How can I explain how babies get into their mother's tummy?

My just turned 4 year old DD asked me yesterday how babies get into their mother's tummy. I was taken completely by surprise and had no idea what to say. I told her I needed to think about how to explain it and she seemed happy with that. I am a big believer in being honest with kids but this has me really stumped on the best way to explain it to her, as the concepts are complicated. I would really love some advice on how to approach this with my 4 year old DD. If there are any good books too I would love to know about them. TIA! :)

I tell my 4 yr old that mummy and daddy have special adult cuddles that sometimes makes a baby (otherwise she would think every time we hugged a baby would be coming).. I don't see this as lying, just in a language they understand.

Maybe something along the lines of 'when a mummy and daddy love each other and decide they would like to have a child, the daddy puts a seed in the mummy's tummy and a baby starts to grow'.
Not sure how to go about it if she wants to know the exact way he puts it in there though!

:

---

Maybe something along the lines of 'when a mummy and daddy love each other and decide they would like to have a child, the daddy puts a seed in the mummy's tummy and a baby starts to grow'.
Not sure how to go about it if she wants to know the exact way he puts it in there though!

---

LOL Thing is she asks questions all the time! So I wouldn't be surprised if she did ask how he puts a seed in there.

As for "special adult cuddles that sometimes makes a baby" I'm not sure if she would ask for more details. She has a need to know about absolutely everything. Which is great, until this question. :lol: But this might be my best option.

Why don't you tell her the truth? :dunno:

I was always open and honest with my DD. It demystifies it in my opinion.

Hmmm this is tricky! I'm trying to think of what my parents told me (I asked how a baby gets out mummy's belly button when I was 8 and my sis was born). I think I was told the names of the genitals and then told that a sperm from Dad goes inside mum and grows into a baby and then it comes out the same way. So I wasn't told the exact details but just a overview. Would a simplified version like that be appropriate?

Its not about lying to your child. It's about age appropriate information. And too much too soon can be just as damaging for a brain that doesn't understand the social impacts of sex.

I just told my children a seed grows in the mummies tummy. Sometimes there's a seed and sometimes there isn't. That was enough.

If you aren't up for the whole truth yet and want to avoid explanations which may lead to more questions, what about Mummies have eggs in their tummy that grow into babies. You could go on to explain exactly where the eggs are and about ovulation and the egg travelling down the tube etc and how the baby comes out when it's born. Maybe with out adding a daddy into the conversation she might not ask about his role in the whole thing.
I always like to tell the truth too, but I really worry about other kids because my DS is an absolute parrot and repeats everything, So I do try to keep in mind he does talk to other kids who's parents may not be happy with their kids knowing every detail when they're not comfortable with it, or the kids aren't ready to process the info, and possibly be scarred for life lol IYKWIM.

So that explanation isn't lying even though it is excluding certain things. If she keeps asking maybe she's ready to know :dunno: if she understands when it's appropriate to talk to other people about things then it's not a bad thing to learn :) good luck.

All kids ask at 4. It's normal. But there's a reason why psychological experts have recommended guidelines for parents and sex education.

I had a baby and DD was 4 she saw the birth. But she didn't know anything about sex. IMO 4 is way too early.

I agree there are levels of detail which you go into at different stages of a child's life. It also depends on the maturity of the child. At four I was at school and if my parents had not already told me how babies are made, as well as having seen how animals do it, I would have certainly learnt it quick smart in the school yard from the older children!

I want that information to come from me, not the school yard.

In general I would think 4 was too early, but I do agree it depends on the child. Not all children develop intellectually or emotionally at the same rate. I would think most 4 year olds aren't ready, but there would be exceptions.

nothing2lose - I do want to tell the truth but am unsure of how much detail to go into, that's the problem.

Rouge - What are the recommended guidelines for sex education at 4 years? How do I find that out?

:

---

Why don't you tell her the truth? :dunno:

I was always open and honest with my DD. It demystifies it in my opinion.

---

I;m not sure I'd feel comfortable telling my 4 year old about sex - I don't think that's something a 4 year needs to understand.

You could look at the book 'where did I come from'. I remember looking at it when I was little. Was always there to ask questions

My eldest was asking so many questions that I bought a "how your body works" book when he was 4 or 5 which explained (using robots) the whole process in an age appropriate way. It made it easier to talk about it when I had some guidance in the book and it made it easier for him to understand.

