How was "making babies" explained to you, as a child?

[Clawdy]

I was about ten, ( this was in the sixties ) and I came home from school filled with horror about what a schoolfriend had told me about how babies were made! Mum looked aghast, and tried to make it sound better.....She said men had to put their widgy in a lady's weewee ( weird names we used in our house! ). When I said "But that sounds horrible! " she said " Yes, I know, but if you love someone, you don't mind."

Very badly/ Mostly left to the school. By the time they told us about the birds and bees we had got the gist of it (sort of). Slide show showing difference between girl and boy babies but very dark background so if you did not already know you would not know from the slides!

Mum insisted she DID tell me some things but as she wasn't told anything I doubt she knew how to tell me properly (she thought she was dying with cancer when she had her first period).

@frippit

At school age 11 we watched a video of a sperm and egg and 2 budgies mating, that was it. Certainly left a lot to the imagination.

We had a line drawings of male and female sex organs. They superimposed one on the other with an overhead projector to explain what happened. No movement, no insertion, just one acetate overlaid on the other. I had a brother so I knew our ‘bits’ were different but I left the lesson no wiser as to what actually occurred.

I grew up on a farm so always knew what a bull or ram was for and then realised that was what a man was for .

As far as periods go Mum explained clearly and gave me the 80s classic 'Have You Started Yet?' to read. When she was a child in the 50s her Mum hadn't told her anything so when she started she thought she was dying and went to her favourite auntie who told her everything she needed to know.

I'm a biologist and always explained sex very factually to the DC when they were little and we had a few picture books etc. However DD1 did at one point ask 'Mummy, how does the sperm get from the man's penis to the woman's vagina' so I told her the penis goes in the vagina. 'Ew, what does that feel like?' she asked in horror. Next day at lunchtime full of her new knowledge she told her little sister who immediately looked at me and said 'Ew, what does that feel like?'

I haven’t been told yet. I’m 44 and have children

ceecee don’t ask. You’ll be astonished !

Got home from school one day and found a pink pamphlet in my room from The Family Circle magazine explaining the facts of life. My brother got a blue one. Mum said we could ask her anything about it in a tone that clearly said 'don't even think about asking me about it!' So, yeah. Basically that, playground rumours and then biology classes I suppose! Not really sure how I'm going to explain it to my DC, they're 5 and 3 right now so I hope I have a little while longer??

Parents never mentioned it. We had something awkward in school when we were around 15. 2D Silhouette of blue man and a pink woman and how they fitted together and the biology of sperm and eggs. Think we were one of the first years when there was ever anything taught about sex in school, girls and boys were given the talk separately because the girls talk included taboo periods.

It wasn’t.

'My mum got me a book about fruit flies that she'd ordered I think from the family planning clinic. It was very random...please someone say they had this book too, so I know I didn't imagine it ?!'
Me, too! Mum gave me this booklet just before I went to secondary school, said she was going up for a bath and I could ask any questions later. It was early afternoon....I didn't ask any questions. Wasn't that interested in fruit flies anyway 🤣🤣🤣

When I was 9 someone told me babies were made by men and ladies rubbing their bums together. When I was 12 I was told what really happened and I tried to argue that was nonsense and impossible. I also remember being shown a video of a baby being born when I was 13 at High School and I passed out in front of the whole class.

My mum left a Claire Rayner book on my bed when I was 9. A few days later she casually announced her pregnancy (my mum, not Claire Rayner) so I assume the book was to avoid awkward questions

I was told nothing by my parents.
I was taught sex education at school.
Actually had the talk with my 8 year old Ds yesterday as he has been asking where babies come from.
I bought a book called Whats the big secret and it helped and so far he seems happy with what he was told.
He only asked if you had a baby every time you had sex.

I honestly don't remember ever not knowing. So maybe my mum told me the whole story when I was very young?

He only asked if you had a baby every time you had sex.

Christ, can you imagine if that were true

Not really sure how I'm going to explain it to my DC, they're 5 and 3 right now so I hope I have a little while longer??

I'm considering doing it from about 4 through this book:

blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781409598824?gC=5a105e8b&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyN-DBhCDARIsAFOELTluQfkcetC5Q7U7YekkCeXAjbiCSGxL-NLiMp-Uwp1hnfrO3YUlMW0aAhh9EALw_wcB

I remember, aged about 10/11, having gone to bed and thinking about a sex education lesson at school. Something was bothering me. Did Mum know about this? (I was one of six!!).
I went downstairs and said, "Mum, do you know that the man's vagina has to be erect before it's inserted into the lady's penis?"
Thankfully, she did. She also explained that I'd got it slightly wrong. I also remember that my Dad, reading the newspaper at the time, raised the newspaper higher and it was trembling.
Dad told me, years later, that it was the first time he'd ever been embarrassed by one of his children and he was doing his utmost to not laugh.

When I first heard the details I couldn't wait to tell my younger sister, though I'd been told not to. I can still see her horrified little face saying " But Daddy would NEVER do that!!"

My Mum got a booklet for me explaining the female side of the sex-ed stuff & told me to read it, & not to show my younger sister. Apparently I read it straight away, told her it was a good book & did she have anymore like it. She told me years later that this embarassed her completely & she never said anything more.

Our school did sex ed evening film shows so I went to one with my Mum & the boys would go with their Dads (on another evening - we couldnt dare learn about the other gender life changes haha). But mostly I learned at high school biology classes & put 2 & 2 together.
I never got told about sex as part of a relationship (the fun bits) just stressed over & over that "good girls don't, they wait until theyre married"). So imagine how disappointed she was that I didnt wait until my wedding night.

My Mum has always had quite old fashioned euphemism names for periods, sex organs etc so wasnt ever going to be a good teacher - even though she had been a Nurse before she had me.

Around 4/5 my mum would tell a full on story about how babies were made. I can't remember the exact terminology but basically penis in vagina, then how the sperm goes in and swims to the egg.. you get the gist.

I used to ask her to tell me the story again. Thought it was brilliant. I loved that I asked my mum and she just told me no messing around. I will be doing the same with my own daughter when she asks.

Followed up eventually by an excrutiating evening talk at school which had been previewed and horrifyingly embellished by a year older friend. Thankfully the rumours of a boy and girl being chosen to parade naked proved untrue.

This is hilarious! Classic childhood rumour mill at work.

Schoolyard chatter when I was eight. My parents never said anything about it. Ever.

Me to in the school play ground apart from when I started my period at around 12 on the summer holidays and my mum took me to the toilet and gave me a pack of sanitary pads and a book to read about sex .
Horrible experience

A banana 🍌 and science biology lessons