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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not like other children commenting on the size of ds's penis

249 replies

BocaDeTrucha · 06/08/2015 00:04

We're on holiday at the moment and ds is a chubby little 22 months old so most of the time naked. In the last 2 days I've had the following comments: "why is his willy so small?" from a little girl, about 4 years old. And today, the little boy in the bungalow next to ours who has spent 3 days playing with ds, asked " is 'Bob' a boy or a girl?" and when I replied he was a boy, the little boy said "so why doesn't he have a willy?".

Gee, it's not that small!! I got a bit peeved but dh just told me to stop being ridiculous. Am I being ridiculous?

OP posts:
Alisvolatpropiis · 06/08/2015 00:38

Why are you going to speak to the GP at his 2 year check?

That's going to come across really strangely.

Starbrite00 · 06/08/2015 00:41

Do kids really mention these things at 4?

ReginaFelangi · 06/08/2015 00:51

Do kids really mention these things at 4?

Absolutely. Daughter and her friends (male and female) had quite a lot of "show and tell" sessions at that age.

steff13 · 06/08/2015 00:55

Do kids really mention these things at 4?

Of course. Most people they encounter are clothed. If they see someone naked, they are going to ask questions. A 4-year-old may have never seen a naked person of the opposite sex at all.

thornrose · 06/08/2015 01:00

A 4 year old has presumably seen a limited amount of penises. Her comment about it's size is surely irrelevant!

ReginaFelangi · 06/08/2015 01:10

My daughter had only seen her dad's at the age of 4 so her 4 year old friend's came as a bit of a shock to her!

ShadowStar · 06/08/2015 01:46

Surely if it was abnormally small, a doctor or HV would have mentioned it when they did routine baby checks and weighing?

The kids are probably commenting because they've seen very few penises. I agree that if it's bothering you, you should put some pants on him. I'd also be concerned about him getting sunburnt down there.

AlanPacino · 06/08/2015 02:21

If he's chubby it's will appear small/very short because of the chubbiness at this age. Ds's todge looked normal as a small baby but as he filled out it was sort of buried in podge for a few years until he slimmed out.

DixieNormas · 06/08/2015 02:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Starbrite00 · 06/08/2015 02:51

I know they talk about willys.. I mean I dont think a child that young would ask why it was small, how would they have any idea what was small for a penis.

googoodolly · 06/08/2015 05:23

Well, some four year old's will only have their dad's penis to go by, and any kid has a small penis compared to a fully grown man, hence the shock/need to comment.

MavisG · 06/08/2015 05:39

I am really surprised by people saying it's unhygienic to have a toddler naked. How? Unless you haven't wiped his bum properly. It's useful for potty training, better - more hygienic - for their skin than nappies and it feels nice to be naked in the sunshine, let the kids be naked!

Sillybillymuckypup · 06/08/2015 05:42

You mentioned he's chubby? Lots of toddlers have a suprapubic fat pad and the penis is partially buried in the chub! Once they slim down at 3-4 years old it starts to appear larger.

I'm a GP and it's not uncommon to see kids brought in by their parents worried about penis size. Haven't seen one yet where I thought it was actually abnormal though!

CaramellaDeVille · 06/08/2015 06:17

Some pretty harsh replies here OP! I wanted to say 2 things. I can understand it's horrible when other kids comment negatively on your child, I've no issue with him being naked but I think I'd cover him up if it's bothering you. Im guessing he's too young to be affected by it.

Secondly just to say my friends DS's penis was tiny for the first 2 years and she was quite concerned, hence how I know about it because she confided in me. He grew to a 'normal' size at around 3 and all is fine now. It's not ridiculous or strange to worry about it/mention it to a doctor in my view. Enjoy the rest of your holiday :)

Mermaidhair · 06/08/2015 06:20

What a very strange post, and weird.

youarekiddingme · 06/08/2015 06:38

Children of that young age don't really have the same boundaries as adults and will just comment on what they see.

They aren't treading they are questioning.

I agree yiur obviously concerned hence yiur defensiveness and asking on 2 yr check is a greys idea.

Enjoy your holiday

DrDre · 06/08/2015 07:02

Nothing wrong with a naked toddler imo. Don't worry about other kids talking about his penis, it's the kind of thing little kids do.

Coconutty · 06/08/2015 07:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bumpandkind · 06/08/2015 07:19

Please don't worry. My chubby d's has his as a poster up thread said 'buried in the podge'! We've had similar comments from his skinny and seemingly generously endowed cousins but all is normal. FWIW don't most toddlers spend most of the summer months naked? They do in Germany.

Iggly · 06/08/2015 07:23

Why is it unhygienic to have toddler genitals on show?

Iggly · 06/08/2015 07:23

And yes weird post. Who cares!

LazyLohan · 06/08/2015 07:24

Wow. I think the OP is worrying over nothing. But all this offence over naked toddlers? Really? A little strip of fabric makes very little difference to hygiene, and anybody who finds a small child's naked body offensive needs a word with themselves.

x2boys · 06/08/2015 07:27

children do comment when ds1 was a baby i had a friend around with her two girls oldest was about three youngst also a baby the oldest girls had therefore only seen girls bottoms at this point and when i was changing ds asked what was wrong with his bottom as he had a willy!

AuntyMag10 · 06/08/2015 07:30

Yes you're being ridiculous. Think about what you're saying. You expect tiny children to not talk about something that's clearly visible and interesting to them? Sounds like you feel insecure rather. Cover him up if you don't want him to be 'teased'.

slightlyeggstained · 06/08/2015 07:39

Gosh, disturbed by all the posters complaining about an innocent tiny child running around naked. DS runs around naked when he pleases and it honestly wouldn't have occurred to me that anyone would have issues. Am in the UK, haven't seen any cats bum faces when he's been naked.