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2-year-old masterbating
Hi,
I have a question pertaining to my 2-year-old and her habit of masterbating. This is so embarrassing for me and my husband.
Ever since she was around a year old (a little younger maybe, too) she has been...uh...how to say this...doing various things in order to feel a certain something *down there*. At first, we noticed she was pushing and rubbing against the thing that goes between the legs on the highchair. She would get herself going (pushing and rubbing) so much that she'd break out in a sweat, breathe heavily, and then at the end look like she was completely tired out (much like we all do after a romp in the hay). It was so embarrasing if we were with any friends or family.
As time went on, she was doing the same thing in her carseat against the part that goes between her legs. We've taken her out of the highchair, but she still finds ways to do this. She'll sit on the steps or on one of the small kid size chairs we have and squeeze her legs together while pointing her toes, and just move her hips up and down until she gets what she wants. Thank goodness she hasn't figured out she can do the same thing with her hands.
I can tell you that she has never been in a situation where anyone has touched her inappropriately. The only babysitters she has ever had are my parents and I know they haven't done anything. Her father and I are just mortified (especially him) and don't know what to do. We've scolded her for it and she just gets mad and screams and then goes back to doing it once we quit watching her. I thought maybe it was a stress reliever for her, but now I'm noticing that she's doing it at any time of the day...stressed or not.
Has anyone here had experience with something like this? I've researched and can't really find info on what to do with a 2 year old. She doesn't exactly understand me saying to only do this in her room when alone (like I've read in other advice given). I don't want to punish her and give her a complex about her sexuality for later when it's appropriate (with her future husband).
What would you do in this situation??? Help! We're even hesitant to put her in the church nursery for fear she might do this there!
I have a question pertaining to my 2-year-old and her habit of masterbating. This is so embarrassing for me and my husband.
Ever since she was around a year old (a little younger maybe, too) she has been...uh...how to say this...doing various things in order to feel a certain something *down there*. At first, we noticed she was pushing and rubbing against the thing that goes between the legs on the highchair. She would get herself going (pushing and rubbing) so much that she'd break out in a sweat, breathe heavily, and then at the end look like she was completely tired out (much like we all do after a romp in the hay). It was so embarrasing if we were with any friends or family.
As time went on, she was doing the same thing in her carseat against the part that goes between her legs. We've taken her out of the highchair, but she still finds ways to do this. She'll sit on the steps or on one of the small kid size chairs we have and squeeze her legs together while pointing her toes, and just move her hips up and down until she gets what she wants. Thank goodness she hasn't figured out she can do the same thing with her hands.
I can tell you that she has never been in a situation where anyone has touched her inappropriately. The only babysitters she has ever had are my parents and I know they haven't done anything. Her father and I are just mortified (especially him) and don't know what to do. We've scolded her for it and she just gets mad and screams and then goes back to doing it once we quit watching her. I thought maybe it was a stress reliever for her, but now I'm noticing that she's doing it at any time of the day...stressed or not.
Has anyone here had experience with something like this? I've researched and can't really find info on what to do with a 2 year old. She doesn't exactly understand me saying to only do this in her room when alone (like I've read in other advice given). I don't want to punish her and give her a complex about her sexuality for later when it's appropriate (with her future husband).
What would you do in this situation??? Help! We're even hesitant to put her in the church nursery for fear she might do this there!
I just have to say that it's common and okay for a toddler to masturbate. I remember doing it when I was two or three and I haven't stopped since. It's not sexual at all at those ages. It just starts off as an accidental discovery that feels good. And then it gets repeated because of that. It's important for parents to react in the proper manner with understanding about it and not to freak out. You want to teach your child as soon as you can about privacy, but without making them feel guilty. At the same time, if you suspect that your child was abused and that it wasn't an accidental discovery on their part, you need to talk with your child in a way where they will give you honest answers and open up to you as soon as they are old enough. But kids shouldn't be punished for doing it. Parents should use re-direction when they can if their child is doing it in public.If it is in private, then try to just ignore it and give them their privacy.
