Ds age 3 constantly has his hands down his pants! How do I stop him?!

[ilikeyoursleeves]

As the title says, ds age 3.6 years has recently developed the male love of fiddling with his bits. He has had the odd fiddle over the years but this is now every second of the day! He just walks about with his hand shoved down his trousers, and during every other waking activity!

I've been asking him not to do it, gently explaining that his willy has germs on it so he shouldn't fiddle, or at least wash his hands after (which he doesn't do). I have also said touching your own willie is private and it's ok to do alone in bed but not at other times (I don't want him to think its wrong or 'dirty' not in the germ sense). But he still does it. ALL THE TIME.

Help! How can I stop him???!

It is a very normal and healthy thing to do, he won't understand why he shouldn't do it, it feels good!

you are right to tell him about doing it in a private place (bed), but I think he is a bit young to understand why he can't do it at home - that is his private territory too!
I'm not sure how to stop him or indeed if you should and how to phrase it - I'd like to know the answers as well...

the reason you don't like it is because it's embarrassing for the parent, again they don't get that, so please don't tell him he shouldn't fiddle because of germs....
even if it is a good idea to point out about hygine, that is not your real reason, and he'll sense that!
besides he'll soon just say, he's just washed it - what will you say then?

I'd ask Dad to actually talk to him, see what he says (not "that's my boy!" hopefully )

and if Dad talks to him you can avoid the whole " mummy you don't have a willy, so yo don't know what it's like... conversation

also it's worth checking he doesn't have a UTI or any itchy or sore bits that irritate him - he could be scratching, rather than fiddling....

Don't tell him it has germs! You'll be setting him up for a complex. And our whole body is covered in germs.

Make sure he's properly wiped after wees. In case there is an itch.

However he'll be fiddling because he just can't resist. I have a three year old boy and he's exactly the same but only at home and only if not busy.

I let him at home and in the bath because it's private and it sort of let's him get it out of his system.

So when you're out keep him busy. Same with visitors - keep him busy.

Dungarees? Also, agree with amazingmum to check if it is itchy or sore.

Mine is the same way! He holds himself with one hand and then he sucks two fingers of his other hand, with the index finger inserted into his nose. Like, he's all plugged in or something.

"all plugged in" - a friend of ours does something similar when watching telly and he's almost 40!!!
he doesn't realize he's doing it, I always tell him off, he's very sorry, but it's just his comfortable "default" setting!

My 3 year old is obsessed with his willy. I leave him to it as he only does it at home and when hes bored of his toys

My 3 year old won't leave his alone either. It's been going on since he first discovered it bloody ages ago. I don't make a big deal of it at home, but distract him if he starts when out and about.

This is my ds who is 3, any time anywhere, hands down pants.

The other night in the bath he said "I'm just giving Mr winkie a stroke mummy cause it feels nice!" The logic of 3 yr olds!

my almost 3 year old did this the other day - he pinched his nipples with his fingers and pulled them, then grinned at me saying "Boobies!"

he's interested in all sorts of body related things, when I change baby's nappy he wants to check if there's a poo in it. he tells DD - that's your bobble (word for poo) baby!

my older sons got hold of our camera once and took photos of each others willies and bottoms, their spits, close ups of their snotty noses and the contents of the toilet.....my DH & I were shocked to find out what they had been up to, just unbelievable!
(it was quite funny as well, but more WTF?!)

Just calmly ask him to take them out every single time you see him doing it and send him to wash his hands. If you do it often enough he will get sick of having to wash his hands all the time and this will motivate him to stop doing it, at least around you.