My 14 month old DS touches himself during diaper changes and baths. Is this normal?? Do I tell him to stop or let it go on? I had 2 younger sisters and don't know too much about raising boys...

I am in the same boat, my son is 2-1/2 and has discovered his privates? I don't know how to correct him, besides telling him not to touch :? Any suggestions.. ?

Jakers who just turned 3, liked to touch himself during diapers changes.(his ped. has said that it is normal) when we started potty training it got worse. no bulky diaper just much thinner underwear. the more we told him not to, the more he did. so basically we don't say anything, and he hardly does it now. (unless he has to go pee) he is very strong willed and if you tell him something, he will purposely go and do it. so we make a non issue.

this is a completely normal thing! Little boys epecially are discovering about themselves and finding a new "arm" is kind of funny for them! Not to worry, just don't say anything and and it will pass...if they ask what it is, give them a name for it and go on....;-)

My oldest ds did that and now the younger one (15 mos) does it too. It's natural and it's a part of them. Kid discover their noses and ears and toes so it's natural they will discover their privates. We don't make a big deal out of it. My SIL did w/her ds and now he is 5 and wont hold it when he pees!! He puts his hands on his hips and pees...needless to say you have to clean the toilet when he's finished :wink: But I think it's because she was always telling him that was nasty and to stop touching down there.

my ds is 2.5 and when changing his diaper..he laughs and tries to put his hand down there...I just act like it is normal. I try not to laugh too...since he grabs at himself even more! They are constantly cooped up with their diapers on..my ds even says, "run around with just me"..meaning no diaper?! I laugh!! They don't ever get to see it..touch it, I am sure they wonder, "what is that?"

With my 3 yo boy, I have told him that his penis is his private business; I say nothing if he is touching himself in the bath, in bed, etc., but if he is sitting in the living room with his hand down his pants, I remind him that his body is private business... He must know what I mean by this- recently a lady at church told him he should not be in the ladies room (he usually goes and stands on the stool to use the urinal) and he said "Nobody wants to see my naked penis?" he said it very innocently and it was good reinforcement of what I have been telling him at home...

I like that saying..you are brave to teach your kids the word "penis". I still use "private" ...i just never felt comfortable with my kids running around saying penis and vagina...ugh.
:oops:

Being in the nursing field when my son wa sborn, I figured that anatomical terms were the right ones for us- I use "bulba" for girls as it isn't actually the vagina that is visible, that's just me- (my son is the only boy in my family- two of my neices have always referred to their girl parts as "boomie" when the older one was about three and saw my son being changed she exclaimed that he had a "stick boomie") I don't think it matters so much what it's called as what you teach children about "it."

I think it is completely normal for them to "discover" their privates. I would not make an issue of it unless he is still doing it when he gets older. I think he is just being curious! Stephanie :D

Don't say anything and ignore it. Unless he is actually doing it in public.. then you will probably have to tell him that it's "not ok to do that in public".

HTH

Thank you to everyone for the suggestions! It was great to hear what everyone's personal experiences are. Now I must talk to DH and make a family decision.

much love,

This is completely normal. Its just a part of their body that they're exploring. My son was pretending his was a jack in the box the other day! :shock: My doctor, and books I've read says it's perfectly normal, and unless their being really hard on it, just let it go. I haven't said a thing about it to him. To me it's just not a big deal at all. Although teaching your son the word penis is brave! lol. I just call it his thing.

Being in the nursing field when my son wa sborn, I figured that anatomical terms were the right ones for us- I use "bulba" for girls as it isn't actually the vagina that is visible, that's just me- (my son is the only boy in my family- two of my neices have always referred to their girl parts as "boomie" when the older one was about three and saw my son being changed she exclaimed that he had a "stick boomie") I don't think it matters so much what it's called as what you teach children about "it."

your girls say bulba instead of vulva? that is too cute. I am teaching my son to say penis - he is definitely curious about it but in the same innocent way he is curious about ears and noses (he already knows exploring eyes is not a good idea!).

yup, normal behavior.

We just say, Yup, that's your penis. It's still there.
For my oldest, we tell him no one wants to see that. We tried saying not in public but he'd do it when we had company :oops: We also try to minimize what we say, and try to let it be a nonissue.

I really wouldn't worry about it until they are older, because to them it's just an interesting body part they have found, although GIVEN this can be awkward in public, so probably distracting them would be the best bet.

DS is 3 1/2 and he often holds himself so I ask him if he needs to go pee and if he says no, I just say "Then please stop touching your doodle"

I wouldn't worry about the child exploring during nappy change, to them it's no different than touching their nose or knee cap. Boys ALWAYS do that during nappy change.

IMO, I would never want to make my DS think his privates were dirty KWIM?

hah I never noticed some of the posts talked about what to call "IT", we just tell ours Doodle for boy and wee wee for girl.

I just know that if they are playing a lot of other parents aren't comfortable with kids saying PEnis and Vagina, which is silly, I KNOW.

DD just thinks her vagina is another BUM (that's slang for bottom)

:oops: :oops: DS asked me just today why his doodle was getting bigger ROTF. I just tried to show no reaction and said "That's because that's what doodles do". I had to go into the bathroom because I was laughing. I just left with saying "Get dressed now please" (he had just come out of the shower)

This thread cracks me up! Our son still does it on occasion (he's 4) and we just ask him if he has to go potty. If he says no then we tell him to quit pulling on it (has has actually seperated it and caused a sore). I don't make too big a deal about it but at the same time, I don't want him to hurt himself either. I think his is out of boredom. He is pretty high strung and gets bored VERY easily.
My little guy does on occasion during diaper changes but he feels it and then doesn't give it another thought. I think it's a little boy thing. Making sure it's still there.
I've seen older men adjust themselves all the time in public. Ewwwww!

My ds found it when he was around 6 months or so. Then he stopped. Now at 13 months he rediscovered it and I tell him ( b/c he tries to pull it like it should come off) that it is attached and I tell him what it is. I know he probably doesn't understand. It is just a boy thing to do.