Perhaps the word "masturbation" is not the right word to be using. The dictionary defines "masturbation" as "manipulation of the genitals for sexual purposes." Except that it's not sexual here, they just do it for one reason or another because they discovered it feels good. It doesn't mean to them what it does to us, and is why to adults it can be embarrassing, and also seem scarry and cause lots of worry and concern.
But I'm just saying from personal experience, I can remember masturbating when I was little. I did it alone, and never let anybody see me. I don't even think my parents knew what I was up to under my blanket covers sometimes. Anyways, I turned out alright and normal, so it must have been okay.
Perhaps the word "masturbation" is not the right word to be using. The dictionary defines "masturbation" as "manipulation of the genitals for sexual purposes." Except that it's not sexual here, they just do it for one reason or another because they discovered it feels good. It doesn't mean to them what it does to us, and is why to adults it can be embarrassing, and also seem scarry and cause lots of worry and concern.
But I'm just saying from personal experience, I can remember masturbating when I was little. I did it alone, and never let anybody see me. I don't even think my parents knew what I was up to under my blanket covers sometimes. Anyways, I turned out alright and normal, so it must have been okay.
also i cant remember my ITCHES as a five year old,coz...well,i was 5 not being judgemental or anything but just think you have got a good memmory
my god you got it so wrong,read up on the posts.nor am i a doctor but im a mum and a bloody good one at that,have a go at the narrowminded people that dont seem to give a ****.
what are you? Are you a doctor? I am not, that is why we post our opinions to the main post and not here to judge, but to help and talk about related experiences.......
I did this when I was young (my parents never knew I was about 5yrs or so NEVER BEEN MOLESTED) and I got over it, but it was something that I did in private. I dont think that children view it as masterbation, hell they dont even know what it is, they just figure its a funny, good relaxing feeling, i DID! I didnt know what this what or what type of expression others would get from it. I just did it before bed time and thought that it was a way to get me to sleep it felt good to me as a child. Your are thinking in the mind of an adult and in today society yes it sounds nasty to read and all that is going on today it sounds just as nasty to me. But its real and its just a natural thing that children experience. Yes I think it is okay to let your child act it out let them know to do it in private. I think that if you dont it will be an urge or an ich and it will cause future problems that could end up being bad or nasty in the future becuase you wouldnt let them get it out. I dont think it is that serious though children dont know any better and you can try to explain y they should stop but you can only let them learn and at these ages your words are in one ear and out the other.
I did this when I was young (my parents never knew I was about 5yrs or so NEVER BEEN MOLESTED) and I got over it, but it was something that I did in private. I dont think that children view it as masterbation, hell they dont even know what it is, they just figure its a funny, good relaxing feeling, i DID! I didnt know what this what or what type of expression others would get from it. I just did it before bed time and thought that it was a way to get me to sleep it felt good to me as a child. Your are thinking in the mind of an adult and in today society yes it sounds nasty to read and all that is going on today it sounds just as nasty to me. But its real and its just a natural thing that children experience. Yes I think it is okay to let your child act it out let them know to do it in private. I think that if you dont it will be an urge or an ich and it will cause future problems that could end up being bad or nasty in the future becuase you wouldnt let them get it out. I dont think it is that serious though children dont know any better and you can try to explain y they should stop but you can only let them learn and at these ages your words are in one ear and out the other.
Just leave it it's perfectly natural!
i totally agree with you! im so glad i read all these post from other people cuz i started to feel like my daughter was being olested because she actually sticks her hands in her diaper and starts playing with her self. She does it to the point where her whole body starts shaking and she will get mad at you if u try to make her stop. Afte reading eveyones post i realize this must be normal female behavior for a child at two years old because so many other children are doing it! Thanks every one for ur post it was very helpful!
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