How Do I Explain Feminine Products to My 4 Year Old?

My sister tried to tell her son they were for mommy's ouchie. A couple days later he fell down. Next thing you know he is walking out of the bathroom with a pad on his forehead and a tampon in his ear for his "ouchies"!
I think giving her very simple basic answers might be a better idea! She probably just wants a basic yes or no to can she have them and a reason why. So, you could just say, "No honey, they don't make these for little girls." Then offer to paint her nails or something else pretty and girly and she will probably forget about it.
Good luck! :)

I tell them it is to keep Mommy's panties clean.
When you get older, a grown up, there is 'discharge' and it helps to keep Mommy's panties clean. Like a sponge. And then you will get hair down there too. That's what grown-ups have.

Worked for my kids.
They didn't ask anything else after that.

I just left it at....they are for Mommies...you can revisit when she is MUCH older ; )

I just tell my son it's "for mommies."

On his own he decided a tampon was like "floss for your bum."

When my son was very little I just told him it's like a bandaid for women's insides... and went on to explain the very basics about menses (doesn't hurt, every month, pretty durn cool, people use different options/types of bandaids, etc.).

as Stressed Mommy said....positive in nature! That's all it takes & will set the tone for the BIG talks to come! Which with today's kids....there are girls starting as soon as 9-10!

So funny story: my older son has always had a wicked sense of humor. He was wrestling with my dad, saw my purse, & stopped the game long enough to grab something out of my purse. He thought that he'd grabbed my feminine supplies.....& he threw it on his gpa. My father was horrified & jumped back before it could hit him. My son then picked it up & started chasing my Dad around the room. I was hysterical.....because it was a travel pack of Kleenex & they both were being idiots! What babies....& I think my son was about....?7 or 8 when this happened.

Boy, what a memory just in time for Father's Day! Thanks for providing the trigger!

Ah, this makes me think back to when my nephew was 4 and answered the phone for his mommy (my sister) who was in the bathroom. The caller was my sisters boss and when he asked if he could talk to her, my nephew said "Nope, she's putting on a pad!"

My kids just know they are for ladies and grown up girls- pretty much on the same lines as the other posters.

I have to say that "floss for your bum" STILL has me cracking up! Thanks Emily E. for the great laugh!

When my daughter was 4, she walked in on me changing a tampon, and wanted to know if I was hurt. I explained to her that every month a woman's body prepares a special place sort of like a nest, but made outo f blood, for a baby to grow, and if a baby doesn't start growing, that it gets rid of that blood and starts over.

Like Christina, I explained to my four year old that the place where babies grow, the uterus, prepares itself each month to have a baby. If no baby comes to grow there, then it gets rid of the extra blood and tissue. I also had a baby three months ago so she saw all that blood and pads for weeks. She also knows that women have a special hole in their privates called a vagina where the baby comes out.

As questions have been asked, I've given very simple, honest answers - and nothing more than what has been asked. The question was asked about how the baby would come out when I was pregnant. After I answered, the next question was if we could go to the zoo and see panda bears, lol! If you don't make those types of questions a big deal, neither will they and they will continue to ask you the important questions!

My 5 year old knows they are for mommy's period which comes so she could have babies. It doesn't hurt and she will have it when she is a grown up too.

Well I had two boys; but for most of their lives they have had to deal with a single parent, so they learned alot fast. It is better to inform then when they are asking questions because they will be better prepared when that time comes around for them. In my case the my boys are 15 and 24; they are now prepared for when they meet and marry their godly wives. My oldest son had questions me when he was about 8 or 9 about condoms because there were commercials on tv. I was still married to their father and I had to explain that to him. I answered the questions he had then ask if he had any more questions; he said no... Now he asked me any questions when he has them at 24. You will build a trust with your child and that will pay off for all our lives. This is just my opinion and you must do and answer what you are comfortable with. My youngest son was a different story; we went grocery shopping and he blurted out, Hey mom here are the tampons you use; and there was a gentlemen on the ailse. We quickly just smile and made it through the aisle. LOL - Hope this helps.

My sons are obsessed with them! They especially are facinated with the tampons. My oldest thought they were candy. He used to call my pads "Mommy diapers." I don't have an answer, just wanted ou to know that you're not alone!

like betsy said they are for mommies and you will use them when you get to be a lot older but they are only to be touched my mommy for now until you get to be that age

I've always told my daughters that these are for bigger girls and mommies. Although now my older daughter is 8, so I'd better come up with a better answer soon. :-/

I just tell my daughter they catch the blood that has to come out each month. Now when she sees the tampons or pads she just says, oh guess it's time to catch the blood. It's cute!

I never hid anything from my girls, and they don't remember not knowing that a woman has a period, that it's yucky, but part of the process. The less emphasis you put on it, the more they will think "no big deal." I had a friend who concealed everything from her girls until her daughter was almost 13 and she knew she was going to start her period. She sat her down and told her about it. Her daughter cried for days. I think growing up seeing it, learning only as much as is age appropriate is a much kinder, gentler way. I like the post about the "nest." Kids understand birds, so why not this!

Always be honest, just answer the question and don't go over her head with the answer.

Explain that is is for mommies. You might want to keep them out of reach. We were out shopping once when daughter was less than 5 and to my surprise when we went to the restroom she was wearing a panty liner, LOL.

We started communicating when daughter was a toddler and believe me, that open line of communication is SO worthwhile.... especially as she grows up. My 16 yr old talks to me about things my mom would cringe about.

Christi....... I read your response about what your nephew did and just laughed out loud. Too funny. Thanks for making me laugh well today!!

Quick and simple explanation? A privacy band-aid that ladies sometimes need...and mommies need privacy to wear them.

Answer her answers but in a simple-nondetailed way. My daughter calls them "Mommy Bandaids". Big girls need them b/c they bleed every now and then. She knows that ALL big girls need them and one day she will too. But, for right now, it's nothing to worry about. That's all I say and nothing more. I don't offer her any confusing information.

Like every one below I have explained to my girls what I use them for. Try and keep it as simple as you can. When she is a little older you can get her the book The Care and Keeping of You by American girls dolls. It is an awesome way to start a conversation with your daughter about her body and the changes she will go through and also how to take care of her self.

"Honey, when you are older you will get the opportunity to use these too."

Positive in nature and general in amount of information.

I definetely don't think it is anything shameful or should make her feel uncomfortable. I was asked why I was wearing a diaper by my child when we were in the bathroom together, I just gave the answer above.

I told my daughter its for mommies. She's still interested and likes to get them for me. She says when she gets to be a old mommy she will wear them too!