Help with Behavior Issue

I work at a daycare and had a mom/child w/ this problem. she put him in onesies to prevent this!! good luck.

It's just a comfort thing, he gets comfort from the sucking and from the "pants". Even though it's hard, the least amount of attention you give it the better. You might considering changing to a straw or open cup since he is associating the sippy with comfort and not just drinking. The onats thing will go away. If it starts in public or with company, you can say things like "we don't do that in the store, etc...". Hope this helps!

Hi T., while I am not a child behavioral psychologist, expert, etc., I am a mom of a 2 1/2 year old boy. He does not exhibit this behavior, BUT, what I can share is this, based on a class I took called Conscious Discipline (www.consciousdiscipline.com).

I would have to ask if this is new behavior, how long has it been happening, and does it happen at any other times, does he do anything specific, or just put his hands in his pants, is it only when he drinks warm or cold drinks, or is it a sign that he is ready for potty training? The Conscious Discipline part suggestion would be, "(Name), I notice that you are putting your hands in your pants. Do you have to go to the potty?" One of the things from the CD class I took is all about "noticing", and making that the sole intention, not to change their behavior.

Having gone through something awful in the past with my son when he was 13 months old who exhibited new behavior (purposefully masturbating) and was in an unsafe environment with his former paternal 54-year-old uncle, thank goodness my son is now safe, I can tell you based on conversations I had with my pediatrician/nurse at that time, that it sounds like he is just checking things out. Call your pediatrician and see what he/she says.

Blessings to you!

I don't think you can stop him. I have a three year old who still thinks that is the best thing to play with. ha ha I also have a five year old that did the same thing and they just grow out of it. I wouldn't worry about it unless he is still doing this at age four.

Hi,
I have a newly turned 5 year old boy. This "behavior issue" Is not a behavior problem. My question to you is, how would you feel if every time you pretty much did anything-something moved down there? He is at the age where he has noticed something happening down there, especially when he drinks his sippy cup. He is only trying to understand why and what's going on. I have explained to mine, if he is going to "discover", he will do it in his own room on his own time. But that discussion didn't have to come until after potty training. There will always be a struggle with boys and that member, but don't draw too much attention to it or they will do more. The main thing I still have a bit of issue with(and it will be a continuous thing) is holding himself when he has to go pee. I quickly say don't hold yourself its not nice. It normally works now, but first couple of times had to explain why. I told him it wasn't nice and people might get upset if he was holding himself. Seemed to work. Boys are very inquizative and want to know why you say things. Don't be afraid to explain, they understand alot more than what we give them credit for.
Trust me, your boy is being a normal boy. Just guide him, don't discipline for something that is normal. Nor freak out, sometimes you just have to laugh--especially if it is in front of others.

B.

T., One of my boys did this constantly when he was younger. I also was concerned about it and asked advice from many people. I wouldn't worry too much about it. He's a boy and it's completely normal. Don't make a big deal about it. I know it's hard because we think about all the horrendous things others will think or even what we "think" that kind of behavior suggests. But, it's very normal and he will grow out of it. My young son did it every time he was laying in bed, watching a show or just sitting there or whatever. When it was an inappropriate time we would just calmly tell him to take his hands out of his pants that he didn't need to do that right now. He will grow out of it (or atleast doing it constantly). It may take a while, but my son is now 5 and I honestly can't remember when he did it last. Hope this helps. You may even try just tell him that he uses that to go potty and that's when he should be touching it, but don't discipline him or get after him if you catch him doing it, it may make it worse.

I hope someone has some good suggestions because we need them here, too!

Since he seems to do it most when drinking from his sippy cup, perhaps you could help him develop a different habit for comfort while drinking. Perhaps he could hold a soft blanket or stuffed animal. You could read to him while he drinks and have him help hold the book. Even though it's normal, it obviously bothers you somewhat or you wouldn't have asked about it. Probably the best way to help him break the habit is to find something else for him to do with his hands (starting with while he is drinking from his sippy). Good luck.

Hi T.,
My 2-1/2 year old son does this constantly (drinking or not.) He usually has two fingers of his other hand upside down in his mouth at the same time. The funniest thing is when he's like this & we try to hand him something. He hesitates & sometimes rocks back & forth just a little. You can see the wheels turning in his head as he tries to decide which hand he wants to abandon what it's doing to accept the item. Occasionally it's not worth it at all & he doesn't take the item.
Our pediatrician says this is totally normal & not to worry about it at this point. I know there's no molestation going on, because I'm a SAHM & he's always with me.
An interesting aside: whenever I pick him up, he still tries to put a hand down my shirt. I nursed him until 23 months, & our pediatrician says it's just a comfort thing. I just gently remove his hand. If he tries again, I put him down. It's starting to happen less & less.
Good luck with all of this. I wouldn't worry about it.

I remember when my 2 yr.old Daughter did this! My ped. told me it was completely normal, not just for boys, for any 2 yr. old..I put her in overalls so she couldnt get in her pants. They said not to make a big deal of it. Our toddlers are exploring new territory! We are creatures of "feel good" and we do what feels good. i.e. sucking on thumbs, rubbing a blankie on the face, etc. My 2 yr. old son has not done this YET, but I'm sure it wont be long!! Hang in there! Like anything else, the "newness" will wear off soon and he will move on to other new things! Good luck!

It's totally normal, and one of the phases we just have to deal with! It feels good and at this age they are very curious about their genitalia. All you can do is reiterate over and over that we do not touch our private areas in public. I like the idea of dressing in outfits where they can't reach it -that has to help. He'll get past it with plenty of positive reinforcement. Get his dad or a close and trustworthy male to help you reinforce the fact that "we don't touch ourselves in public".

Doesn't really sound like something other than a mild habit that he will more than likely grow out of.He will eventually discover new things he can do with his hands.Just relax and let this one ride....if he isn't doing anything nasty and ts comforting to him why not let him have his moment.He's still very little....bring this problem back when he's 5 and still does this lol.

I have the same problem! Did you breastfeed? That is the only thing we can think of is that he likes the soft skin. He will also put his hand down my shirt or on my belly. My other 3 children never did this! The Dr told us to just tell him no. When we see him go down his pants we tell him out or get out and he understands (he will be 3 in August).
HTH
K.

Perhaps distractors. When he does it, take his hand out for him and tell him it's not appropriate. Put a cooking in his hand when you hand him his juice. It is a curiosity thing. Don't panic.

My now 5 year old used to stick his hands in his pants constantly (no sippy cup though). A friend told me it takes 14 days to break any habit from a book she read...so he wore 3 different overall short sets that I rotated and washed a lot for 18 days. The child development workers weren't happy with me because he was still in pull-ups at the time (2 years old) and was much harder to change/check. But it denied him access to putting his hands in his pants and he stopped doing it excessively. He does do it occasionally still now, but at what I consider a more acceptable amount of times for a male.

completely normal!
he's a boy they all do it. my son is 3 and we have to keep reminding him to get his hands out of his underpants. Just keep telling him to get his had out of there. I dont think you will ever beable to get him to completely stop. haven't you seen your husband standing there not even realizing he's doing it standing there scratching himself?

You really got some good advice. I'm an in-home daycare provider and I see this with little boys your son's age. It is an age of discovery and you should not make a HUGE deal out of it. What was suggested by one of the other mom's and I totally agree, is that you need to try to explain to him not to do it in front of people. He will outgrow it very soon. It is important though that you work to help him to know not to do it in front of others.....while not making a BIG DEAL out of it.