2 Y/o Touching Herself Too Much

a few weeks ago, someone posted the same issue. A woman answered it beautifully. Maybe you can do an archive search and read what she said.

Maybe she is having discomfort in that area? I would talk to MD about it!

Until they are around 3 years old, they really are just curious about their bodies and how things, looks and feel and what they do. It's not really a sexual thing so much as a "what is this?" sort of thing and is very normal. By the time they are 3 you can explain to them that it's a private, special part of their bodies that they only touch when they go potty or if they are cleaning it off and not to ever touch anyone else there or let anyone touch them. Before that, they really just don't understand.

I think it is completely normal at this age and the curiosity will come and go over the next few years. Last night when I went to check on my little boy (he's 3) I found him asleep with his pajamas unzipped and his hand down the front of his underwear. I would use the opportunity to find a kids book that explains the parts of our bodies and what they are for and to begin teaching her when it is okay for her to touch her privates and when it is not, beginning to teach her the difference between girls and boys bodies ("Your privates look like Mommy's but Daddy's look different") and use it as an opportunity to start teaching her about who should not be touching her privates. I think if you acknowledge that she is touching them ("Mommy sees you touching your privates and thats okay because I know your curious.......") and set guidelines she will grow up feeling comfortable in her body.

My son is 3 and he is constantly messing with his TT. I don't want him to be uncomfortable with his body. I would however like him to be uncomfortable playing with it in front of me and the world. lol We do tell him that if he is going to "fix" his TT he needs to do it in private.. Honestly, I know it is a no win battle and one that I am just not going to fight. I grew up as the only girl surrounded by a bunch of boys. No matter what anyone says, I still think boys/men "fix" their TT's just to make sure it's still there.. As if it was going to fall off or something. :-)
The great news!!! She's a girl and she will get past this stage. I do agree with one of the brillant Mom's though. Tell you hubby to suck it up. "It's all part of the Plan" lol good luck

Bethany,
One in three children masterbate, I was told by my pediatrician. He gave me literature which says it is very normal and won't necessarily stop. The key is to teach them what times and places are inappropriate for the activity. It is a private activity. My daughter is much more active when she is tired and stressed. It is a soothing thing for her. The daycare noticed it at naptime as well. Your daughter may just be exploring. You can gently move her hand away and finish the diaper changing.

Good luck.
B.

One of my daughters went through the exact same thing. And it lasted a while! In fact, she's always been more "comfortable" with her body than my other daughter. She went through years of preferring to be naked as much as possible. We had to have rules about not being naked when anyone but our immediate family was over, and that she needed to have a blanket covering her if she was in common areas of the house (versus her bedroom, where she'd play with her toys for hours naked). For the most part, she grew out of her touching phase when she was about 5, and stopped wanting to be naked all of the time when she was about 7, so you might have a while. Good luck!

I'm waiting for my son's fascination to fade. My husband laughs and tell me it never goes away, don't hold my breath. We are potty training so there is a good amount of time when he is naked, and he can't keep his hands off it. Sometimes he even gets upset if it is where he can't touch it. "I need my pee-pee!" is heard frequently around our house. Drives me crazy!