My Daughter Wont STOP!!

I have a funny story. I was talking to a mom who's 5-year-old girl is best friends with my son. When her daughter made a similar discovery, they had a conversation about appropriate times and places. Then for the next month or so, she would say "Excuse me, I think I need to go to my room and be alone for a while." She was so matter-of-fact and her parents would just look at each other and blush, her husband thinking "Oh my goodness! What have we done?" (Mostly because of how FREQUENTLY she would excuse herself.) But hey - better than self-stimulating at the dinner table, right? (She doesn't do it as much now, or at least she's discreet enough that no one knows.)

At 2 1/2 though, you won't be able to have conversations on that level. So I would just focus on *when* and *where*. It sounds like you've already made progress where' it's more important, in public. Also when in public, clothing can help make access difficult. (Although once potty training starts, she'll need clothing that gives her easier access, but you can cross that bridge when you get there.)

I wouldn't be concerned with it at bathtime, since it's probably one of the few times she's naked, not do you have to worry about germs, cleanliness, etc. Think of it as another bath toy! :) At nighttime, is she's in bed on her own, I also wouldn't be too concerned. If you're right next to her reading stories, you can tell her to cover herself with a sheet for privacy. I wouldn't let it bug me, though.

Don't worry about the age - it's completely normal at ANY age.

I know -- we all cringe -- but then we hear how it's normal and healthy and to put too much emphasis on NOT doing it would impact them in an unhealthy way. My daughter discovered "down there" around 4 1/2 and I just told her that that is a special area and that it's important to keep it clean and free of germs. Eventually, she stopped. Why don't you check out library books and/or talk to her pediatrician? I'm sorry I'm not much help but I do agree that I'd be a little weirded out about someone so young doing it so perhaps obsessively.

Here. This may be helpful -- and reason to talk to the pediatrician too, I guess: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Child-Behavior/Advice-on-how...

Here's more: http://www.minti.com/questions-and-answers/discussion/427...

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Child-Behavior/Masterbation/...

I hate that they're using the "m" word. That's not exactly what's going on...

What a coincidence, I just read up on this last night - my 3 year old son is doing the same thing (not in public, but at home). Here is what I found out. The article said that although many parents think their kids are the only ones doing it, many kids are doing it - it's actually the majority. It also stated that the feeling is calming - similar to what they feel when they suck a pacifier or their thumb. The article said to not tell them to stop, but to explain that they do that in private and to always redirect and keep their hands busy. Apparently the more you tell them "no", the more they will desire to do this. Oh, I read it on Parents website just in case you want to rad the full article. It's under the "Preschool" tab.

Good luck! You are NOT alone!

My grandson wouldn't stop picking his nose and eating his 'buggars' so every time we caught him with his finger in his nose and then mouth, we flicked him. You know howyou bend the middle finger up toward the first joint of your thumb? Anyway, we had a conversation, told him every time he did that, we would flick him. He has gotten much, much, much better. The flick got his attention, didn't hurt- per se, and was a consequence he could immediately sense and connect with the offense. Now, if he picks his nose and eats the 'treat' he at least does it when nobody is around hahaha

With several of the children in my immediate circle, this tended to be a sensory issue. My goddaughter, who seemed to have it the worst, actually turned up with multiple food sensitivities. Believe it or not, when she got her on an elimination diet (excluding milk, wheat, and mainly eggs):, the behavior stopped. If you have more behaviors that you are questioning that just this one, the sensory processing / sensory integration may be something you could check into. There is a great OT group you could work with (find them at www.floortimeatlanta.com) that would be awesome for you. If all the rest of her behavior seems perfectly normal and this is isolated, you may be able to just deal with it on a reward/discussion scenario. If it is more, she may be experiencing things that are stronger than she can behaviorally change. J.

I think it's a calming thing, like sucking thumb, etc. My son did it and I think still does sometimes. His was so bad though that at daycare, church, anywhere people commented on it. I thought it was embarassing, but of course hubby and other men thought it was amusing. I actually told him to stop everytime I saw him do it. I told him that our wee wee's are for peeing and not for playing. He would tell me that he liked it, so I would tell him to do something else that he liked instead ...he moved north to his belly button. He now messes with his belly button and I will explain to him later, as he is the appropriate age, what his wee wee is for besides just peeing.

I think that's normal--my daughter went through a phase (at about the same age as yours is now) where she did the same thing. Try not to make too big of a deal out of it or she's apt to do it more, as two year olds are famous for. She'll get over it soon and move onto something else that drives you crazy;)