5 YO DD putting fingers around bum area and smelling

[Ellewood]

Help! I have recently identified that my almost 5 YO likes the smell of her anus. She plays with it with her fingers and then sniffs away. Tonight I caught her doing it with her nightie and also my bed covers. I was mortified. I told her off about it and then at bedtime later asked her why she was doing it (she did it yet again in her bed during story time). She said 'I like the sweet smell of it'. Which freaked me out even more. Of course I explained the poo issue and she replied she does it when there is no poo. I explained the germs issue. I think she already knew this which is why she was trying it with her nightie.

Is this normal?? Should I be worried??

Suspect normal but my dd is only 10 mo so not exactly experienced!

In think children are a) disgusting / and B) wind up merchants. The more horrified you seem the more she'll do it.

Mine play with their bits at any opportunity. meh. They know not to do it at school or up the dinner table.

Your bed covers! Only just caught that. Yummy.

I'm sure I've read that we do naturally find such smells attractive, its social conditioning which turns us off them.

On a R4 comedy recently, apparently Caitlin Moran is given to describing food as smelling nice and 'bummy' - and that truffles (one of the most expensive foods going) smell of bum.

So yes, it probably is normal. Obviously you need to make sure she washes her hands before eating or putting them in her mouth.

Thanks everyone for your feedback and thoughts. It's helped me relax a little and feel like I at least don't need to march her to the doctors. I may need to disinfect the whole house however...;0

Normal. I would say she's just curious. A gentle reminder about hygiene every so often and try to ignore it.

What nagoo said, lol @sweet smell, little wind up merchant

Just encourage her to do out in private if she must and to wash her hands afterwards.