4 year old asking where do babies come from?

[8paws8legs]

Wasn't really sure where to put this so went for Aibu as always seems to get good answers.
So my 4 year old son has asked a few times now how mummies and daddies make babies, where they come from etc? It always seems to be at bedtime so have fobbed him off a bit and said we will talk about it tomorrow etc but what do I say? He has asked several times now so I need to give him an answer but not sure how to make it age appropriate???

I’d go with ‘mummy’s and daddy’s do a special cuddle and then the mummy grows the baby and she gives birth to the baby out of her *woo”

*insert your woo word here.
I like a little biological fact sprinkled in with vague nonsense personally. My DC (similar age) believes this as well as knowing about breastfeeding etc.

My lg just asked the same! I answered her question honestly but only exactly what she asked so mummy has an egg and daddy has a seed and they meet and make a baby which grows in mummy's tummy. Fine with this and she hasn't yet asked where/how they meet. Expect that next

wordery.com/where-do-babies-come-from-katie-daynes-9781409598824?currency=GBP&gtrck=UjNxRGFYU1JBOVV6ZElvc3I2ZXRsMjhOODdPeFVhR2VZSUQwZ3hqV2YvbTBWZTVuUHM0MHFZNDNiTVowMGNiUHk3Q2oyZWFlL1VCSmVXQ3c2cVZTOFE9PQ&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvJXxBRCeARIsAMSkApqns-aQ_xTma4mXyEcGN32fm58Wz8-BfZ58rz-mLhGdKOcnDGKCS-EaAlMkEALw_wcB

Get this - we have it for my four year old and it’s utterly brilliant, has animals and people in and explains in very simple but correct terms about sperm/egg, and things like pregnancy duration etc. It’s not embarrassing to read and had lots of lift the flaps too!!

“Babies come from mummy’s tummy.”

He might be a bit young, but I read my daughter the body book by Claire rayner after recommended on here. It's factual and saves you thinking about what words to use.

There’s a book I’d recommend that explains it all. Called ‘where do babies come from’ by Jillian Roberts. The sex bit it says something like ‘mummy and daddy’s bodies fit together’

Just tell him the truth! No special cuddles either.

He's only interested because you keep fobbing him off.

My 6 year old and three year old have been told ‘daddy puts a seen into an egg inside mummy’s belly, and it grows into a baby’ They also asked how the baby gets out. I told them that ‘mummy went to hospital and the doctor helped mummy get the baby out’ my 6 year old did ask how and I did decide to be honest and say ‘out of my vagina’ your son may not want to know all of this!

Sex education doesn’t need to be lies, or complicated. Honest and age appropriate.

When my kids asked I just told them in simple but scientifically correct terms. They then looked at me like I was insane and didn’t ask again until they were older.
It helps if you live by farms and you can point out when the bulls or tups are in the field with the females.

Presumably your son is aware he has a penis and you don't? Just explain in very simple terms of 'when a man and a woman love each other very much he can plant a seed in her tummy using his penis which meets with an egg and turns in to a baby' sort of thing.

If he's old enough to ask he's old enough to know.

I'm pregnant and have a nearly 4 year old so have been answering this a lot recently!
Initially he was happy with 'mummys grow babys in their tummys, in a special bit called the womb so it doesn't touch the food' then when he thought my tummy would explode 'no ladies have a special hole near their bottoms called a vagina to push the baby out of'
then when he wanted to know how the baby got in the tummy 'daddies have sperm cells and mummys have eggs and they mix together and it grows into a baby'
He got sidetracked mid 'how does the sperm get into the tummy?' so I haven't answered that bit yet!

‘We put a seed in a egg in a little dish and the doctor put it in mummy’s belly’

We had ivf

From mummy's tummy.
He would probably love to see ultrasound photos etc of hi.swlf before he was born.

Then when he eventually asks how the baby got there explain about it growing from a teeny tiny egg, that mummy's make.

Then when he asks for more details, explain how daddy helped make the egg grow into a baby etc.
Then as he gets older, more details and more biology.
It doesn't have to be all the information all at once!
When mine were that age, they were fascinated with pregnancy etc but weren't that curious about how the egg got there, and didn't really need the full sex talk.

There's a good book called 'Mummy laid an egg' for young kids which is a good mixture of humour and fact. Just read it like a normal bedtime story.

Storyline = parents try to tell kids lots of silly ideas about where babies come from. Kids say 'oh you are so silly this is where babies REALLY come from' and proceed to give correct facts in a simple way. Cartoon illustrations, appropriate for 4yo.

I’m surprised how many people are happy to tell a 4 year old where willys go. I must lead a sheltered life! I’ll stick to special cuddles

Haha this could be a funny thread.

DS (3) knows that he came out of my tummy from between my legs, but that the doctors unzipped my tummy to let DD out there

Thanks @Pardonwhat, he knows about breastfeeding already and hasn't ever questioned it, @pleasedogotosleep I like the egg and seed version though but he will definitely ask more questions he's so inquisitive during bedtime chat, I know he's just stalling but he honestly can think up anything 😂

My son when he was 4 (he’s now 11) asked me when I was going to order a baby brother or sister for him, he thought we just ordered them at the shop then they grew in our tummy’s, Bless him.

I don’t think 4 year olds need the detail, tbh.

What is there to say about breastfeeding? Mummys boobs make milk, babies have their milk from mummy. It's not quite like sex in that plenty of toddlers see mummy breastfeeding daily

My DC1 was 4 when DC3 was born and she asked me how the baby got in my tummy.
I told her that mama has eggs in her belly and daddy’s body has special seeds. Mama and daddy have a special kind of cuddle that grown ups who love each other have, and the seeds join together with the eggs and it makes a baby.

Not lying. But spares the details.
She accepted it and hasn’t asked again

I just told my dd enough that she would be content. She would then think about it a bit more and then dig further after a few weeks. A simple mummy and daddy make a baby from part of them, do a special cuddle.
I remember her getting particularly stressed wondering how food doesn’t go on the baby in mummy’s tummy when you eat. I simply said mummy has a special part called a womb where the baby is a bit like a balloon that gets stretched at it grows.
This interaction went on for a number of years with further snippets and questions.

It’s when she started wondering how in more depth and how the baby comes out that it got interesting..but it was nice seeing her wonder at the world.

Both mine were section babies and both have seen my scar and know they came from there but I've never needed to explain the rest just not sure what is appropriate for his age

I’d just say they grow in your tummy. End of. He’s 4.

DD4 knows babies grow in mummy's tummy's. She asked if it then comes out your bum. I said no and told her where it comes out. She gave a "no!" of disbelieve as if she thought I was joking 😂