bath I would watch it - if he is overly curious then of course it becomes a hygiene issue and then you can just talk with him, on his level about his fingers getting poopy - yukky, etc and limit only to the bath. This is actually a good thing as it is a physical pre-cursor to his potty training abilities of holding on, letting go and he will know this place and how it feels due to his natural exploring.

Many, many children do this and especially those who are tactile, hands-on learners and those children that are very curious and high thinkers - they explore all things constantly - it's totally normal.

Alli

I have a three year old boy and it is just exploring. They are figuring out their bodies at this age and they find it pretty interesting to find all their ins and outs (excuse the pun) and they find it all very interesting. Don't punish him. He doesn't know any better and it isn't a terrible thing. Just calming move his hand maybe tell him no but don't tell him icky or anything like that. Just don't make a big deal out of it and it will one day pass.

Hi S.,

I too have a 2 year old boy and although he's not sticking his finger in his bottom he is sticking his finger in other areas! When he's not pressing, or pulling on it he is rubbing whatever he can find against it. I have 2 older children ( both girls) and I don't recall them being as intrigued by their genitals but from I hear all boys are the same!

I am sure he's just exploring, I wouldn't worry to much :)

Be sure to note his curiosity in his baby book...he'll be sure to deny it all in a few years!

J.
Proud Mommy of 4

Hi S.-
I have two boys 8 and 3 with a 5 year old girl in the middle!! This is so very, very normal and part of development. All my kids explored and my advice to you would be to not make a huge big deal about it right now with him being so young and not understanding. When potty training my son I simply told him this is an OK area to touch with the wipes but not with our hands as it has nasty germs in there. Just be honest and it's a good idea too to explain proper and inproper touching during this time-at least it worked for me and my children.

Hope I helped!

-Elizabeth

S.,

I went throught a similar incident with my son when he was 3 years old. Difference was he was attempting to lick his private parts while bathing. Of course, my mommy alarm went off and I was thinking crazy thoughts like is someone showing my son how to do this or is this happening to him while at the babysitters? I asked him "who showed you that "? He threw my name and also my uncles name out there. I for sure knew it was not learned from me ,and I also told my uncle what he said and of course he denied it as well. I cried for days and took him to his pediatrician ASAP. From what she said children explore their bodies from time to time. That still didn't sit well with me so I took him to a child Psychiatrist and they really couldn't find out much from role playing etc.They basically could only say the same thing the pediatrician said . If i were you I would discuss it with his pediatrician, also just make sure that mommy alarm stays on active mode. Our world is a sick one and you can never put your guards down when it comes to our kids. To this day it still gets to me ,because it just didn't seem normal to me .