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Original poster

erections in 3yr old-on seeing images and touching etc

142 replies

ihatethetweenies · 29/04/2006 19:38

Hi, I'm a bit embarrassed to be posting this to be honest but for about 6 months now my (soon to be) 3yr old son has erections quite frequently.
The thing is that he has them when he looks at pictures of woman and he gets them when he asks for cuddles from me (he likes to pull up his tshirt and put his tummy on my back or belly for a cuddle), though not all the time. He's aware that this is happening as he always laughs and wants to show anyone in the region his "big willy"
I've just made a joke of it and we always say to him -"oh put it away" and laugh. I've also started to tell him that certain private parts are "mummy's"

Should this be happening? The thing that I'm getting slightly concerned about is that he is due to start nursery soon-what if he does it to someone else?

TIA xx

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 29/04/2006 20:06

Dear God! Who the feck is saying abuse ffs????? Just asking - why the name change? Can you or can you not understand why a name change on a subject about little boy's erections would cause some concern? I would think that was a perfectly reasonable statement to make.

I don't know either way, I'm just alerting you to the fact that someone might report you or draw conclusions. Ok?

Bobalina · 29/04/2006 20:06

I don't have sons but my dds have friends that age and, god bless them, they have erections left, right and centre. At first it shocked me to see it (when their mothers were changing them etc) but their mums rightly told me it was perfectly natural. And when you think about it it is. I'm sure the laughter etc spurs him on abit too and why not be proud of your "big willy!" Grin

Original poster
ihatethetweenies · 29/04/2006 20:08

To all the people who are actually trying to give me some advice.

I can't honestly say that its from pictures and nothing else. He has recently changed into pants and is fascinated by the whole thing-he is now trying to pee standing up and can spend forever trying to do that!
He likes to do everything himself so he has to pull down and pull up his pants himself-so he tends to have a good look and take forever.
To be honest-he seems intrigued by toilet habits more than anything. When his friends come over he follows them and their mums into the toilets to watch!

OP posts:
mistressmiggins · 29/04/2006 20:13

my DS is just 4 and he constantly has erejections BUT they are usually cos hes been fiddling !!

I doubt it is pictures of women - more likely fiddling

I find it quite amusing but DS doesnt - I just tell him to leave it alone !!

see? men just dont change - alwasy little boys Wink

mistressmiggins · 29/04/2006 20:14

and I will stick up for Rhurbarb - dont think this is worthy of a name-change - perfectly normal

I can see why it might be seen as a troll

starlover · 29/04/2006 20:16

i can totally see why someone might name change..

it makes me a bit sad that every time someone changes their name for personal reasons, or for something like this when they're worried their young son is abnormal... they get accused of being a troll.

mistressmiggins · 29/04/2006 20:16

but starshaker its perfectly natural so why change your name?

I dont get that

FrannyandZooey · 29/04/2006 20:17

I believe you. My 3 year old ds is very interested in

a) naked mannequins
b) scantily dressed women,

to the point of having tantrums if not allowed to look at them for as long as he wants to. In case you are wondering about the scantily clad women, we have a street festival here and some of the dancers dress in Mardi Gras type outfits :)

I have no idea whether he gets erections when looking at them, but I think to equate erections with adult type sexuality at this age is to make a mistake. Little boys get erections from pleasurable feelings - it is not "sexual" to them in the way it is to us. I wouldn't be at all surprised if some little boys do get erections from looking at naked bodies. The drive to reproduce is incredibly strong and is innate from an early age, surely? I remember being excited by sexual type scenarios from a young age. I was never abused or exposed to inappropriate behaviour - it's just a very strong part of our psyche / physiology.

I think you are right to question whether this is normal, IHTT, and I think the answer is "yes it is". Maybe not 'average', but within the normal range. HTH.

SaintGeorge · 29/04/2006 20:18

I can understand people name changing for sensitive stuff - but they do normally say they are doing so.

lockets · 29/04/2006 20:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

starlover · 29/04/2006 20:19

she didn't know it was perfectly natural!! that's why she came to ask advice!

fgs... am so tired of innocent people being jumped on

no-one can ever just sit back and let it be... always someone jumping in with accusations which inevitably upset the genuine posters who have changed name.

starlover · 29/04/2006 20:19

fine so now when we name change we have to have a disclaimer to say why... jsut in case we get accused of being a troll.

nice!

SoupDragon · 29/04/2006 20:20

I agree with StG. Usually people say they are a namechanger and are at great pains to point out that they are a regular poster etc etc etc.

FrannyandZooey · 29/04/2006 20:20

And to those wondering about the name change, I think talking about sex is a sensitive subject for some and embarrassing. You could say the same about health problems - wind, piles, lost tampons etc - "oh they are completely natural". Well yes but we can still feel embarrassed talking about them, and like to keep some areas of our life private.

starlover · 29/04/2006 20:21

By SoupDragon on Saturday, 29 April, 2006 8:20:11 PM

I agree with StG. Usually people say they are a namechanger and are at great pains to point out that they are a regular poster etc etc etc.

so does that mean everyone has to???????

SoupDragon · 29/04/2006 20:22

I@m not saying they have to no but when 99% of the time they do don't they? Particularly when the troll accusation ha been made.

SaintGeorge · 29/04/2006 20:22

No, it doesn't mean everyone has to at all.

Having said that, I don't think people can expect to name change, not say they are doing so and then start a thread on such a subject without expecting someone to think they are a troll.

starlover · 29/04/2006 20:23

but what i am saying is why do people have to justify themselves?

i just think it's a shame that no-one can come on anonymously and post something without being accused of being a troll, unless they go to great lengths to "prove" that they aren't

why can't we give them the benefit of the doubt? and if it becomes obvious it's a troll then report to mnhq?

cod · 29/04/2006 20:23

anyweay back to the point in hand

cod · 29/04/2006 20:23

arf

Original poster
ihatethetweenies · 29/04/2006 20:24

Hello

I didn't say I'd created a new talk name as I was embarrassed at asking for help on such a sensitive subject. That was all.

Thank you to the people who tried to help.

OP posts:
Bobalina · 29/04/2006 20:25

sorry to hijack this but I am new - what is a troll?

Original poster
ihatethetweenies · 29/04/2006 20:25

and what is a troll?

OP posts:
cod · 29/04/2006 20:25

oh forget it
AAAAAAAAAAANYWAY

starlover · 29/04/2006 20:26

you see... it's all well and good saying "well they must expect to get accused of being a troll if they post like this"

well, it isn't if you aren't used to the internet, or are new to mumsnet or just don't know what a troll is