Please help with 18month

I hope this is the right place

I have an 18month old who has starting rubbing herself and gyrating on cushions. Is this normal, I dont want her to think its bad but just want her to learn that she doesnt need to do it all the time. If anyone can help i have some questions.

- Is it sexual already ie has she worked out she can get pleasure from it? her breathing changes and she gets hot and sweaty.
- will she grow out of it? I keep thinking the more attention i give her the more likely she is going to continue doing it ie it becomes a game.:doh:
- how do i handle it? ignore it completely, i tell her she doesnt need to do it for comfort and its not for doing in public, but i dont want to shame her. She was rubbling a balloon at kindygym today and i kept thinking at least if the balloon burst it may deter her a little.

No other mum is going through this yet in my group so thought I would try here, if anyone has advice I would love to heAR. Thought I would have more time to get my head around this phase of parenting.:o
Thanks Lis

I am not sure, but I suspect its just a phase. Little ones often seem to be a bit obsessed with their genitals. I had an eye opening discussions with some parents at a children's party a little while ago about how very often their kids tend to stick their hands down their pants. I think this is just your daughters way of doing the same thing. Its a new sensation she's discovered. I think its pleasurable, but not 'sexual' in the way we consider it. She has no framework for 'sexual' now. It just feels good.

It sounds like you are doing with right thing in not making a big fuss of it, but trying to limit where she does it. I really think it will ease with time. Sorry, I can't speak from experience, just from my observations of other kids and what I've heard/read. FWIW, my little guy (also 18 months), is right into his doodle whenever its out of its nappy!

My 18 month old DD has just discovered she can put her hand on her vagina when we take her nappy off. We don't make a big deal of it. I guess she is just discovering what it all feels like. And my DS has been putting his hand on it whenever his nappy comes off for quite a while (although not as much recently) but you know boys like to play with it whenever they get the chance :doh:

I would say its just a stage she is going through.

Thanks ladies, made me feel a little better, I will continue to do what I am doing and hope she grows out of. DH says she'll be getting locked up at 11 if she doesnt :rolleyes:

Im sure it is a phase
Thanks Lis

DD's hand goes down there as soon as i take her nappy off and shes 14 months. I do deter (sp) her from doing it as being out in the country etc, she picks up alot of gross things and i dont want her to "infect" her vagina, so to speak. I dont yell at her i just move her hand away and say "no baby girl, mummy has to put your nappy back on"etc

My daughter (and now my son - that's a whole other kettle of fish :lol:) went through a real stage of this. I simply told her that she was welcome to do it, but that it was a good idea to go in her bedroom and do it alone because it was a private thing.

If my daughter has her nappy off her hands are forever in her vagina. My MCHN gave us some good advice. She said it was absolutely normal for kids to play with their genitals, who can blame them if it feels good? ;) She recommended to not make a big deal out of it and telling her that it is fine to do it if she likes but in her room is the best place. Now at 18 months my daughter would not really understand 'it's ok to do it in your room" but now that she is older she does.

I think it's important, as you say, to not turn it into an issue. It is normal behavior, so don't be embarrassed. She'll be old enough soon to understand it's not something you do in public but it's fine to do in private. ;)