Just wondering if I should be looking into a situation, when I leave my daughter alone for a while, I have come in and find her playing with her genitalia I have seen her which what looks like she is to the point of climaxing.??? She has done this since she was an infant it seems maybe one years old. It is slowing down, but it does bother me in the back of my mind and I just try to tell her that is not good to do, you could get infection from dirty hands. I don't know if I should go to a Dr. with this or just let it go. Some say it is normal?? Is it?
I haven't noticed her doing it lately and hope she is growing out of this stage!
I don't make a big deal of it, I tell her, if it is something she wants to do she should only do it in private. Glad to hear it is normal behavior and don't think she would ever do this in public or outside of the home.
I think it is important that you don't make her feel ashamed for doing it but explain that it is something she is to do in the privacy of her room. I agree with some of the other ladies that you may want an exam done just in case something is wrong. She could have a yeast infection or something else causing it to itch. I have always heard that this is normal behavior for kids especially around this age. Best of luck!
From what I have read it is totally normal behavior. I just read a great book called "From Diapers To Dating" and it is all about how to raise sexually healthy kids. It talks about everything from what is normal explorative behavior to how to discuss sexual issues with your children as they get older.
I found the book to be a great resource although my son is so young still. We will definitely use it as a reference and tailor it to our beliefs as he gets older. I would really encourage you to read it as it was very helpful in explaining what is normal and how to handle any behaviors that you aren't comfortable with or feel are inappropriate. Good luck.
Read Dr Dobson's comments on the issue, I found the article related to boys, I've seen the exact same answer for the question about girls, but didn't find it just now.
http://family.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/family.cfg/php/enduser...
I have two little girls myself...one is 7 now and the other if 5...my 5 year old is much like that. She likes to take the shower head puts it down there and tells me it feels good (tickles). Anyways...I asked my peds. about it! I was so worried at first...but she reassured me it is normal for them to "explore" their bodies and eventually would grow out of it. The best thing to do is not to pay much attention to it, just make sure you let her know that it is not something pretty little girls do and hopefully she will eventually stop. (Or she will be very much in touch with her femine side and what she likes when she is old enough to really appreciate it). The only other thing of concern though is who is she around... and to make sure nothing else is going on! Best of wish! and good luck! I will keep you and the little one in my prayers! best wishes! May God Bless you! H. M.
I wouls seek help for her, because you don't want her to go to school and do that and they not understand.
I have the exact same problem I've been alittle afraid to bring it out into light. My 4yr old daughter will off say the end of the corner of thebed or the chair or couch arm. I have tried to tell her it may feel good but it isn't right good right now it could make a "boo-boo"(infection) that will hurt Yes I tried the scare tactic.
She doesn't seem to do it much anymore but I still catch her it makes me uncomfortable little girls just shouldn't do that,How did she even learn that, She doesn't see it on tv. At a loss with you . M. -tupelo,ms.
all children go through this stage. they are at first curious, then they like to see the way the body changes of time. when you don't pay it any mind she will too. if it does continue pass the age of 4 then you need to discuss it with your pediatrician. also, make sure she isn't using anything else except her own hands. another idea is she might have a urinary tract infection or a yeast infection, in which both of these need to checked by a doctor. mt
It sounds like you're saying that your daughter actually puts the fingers on the skin, or inside. Is that right? My daughter doesn't quite do the same thing, but does something similar. (with her clothes on, she pushes on herself with the heals/palms of her hands) My daughter also started this around 1 year old. We first noticed it while she was in her car seat. I've asked her more times than I can count why she does that, and she always says she doesn't know. I used to think she had to go to the bathroom, and started sending her to the toilet every time I saw her do it. That's apparently not the problem, so I suspect she does it because it feels good too. Unfortunately, I don't know whether it's normal or not, but I was a little relieved to read your post!
I learned in a foster/adopt class that I took that it's totally normal behavior (for boys AND girls...I know it's normal for boys, 'cause all of my boys did it). It's a comfort thing. If it bothers you, you can try teach her to comfort herself in other ways and tell her that it's not polite/lady like and she needs to stop that. If it doesn't bother you for her to do it but just in public (which is what DHR says to do, let them do it, but keep it in private...not necessarily my route, though), then you just tell them that it's only for in the privacy of their own bed/bedroom or in the bathroom and that it's a private thing like picking their nose, and going to the bathroom. But, it's definitely a normal thing, it's just a little more common to find it with boys. My older boys have pretty much grown out of it (4 & 6), but I find my 2yr old still down there from time to time.
Sounds like you have gotten a lot of input. I would say that it all sounds good. It could be a medical thing but I suspect it is more of a situation where she has discovered something that is pleasant. My daughter did this a lot up until she was about 5. I would pay it little attention and tell her that I understood that she wanted to do this but that it was something she was to do in private and from that point when I would see her doing it I would ask her if she needed to go to her room and be alone for a bit. SHe would usually decide that she did not want ot go to her room or be by herself and stop and ocassionally she would get up and toddle off to her room but she is 11 now and has not to my knowledge done this in a number of years and feels that any thought of sexual activity by herself or with anyone else is "GROSS!" (Even including TV) I am a firm believer in not leading my children to any thought that their sexual exploration is "BAD" or "WRONG", it can lead to issues in their adult life. So be careful on how you word things. You dont want them to think that the desire or feeling is bad or wrong from such a young age,it sets a pressident for their future relations to simulair activities.
Good Luck it will be OK
I understand that this may be normal behavior, but I would take her in for a routine check up to make sure that nothing is wrong. When I was a small child, my parents thought that I was touching myself in a sexual manner and would get on to me...but after several months, we happened to be in the doctors office for something else and found out that I actually was suffering from kidney problems...which also created urinary tract infections and horrible yeast infections...which was why I was "touching" myself. As a small child, sometimes when something is wrong they don't know how to verbalize it. So, yes, it may be normal behavior, but I would go and just have a routine exam to make sure that nothing abnormal is going on.
