I Need Help with My 2 Year Old Playing with Himself ALL the Time

I have twin boys age 3 1/2. One plays with his privates and the other knows it's there but doesn't play so much (only in the bathtub, but can be easily distracted). My one boy grabs himself when his pull-up is off at bathtime or changing (he has no interest in potty training). Anyway, if I tell him to stop playing with his pee pee, he doesn't listen to me. He thinks it's funny. Then I get frustrated and upset and tension begins to rise between us. Perhaps I need to put some bathtoys in to play with. But then he just throws them out on the floor. My husband makes no big deal about it and tells him to stop playing with his pee pee and my son stops. Something about a mans voice that children listen to and obey. I probably did not help you out here, but to know you are not the only one out there with this issue. I look forward to reading the advise others have given.

I have to agree that punishing him for it will just make him have a complex about it. He doesnt need to think its dirty or gross or that hes being bad. Spanking his hand and washing them makes him feel that he is doing something terrible. Its just a new fascination. My son is two and a half as well and i feel a little weird if i would see him doing it, cause your right thats pretty awkward to see as a mother. We usually just tell him calmly "Gavin quit" and he usually stops. I wouldnt make such a big deal out of it though. The "private places" was good advice. Every kid at this age usually does the opposite of what they are told. so u making a big deal of it is probably making him do it more. Once again, you dont wanna damge him by punishment for such a natural thing.

i must agree with alot of the other moms on here, punishing him for it is definetly the wrong way to go about it and in my opinion may cause irreversable damage that effects his self image, escpecially during puberty. somebody said on here to teach him "private parts, private places" and i could not have said it better, my daughter went through this stage(oddly enough) and i explained to her that its not appropriate to do in front of other people,and that bathtime was better for that, she eventually lost interest.

I know this sounds simple and you might have used this, but tell him that it's not wrong to do that, but it's something you do by yourself in private. He, being 2, might be feeding off of your reaction. I taught 2 year olds and this is not something he will do forever. Hope this helps.

He will grow out of it my nephew did the same thing it seems like it lasted a while but if u ignore it, he will stop, i know it stinks but he will

I agree with alot of what has been said. My son is 8 now, but when that phase started, we just stuck to "Private parts for private places". If he decided he needed to touch himself, then he was to only do it in his room or the bathroom, not in public. We explained that this is a private thing and other people don't want to see it. He was never punished for it, I don't think that's right. It is natural and normal, punishing him for it will make him think he's doing something wrong and he's not, after all. I think that you should just explain to him that he should do that in private and then let the matter drop. You'll find you have less of a problem...it will pass and you'll encounter other things. We just got the big S-E-X question from my 8 year old!

I have a friend whose child had the same problem. They researched and found alot of information. The one thing they read over and over is that the child should not be punished for this. Many people think this could lead to insecurities with sexual issues later in life. They finally told the boy that it was fine to do that but only if he is by himself in his room. The doctor told them that a good boundary to set and that there was not a problem unless the boy would rather play with himself than do any of his usual activities.

K.,

I know it is fustrating and I have two son's 12 & 1. The 1 yr old just found his privates. The 12 yr old used to drive me nuts! He was always touching himself and I would do the same things you were doing but the Dr. also told me to leave him alone and do not talk about it as well. So I quit trying to make him quit and one day he just quit on his own. It is new to him and it will get old. I have seen grown men adjusting themselves. He is got a new friend and well he is going to play with him and then one day out of the blue he will get a new hobby. When you see him do it DO NOT make a BIG DEAL of it. The old saying is take them out of the situation do not make a big deal out of it just destract him in other ways. he will find something else to play with sooner or later...Maybe his NOSE next....lol....just kidding...cheer up it is not that bad I have four children and they all have their embaressing moments with me and their dad....lol..hang in there it will get better.. I PROMISE..

God Bless you
C.

My daughter started playing with herself at about 15 months or so and it lasted a little past the 2 year mark.... It bothered the heck out of her dad but just like the last 2 moms have said, it really is completely normal. He discovered this new appendage on his body and wants to learn more about it. Don't think of it in a dirty way, this is just one of the many ways he is learning about himself...spanking or fussing him for it is only going to make him more curious as to what the big deal is. Best thing you can do is ignore it and he'll stop all on his own.
Good luck!

Well if you paid the Dr and weren't happy, you are gonna love my advice you get for free! Leave him alone. Mr. Winkee is the only one who will go with him everywhere, know everyone he knows and get into at least as much trouble as he does!!! Honestly though. Tell him that if he wants to do that it is okay in his room. Make it a safe place to do that. If he does it in public, tell him "wait till you get to your room". Then when he gets home and heads straight for his room don't enter without knocking!!! It is a phase that all kids go through. They must go through it to get to the next level. Self awareness is a part of learning they must master. It is very important that they not be made to feel shameful about it, just give him boundaries about where to do it.
C.

My son is 16 months and he is just beginning to play with himself. Right now he only does it when he is in bed. He takes is diaper off and goes to town. I talk to him and we joke about it. I am trying not to make a big deal out of it, but it is hard. Being a new mom myself, I can't wait to hear what other more experienced moms have to say. L.

The best advice - just try to forget about it & let it alone. Any parent with a boy will understand and look the other way. If you're in public and it's embarrassing you, just pull his hands away or distract him with something else. Soon he'll gain the ability to be self-conscious, and he'll be able to control himself. And maybe also just try to relax. Kids are kids, and you'll have many more things to worry about as life goes on. If it's other people you're worrying about, try to take the attitude that it's their problem if they're uptight and don't understand that young boys will just do that. (Girls too - it's not a sexist issue.) And if it's your own hang-up, then I would respectfully suggest that you take the attitude that it's just life, he's perfectly healthy, and you have a million other things to be grateful for - so focus on those. Good luck and God bless. :)

Sincerely,
M. B

I had the same problem when my son was that age. i ignored it at first,then I didn't want him to think I didn't want to shame him so I tried telling him to go to the bathroom if he needed to do that cause I figured it was something boys just do. It got to be so bad I didn't know what to do. I told him that if he didn't stop I was going to put socks on his hand where he couldn't touch it at all. Well I finally had to do that. Well it worked! It broke the habbit! I took a picture of him and put it in his scrapbook for when he gets older. Good Luck!

Oh I so know what you are going through. I just posted a message about this also. I have a son who is 2 years and 3 months and he has just recently started playing with himself none stop. It drives me crazy, for one because he waste so many diapers pulling them off and it is a little weird to see your son excited. I tried to get him to quit but so many people have told me not to worry about it so know I am trying not to get mad about it, I just put his diaper back on and tell him that he doesn't need to play with his peepee. Good Luck.