Help please! Is this behaviour normal?

[Lizzie4]

Last week, whilst watching c-beebies with my 3 yr old Daughter, she moved onto the floor, grabbed a cushion and started moving her bottom up and down with her eyes closed. I asked her what she was doing and she said that it felt nice, "particularly at the end". Since then, she has done it sporadically, and it was embarressing when we went to visit her Grandparents last weekend and she got down on the floor and did the same thing. She has also asked me to tickle her between her legs because she likes it. I am concerned to say the least - has she just found something that tickles or could she have got this from elsewhere?

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My dd, 2:9, hasn't started with the cushions yet but does touch herself a lot esp round the tender area of herself. I have tried telling her its dirty and not to do it but it doesn't seem to work. I think and I hope its just an experimental stage and it will stop soon. Let me know if you have any joy with stopping it and I will do the same

i think its normal. definately would'nt say its "dirty" though.why not just try and distract her from doing it until this little phase passes.

Don't panic its normal, and whilst a tad embaressing for you probably not a good idea to make too much of an issue. I caught my twins half naked today with bedroom door shut pretending to have babies, i told them to get dressed when they are ready to come down for a biscuit and then shut the door.

Really normal...dd is 2.7 and does touch herself, but so far only when tired/in bed, or absentmindedly (she's just stopped wearing nappies, so its all new to her). I would definitely avoid saying anything that make her feel its dirty or bad, and I would'nt try to stop it - I suppose I'd ignore it. On the other hand, if dd did it in front of strangers or in really inappropriate places, for her own protection I'd try talking about how its fine to touch herself if she wants to, but its something to be done in private. Though my own dd would be too young to really understand that, I think - she'd just ask 'why' and I can see me tying myself into knots there!
Oh, and she's also asked me to tickle her there once or twice, a while ago - while I was tickling her back and she was dropping off for a nap. I just said no, she could tickle herself there if she wanted to, but Mummy only tickled backs and arms. She let it go, and has never asked since.

My ds (now 5.5) has done this from a very early age, its perfectly normal, I just tell him to go to his room if he wants to do it, calling them dirty and telling them it is wrong is the worst possible thing you can do.

I would say that this is soooo normal and certainly don't tell her it is DIRTY! I have two ds and another on the way, they have always played with themselves, I have encouraged them to only do it in the privacy of their bedrooms, so not to embarrase anyone else!

It is not dirty!! its natural exploration of their own bodies, and as others have said, just explain it is something for them to do in private.

DD aged 4 does this too mainly when sleepy. We also explain that although it may feel nice you don't do it when there are other people around. She has never asked one of us to tickle there and if she did we would say no we tickle arms, backs, tummy and feet but not there.

Just a big thank you for these replies and words of wisdom. I have worked in the legal profession for some years now which has perhaps made me over cautious/suspicious of certain types of children's behaviour. I am sure that I'll sleep better tonight! Thanks again - wish I'd discovered this site sooner.