Thanks Traveller and Onelittleprincess I love the idea of getting books that can help explain in an age appropriate way. :)

I've looked at my local library and they have 'where did I come from' and links to other recommended books which is handy! :) I never knew they linked to other books. They must also have how the body works books too. :)

There are other books too.

Mummy Laid an Egg and Where Willy Went are two good ones.

Also, Planned Parenthood in the US have a good site called Starts at Home all about teaching kids (yes, as young as four ;) ) about sex.

Good luck!

I don't think 4 is too young... I think if they ask you tell them... as simply and with as minimal information as possible.... after all what's wrong with...

...the daddy's sperm meets the mummy's egg and it grows to make a baby..... (dd - what's sperm? mummy - it's like a seed)

.... the sperm comes out of the penis and goes into the vagina where the baby grows....

I'd be surprised if a she'd ask how the sperm gets to the vagina... but if she does..... the penis goes into the vagina....

it's only a big deal, because we make it a big deal.... I've never read any research anywhere that says not to tell a four year old.... I may be wrong... but.... what I know about child development is that you answer the questions when they ask... as SIMPLY as possible... and without embarrassment! because they may never ask again.

in my humble opinion anyway.... for what it's worth ;)

p.s.... I agree with the story books... we read "What's happening to me" to DSD at 9... cause I kept waiting for her to ask and she NEVER did!! In fact I had to manufacture the actual sex talk... cause like n2l... I DO not want her learning it from anyone else but us...

p.p.s..... I'm not suggesting you say ALL of that... only answer her questions... short and simple... one step at a time....

Thanks nothing2lose - From what I've also read online (and yes I know that not everything is to be believed online) it is fine to introduce these concepts at four but no need to go into every little detail at this age, more because of the fact that they have low attention spans. I've been reading articles written by child psychologists, so I am tending to trust what they are saying. Some are saying slightly different things on how much detail to go into, but they all agree that it is appropriate to introduce sex education at age 4, just no need to go into every detail. I might also talk to some child psychologists to make sure the information is correct though.

Just saw your response myturn - and from what I'm reading what you've said is what child psychologists are saying. :)

I think that's what MyTurn does in her spare time (when not surfing BB!)

:

---

I think that's what MyTurn does in her spare time (when not surfing BB!)

---

phew.... glad to know I know what I'm talking about ;) lol

:

---

I might also talk to some child psychologists to make sure the information is correct though.

---

.... you just did... :lol:

feel free to PM me if you'd like.... there are a couple of others lurking on here as well...... maybe they will come out to play ...

This might be helpful too...

http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/c.../2/TSTO_V2.pdf

Just to clarify. I wasn't saying don't answer questions. Answer them with age appropriateness in mind. There is no need to tell them everything because they ask one question and every piece of literature I've read suggest that you only answer the basics, give them the opportunity to ask more if they need to. Gauge what your child needs. But don't launch into a whole discussion on the ins and outs of everything. Because it can be scary and hard for them to process. 8-10 is the recommended age to discuss sexual education without prompting. Before that is questions and age appropriate answers. I never lied to my kids but I never sat down and explained everything when I could tell all they wanted to know was how a baby could grow inside you? Hope that makes sense.

I got the same question at 2. At that age I decided less was more. When I thought about it for a minute, I realised that his brother hadn't been long born and that maybe was thinking that babies are that big when they start in the tummy. So I just said that when babies start in the tummy they are tiny, so small you can't see them, and then they grow to be baby size and are born. That seemed to do the trick. Three weeks later he asked why only mummies have babies in their tummies, not daddies. I told him that daddies don't have a uterus for the baby to grow in and that kept him going for a long time.

my 4 year old asked me this question the other day. I just asked "how do you think?" She said "i think mummy and daddy put them in there" so i just agreed :dunno: i must admit my mind was racing trying to think of an age appropriate way to tell her so will keep all this in mind for when her answer no longer satisfies her.

Of course, if I am blessed enough to have another one, the question, "how was I made" is going to be a little more complicated and the answer will have nothing to do with sex at all (unless you count daddy ejaculating into a beaker in order to have his sperm washed in readiness for a party with mummy's eggs in a petri dish :lol: )

:

---

.... you just did... :lol:

feel free to PM me if you'd like.... there are a couple of others lurking on here as well...... maybe they will come out to play ...

