Toddler body curiosity

[YoSaffBridge]

I've spent ages trying to think of the right title for this so I don't sound too weird

Anyway, I'd always heard all the jokey stories about young boys playing with themselves but I'd never heard anything about young girls doing it too. However DD, whose 3 and just out of nappies, seems to have developed a recent habit of playing with herself but also with trying to see what might fit there - bathtime is the big offender, I turned my back for a few seconds the other day only to turn back and find that she was 'playing' with the handle of a toy brush!

I'm wouldn't worry overly but she has actually managed to make herself quite sore by accident. I've not made a fuss and just explained that it's a place that is easy to hurt so she shouldn't try putting things there. That's not particularly seemed to work though. I guess she's just very curious at the moment...

I suppose I'm just wondering, is this normal development, but people just don't joke about it in the same way as they do with boys? Any tips on how to encourage her not to do it, but without making an issue of it?

(I know this does sound a bit weird and there have been a few threads like this jumped on recently, sorry, it's just something that has thrown me a bit)

It is totally, totally normal and really quite common. From her point of view it feels nice so why wouldn't she?

I think your explaination of not putting things there is fine. Are you happy for her to touch herself in certain situations, or are you hoping to stop it entirely?

What I say to my sons is that its fine to do but privately - so OK in the bath or in bed or alone in their bedrooms/the bathroom but not anywhere else. When they started fiddling in the living room etc I'd remind them gently - in public I'd resort to distraction (with only the occasional hiss of 'leave your willy alone please')

Should add, I only have boys but every friend who has girls has encountered this to some degree.

I hadn't really thought about it! But you're right, there's no reason to stop her doing it. It's just trying to insert things that isn't a good idea - honestly, she managed to scratch herself last night and now we have to explain it to the childminder

I wonder why people don't joke about girls doing it? I'd have been more prepared then!

My 2yo DD likes to explore a bit when we're getting her changed, along with little squeaks of 'nice!' :o I tend to distract her by blowing raspberries on her tummy.