5 Yr Old Daughter Wants to Know How Baby Got in Mommy's Tummy!

Tell her as much of the truth as you think she can handle. Don't make up stories, if you want her to believe you over time.

First, congratulations!

I love the library reply -- or go online and search for kids' books about "my new baby sister/brother."

One thing -- I wouldn't talk in terms of the baby being in mommy's "tummy." They know perfectly well that the food they eat goes into their own tummies, so this can confuse them if they get to thinking about it. I've heard of friends' little kids coming up with things like, "Won't the food you're eating end up on the baby's head?" and, yes, "Daddies have tummies too, can a baby grow in daddy's tummy?" For real! Funny, yes, but confusing for the child. I'd let her know that mommies are very special and have a special, warm place inside them especially for babies to grow in, and mom's tummy is for the great food she eats. Just a thought! Maybe the kids' books can offer some ideas on how to explain just where that baby's living right now....

Oh yes, we've all been through this one. "God blessed Mommy & Daddy with another baby, but it needed to grow. So God made Mommy's body with the special ability to keep baby safe, warm, and fed while he/she grows big enough to come out."
Then I change the subject to talking about other baby things, quickly. :-)

I told my little one that God planted one of Daddy's seeds in there and it grew :) She was perfectly fine with that answer.

My DD was 6 when I was pregnant with #2 and I just told her that Mommy and Daddy asked God for a baby and that he put one in my tummy. Lol. I thought she too young for any other explanation. She was satisfied with that and never asked again until the sex talk came up when she was 8. Now she knows.

I told my 4 1/2 yo that mommies always have their babies in their tummies; but they are very very tiny. When the time is right, the baby will start growing.

I figure this is somewhat truthful since women do carry all their eggs with them from the time we're born. So I didn't feel like I was totally lying to her. The explanation was good for her. She exclaimed "I was a big sister and didn't know it! I've always been a big sister!"

Congrats!

I agree with the advice to go to the library and get a book as back up in case she has more questions. Not to chastise you but you sound a little shocked and caught off guard by this and it's a totally age-appropriate, predictable question. If you hadn't thought about this far enough in advance to have the answer handy when she asked you then maybe a book about what's appropriate to tell her at this age would be helpful.

Some of the answers below are a good start but an inquisitive child will as "how" and instead of making up something ridiculous and untrue, it's a great opportunity to get the ball rolling on natural, open communication about sex, our bodies, etc. when kids are curious and open about it instead of waiting until later when they are horrified and think all of this is disgusting or shameful. I was a gestational carrier last year and it was a little tough to answer questions from my very inquisitive 5-year-old about the whole process but at the end of the day, he was able to explain the whole thing - from my friend's cancer and missing uterus to the IVF process to twin pregnancy and birth - pretty accurately and with solid understanding. Don't give you daughter more info than she wants or needs to hear but don't underestimate her inquisitiveness either. A good children's book may be just the thing to have handy if she wants details on the "how." Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy!

We told our son that God puts a baby in the mommy's belly when He thinks it is time. It is 100% true (if you believe in Him), and my son completely got it.

My daughter (now almost 5) has asked questions in the past. She is our only child for now, but of course has seen pregnant women & babies. When she asks how baby gets in mommy's tummy, I simply say "the daddy puts it there" LOL Simple but true :)

She's also asked how baby gets out - "they go to the hospital & the doctor helps get the baby out."

Now a few times she has asked more about how the doctor gets it out. Of course all of these times has been when we are out & about and not a place & time for me to sit down with her & say too much more. But I've told her that mommies have a special place for babies to come out.

I think it's best to be honest, but short & simple for their age. Only answer specifically what they've asked, and don't offer too much more until you think they are old enough. If your simple answer satisfies them, then there you go!

I'd hit the library and find a book that is age appropriate - some VERY basic info probably isn't a bad idea at this age. Of course, include the ingredient of love :)

My first born son was five when I was expecting our third child. I explained to him that the baby was growing in my tummy and he said, "Momma, there is something I have always wanted to know." I thought, "Oh no! The big question! How to answer?" His next comment was "Do flys have eyes?"
So the birds and bees were put off for awhile. Of course girls may have more interest. However much you say, make sure it is true. She probably is not asking for all the info at one time.

Ha! My 3.5 year old daughter keeps peeking under my shirt trying to see if she can see it...she wants me to unzip my belly and show her. And yes, she is asking the same thing! We tell her something similar to JoAnn C and change the subject to what a great big helping big sister she will be (she also has a 2 year old bro but she was 17 mos when he was born so she was NOT asking these questions then - ha!).

My daughter asked the same question. I tried to evade it but then she asked a specific, pointed question. So I replied, matter of factly, about the pe*** and vag***. She thought about it for a minute than then said 'ewwww!!!!!!'.

At 5 I would tell her the truth. You don't have to go into any crazy, deep or graphic explanation of sexual intercourse, but a simple explanation of body parts and functions for adults should suffice. My 4 year old asked about 2 days after his 4th birthday, and I told him that when mommies and daddies love each other, sometimes a baby starts to grow like a little seed in the mommy's tummy. That was fine for him then, but it was almost a year ago and he's grown and changed so much! If he asked now, I would tell him but not get to intricate with the explanation.