---

Oh cool. hehe.. yeah I'm feeling more confident in what to say now so thank you. :)

I went to the library today and they had a lot of "where do babies come from" books. I found one that I feel is age appropriate. It discusses the growth of plants, chickens, cats and humans. So it helps put things into context without being really overwheltming. :)

nothing2lose - On the topic of birth that is one that I will eventually have to come back to, because I had a c-section, so DD has seen pics of her coming out of my tummy - literally! And now thinks that's how babies come out of their mums. :wall: For now I am happy for her to think that way but will need to correct her at some stage.

:

---

This might be helpful too...

http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/c.../2/TSTO_V2.pdf

---

Thanks nothing2lose - that document is really helpful!! :)

I had a caesarean too Moi. I just told my DD that sometimes babies come out of their mum's stomachs in a type of operation but most times they are pushed out through the vagina.

Eta - yeah, I thought it was a great booklet. I have saved it and will print it up. Compulsory reading for every parent I reckon :)

Yep I told DD the same as N2L.

She knew about C/S and birth way before she knew "how" she got there ;)

:

---

Of course, if I am blessed enough to have another one, the question, "how was I made" is going to be a little more complicated and the answer will have nothing to do with sex at all (unless you count daddy ejaculating into a beaker in order to have his sperm washed in readiness for a party with mummy's eggs in a petri dish :lol: )

---

:rofl:

Maybe we could write a kids book and get the fertility clinics charge and extra over the top (nit compulsory!!) fee for every successful pregnancy at their clinic... We could make a fortune....!

:

---

I had a caesarean too Moi. I just told my DD that sometimes babies come out of their mum's stomachs in a type of operation but most times they are pushed out through the vagina.

Eta - yeah, I thought it was a great booklet. I have saved it and will print it up. Compulsory reading for every parent I reckon :)

---

She hasn't actually asked me about the caesarean or how babies get out, so that is the only reason I haven't told her.

And yes a fantastic booklet for parents! :)

My son asked this a while ago.
I said that mummies and daddies make babies together, with a seed from dad and an egg from mum.

That satisfied him.
Except a little later he came back to ask why he'd never SEEN us making a baby.....

Did you tell him daddy's seed only comes out at night when all kids are asleep. Like Santa it doesn't come if anyone is awake?

:

---

Except a little later he came back to ask why he'd never SEEN us making a baby.....

---

:ROFL:

:

---

My son asked this a while ago.
I said that mummies and daddies make babies together, with a seed from dad and an egg from mum.

That satisfied him.
Except a little later he came back to ask why he'd never SEEN us making a baby.....

---

awkward smile.... Ahhhh..... That's special mummy and daddy time. ;)



Moi - it's great to be prepared for the questions, but she probably won't ask for as much detail as you think at this age ;)

Good luck with your discussion, I'd be curious to see how you go ;). Of course she may have forgotten all about it and may not even be interested anymore :)

:

---

Did you tell him daddy's seed only comes out at night when all kids are asleep. Like Santa it doesn't come if anyone is awake?

---

:rofl:

:

---

Moi - it's great to be prepared for the questions, but she probably won't ask for as much detail as you think at this age ;)

Good luck with your discussion, I'd be curious to see how you go ;). Of course she may have forgotten all about it and may not even be interested anymore :)

---

Thanks - that's the key - I just want to be prepared.

Today I found a book at the library and she loved looking at it. It had pictures of babies inside their mothers. After that I think she was happy to move onto the next thing on her mind. :lol:

:

---

Thanks - that's the key - I just want to be prepared.

Today I found a book at the library and she loved looking at it. It had pictures of babies inside their mothers. After that I think she was happy to move onto the next thing on her mind. :lol:

---

Thats pretty standard ;) that's why it's best not to freak out or over think the questions. Because most of the time the answers are simple. And they don't want more than that.

Now explaining to a 10 year old how people can get pregnant and not know, coz yanno they have to have sex right? (This is what she asked me) And when I explained that sometimes adults do it for fun and and not to have babies. She was can we say a little horrified lol.