Infant Masturbation

[trisha_m]

I am very much bothered by my child's behavior. I always see her lying on her stomach with a pillow clamped between her legs and she is moving up and down slowly, then faster and harder as if she is masturbating. She started doing this  by 18 months. Now that she is already four years old she is still doing that. When I saw her doing that, I always scolded her and she cried. Sometimes she locked the door of her bedroom and when I opened it I saw her doing that again. A household help also told me that one time she saw her touching her genitals. Please help me. I want her to stop doing this, how would I do that.

[nickki]

sorry that was 14 month old..not years..lol..
they grow up fast , but I sure hope not that fast..lol.

Regards

[zas]

A related discussion, infant was started.

[nickki]

I have a 14 month old...she has been masturbating now since she was 6 months old...at 6 months she squirmed  in her chair, car seat and etc and now she gets on top of a bear or whatever she thinks will relieve her...I look at my 14 year old and Would never think of she doing anything wrong, nor would I make her feel she was doing something wrong...The innocence of my child will remain innocent until she can at least can understand her body and how it works...I think you should not worry about this...Just grow with her, and make her feel that she can do it in privacy as she gets older if it is necessary..But, Never make her feel like something is wrong with it..She is growing with her body, and as My reaction with my child, she doesn't know what she is at, only that its makes her feel good, and its some what a good relief of what she is doing, no different then a baby sucking his thumb til he/she is 10...
Sit with her as she gets older if she continues,and help her understand that her body is developing feelings and sometimes when this happens, we do it in privacy, for the respect of others and yourself...
Communication is the KEY word here..and I know you can do that, its your child..
I know you will look back at this when she gets older and laugh at it,....cause its so harmless..
I have video taped my daughter to show her when she gets older...Just in case if her child experiments the same thing..Therefore she will understand that its TOTALLY NORMAL..
All the best, enjoy every minute of your child's, Charm ways as i call them....They grow so fast on us, before you know, you will be sitting down with her and really teaching her the Important stuff of LIFE..

Love,
A Mom that don't sweat the small stuff...

Take Care!

[eonkshabonk]

I think you should let her do it When I was young I did it subconsiously to cope with my hard life. Scolding her will not only cause embarassment, but is also very harsh!! How would you like it if someone yelled at you every time you pleasured yourself or had sex with your partner?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Masturbation is a normal behavior, but it can also occur in excess to relieve tension, to self soothe. If your daughter is developing well in the major areas of her life (cognitive, social, emotions), you needn't worry about the masturbation. Scolding her is not a useful thing. It conveys to your daughter that what she is doing is wrong. Instead, focus on how you can help your daughter engage in play, participate with her peers, interact with her family. If she is achieving mastery in those areas, it is unlikely you will observe excessive masturbation.