When they asked how they came to be, I told my 5 and 8 year old that Mommy and Daddy had a very specal hug and then they started to grow inside me. Also, because we belive that way, they know that God blessed us with babies because he could see how much we love each other and how much we wanted them. They also know that only ladies can have babies because their bodies are made differently to men's.
That's as much detail as I have gone into (they did not ask any further questions after this explanation), and when they ask more questions I will continue to give more accurate details as they get older.

When my son was about that age, we had a neighbor who was expecting. I told him that when a mommy and daddy fall in love and get married, sometimes God will bless them with a baby and the baby grows in a special place in the mommy's tummy. He took that answer. Now he's 10 and we are expecting number 2 and I keep wondering when I am going to get more questions and have to have "the talk" lol. What I find is that you just be honest but only give minimal information. I've also told my son that we would discuss certain subjects when he was a bit older and he also took that answer without a problem.

Good luck!

That really depends on how much you're comfortable discussing with her. My kids all know that my husband and I spend special time together and that we decide when it's time and we make it together. I'm pretty open with my kids and they've all figured out the mechanics of it because of the anatomy books we have, etc. I didn't give details to my sons when they were that age. But this past year, a lot of my friends, including my sister, were having babies and my 5 yo daughter was intensely curious. My kids know their anatomy, so she knows there's a special secret place for her babies someday. So I dug out our books about the human life cycle. It showed different pictures of the baby during gestation, etc. The books I got were older, they'd actually originally written in the 60's but mine were a reprint from the early 80's. All of the info was safe, it didn't show anything graphic and she's learned so much. She also watched vids of babies being born, she was that intensely curious about it. I watched a lot of them on youtube though before I found one I was comfortable showing her. It's ridiculous just how many mother's scream their heads off where if they'd just realized and stopped tightening those muscles while screaming, it would have hurt so much less! Anyway, I didn't want her think you're supposed to scream. She wasn't grossed out by it or anything, and you know the only questions she asked? Why was the baby born naked? Where was it clothes? LOL

Children are really smart, intensely curious and I don't believe in lieing to them, especially about our bodies, but I also don't believe that they should have info they're not ready to process. You know your daughter best and what she'll be ready to understand.

If you don't want to go into a lot of details, just say your husband & you made the baby together. My sister has two 4 yo boys and while she was pregnant they had lots of questions. Her husband didn't want them to have all the details so that's pretty much what she told them. She also got a book that had a picture to look at each month that showed the baby's gestation progress. They were so excited when she turned to the last page because that meant their sister was almost there. :) When I think of birth, and babies, one of my favorite books is You Were Born on Your Very First Birthday by Linda Girard. It's simply a beautiful book that doesn't go into details of how babies are made, it talks more about the pregnancy itself. It's written for children, and I think you would enjoy reading it to your daughter. Also, while I was writing this, it reminded me of a German book that I'd seen pictures of years ago. It was written for children, with simple drawings and it illustrates it quite well. It took a while but I've managed to dig up a link for you. Just look at it and if you feel comfortable, show your daughter. My daughter just saw me looking at it, and now sounds like a hyena with all that hysterical giggling in the corner. It certainly didn't traumatize her. :) Then again, Germans are much more open about their bodies and sex then us prudish Americans are! LOL

http://www.planetdan.net/pics/babies/7.htm

We're expecting our second baby in March. I told our 3-year-old that, just as it happened with him, God picked out a baby for us, put it in Mommy's belly and trusted Mommy and Daddy to take good care of it while it grows. He was fine with that answer, and it gave me an opportunity to show him another example of God's plan for us.

Good luck and best wishes to you and your family!

Congrats on #2! My son is 4 1/2 years old and we told him that Mommy and Daddy made some special magic together and it helped us make a baby in my tummy! He seemed satisfied with the answer! However, he did ask if he could help us make the special magic too! ;)

When my son asked me I told him that Daddy puts the baby in Mommy with love, God makes the baby grow, and the doctors help the baby come out.
When he was a little older and asked more questions I told him the truth, but without details. I think it's better to be honest, and to keep the answers limited to how much your child will understand. And sometimes, kids don't want a long technical answer, but just the basics.

Well you can do one of two things...just explain the truth in a way she can understand or just use a line from one of my fave movies (based on a book series)...Love Comes Softly...the girl said "where'd this baby come from" and the woman said that her "husband loved her SO much that the love spilled over & made a baby". I thought that was a great line but honestly, she's going to find out sooner or later & if it were me, I'd rather my child know the truth where they can understand it b/c when she really finds out, she'll prob wanna know why you weren't straight w/her. You can also find easy to understand books at the bookstore & maybe at the library that may help explain things. Good luck & hope this helps!!! Congratulations also!

Just be honest...not details but definitely not a stork story. There are plenty of books also if you want to mention something vague and then explain better with a book. But that's about the right age to explain to her:

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/question/q/136?utm_campaign...

I told them God made a special place in mommies tummy for the baby to grow and that they would have to wait for a while to see their baby. When they were older they got the "daddy planted a seed" and a book to learn about where babies really come from.