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Preteens

Exlaining how babies are made to a 6 year old

7 replies

Vikkiplus2 · 04/03/2014 12:49

Can anyone help as to the best way to explain how babies are made and why mummies have boobs and pubic hair to a 6 year old who is asking all the right questions. I do not want to be too explicit and am not really sure what to say - don't want to frighten her by telling her too much. Are there any good books on the subject that I could read with her?

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Raxacoricofallapatorius · 04/03/2014 12:52

Just tell her the truth. Answer her questions honestly. It's no different to answering questions about why we wee or what lungs do. It's biology.

How Did I Begin and Mummy Laid An Egg are okay.

I could send my 6yo round? She knows more about placentas and amniotic fluid and seminal fluid than your local, friendly gynae. Grin

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Raxacoricofallapatorius · 04/03/2014 12:54

Do you need help with specific things like why do women have breasts? The answer for example, is because we're mammals and we make milk for our young. The milk comes from our breasts. We have pubic hair because it helps keep very sensitive and delicate areas of our body protected and clean.

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ContentedSidewinder · 04/03/2014 21:53

We got Mummy Laid an egg for ds2 (5) when ds1 hit puberty at 8!

Have a look at it here and you can look inside the book to see the crayon drawings.

Ds2 is now nearly 8 and he still thinks this book is hilarious, but he totally gets where babies come from.

I also use anecdotal stuff like, well when you were born ds2, ds1 was 3 and so we used to call cow's milk moo milk as when I said to ds1 did he want a drink of milk he looked at my boobies! This was because I was giving you boobie milk because babies need special boobie milk or forumla milk. They can't drink cow's milk etc etc.

I just answer honestly, just like Raxa says, factual stuff, we have boobies because we feed our babies milk. You won't frighten her, it is just like if she asks what Daddy does for work, you just tell them. They tend to take it all in their stride.

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Vikkiplus2 · 05/03/2014 22:23

Thank you to everyone who replied. I will have a look at the books recommended esp Mummy's laid an egg. We have had the discussions about boobs and when I breastfed my son we talked about why I did that. The bit I am struggling with a little is how much to explain about the nuts and bolts of sex as this is where she is heading with her questions and while, of course, I want to be completely honest with her she is emotionally younger than her scientific and academically enquiring mind might suggest so I do worry that too much detail might put her off growing up for good! Put it this way - she has nightmares after watching scooby doo and worried for days after ready a Michael Morpurgo book where the fox is killed. Thanks again, I'll have a look at these books. x

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LastingLight · 06/03/2014 10:34

How about "The mommy and the daddy shares a special hug, and the daddy puts a seed inside the mommy that grows to become a baby". Not 100% accurate but maybe enough detail to satisfy her? If not you may have to tell the whole story, just be calm and factual.

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RufinaTheStressed · 31/03/2014 21:53

I'm looking for something for my nearly 8 year old son. He's has Mummy Laid An Egg for years and for some reason won't look at it now but he'd not old enough for his older brother's books about adolescent.
Any ideas along the Mummy Laid An Egg lines? His reading is good but it's age-appropriate content we need!

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callmekitten · 03/04/2014 01:01

I don't really understand what you think she will be so afraid of. Just explain the facts in a matter-of-fact way.

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