HELP! My DD keeps "humping" her soft toys!!!

[balancingact]

My DD just turned 3 and she has this habit (started when she was quite young) of going on her tummy, putting her hands just under her private parts, knees pointing out, bottom up (like a frog, IYSWIM), and doing a humping movement - she does this when she is tired and wanting to go to sleep. Sometimes she will put soft toy underneath her as well (her poor minnie mouse toy is typically the favoured one!) - when she was little, we just ignored it, figured she will outgrow it - but she hasn't and she started doing this in my sister in law's living room on Christmas afternoon as she was tired!! How should we react ? am still off the ignore school but my DH keeps telling her not to do that - but not sure if that's the right thing? sorry so long but it beggars belief when you see it!

I would ignore it. I am sure she will outgrow it eventually. Perhaps you should have a quiet word with her and tell her it's something that she should only do at home in bed if it's worrying you that she's going to start doing it in public?

Oh.... i remember my DD doing that too!! Never seen another kid do it since TBH. You will be glad to hear that my DD grew out of it between 4 and 6 years.

I wouldn't worry, but I think she is old enough to understand that it is okay to do that but only when you are on your own. I use this for all manner of 'sins' - nose picking, nudity, private parts etc. etc.

Get your DH to do say the same.

thanks, will do this - you can do it in bed type thing.
OMG, it is hilarious to see - just a bit embarassing when in front of MIL as scared she might think it is something she saw from us !!!

Oh don't worry it's a comfort thing. Ds2, now 7 still does it when he's tired, although not so obviously humping. He lies on his tummy with his hands between his legs. Actually I don't even think about it any more, hadn't done until I saw this thread.

Jsut putting my name on this so that I can find it again easily to show friends with a similar thing going on with their 3 year old dd.

Dd has been going great guns humping her baby annabel in front of MIL !

You poor mummies, I have dts, the girl plays with herself, and the boy likes to cuddle girl in the nude, they are 3yo, definitely don't get it from DH and myself unless there is a Z in the month, apart from the 'House Rabbit' that humps 'doddles' (a daily washed tweenie toy)

We actually try and distract them as much as possible without it being too obvious! But I find it very worrying, what if they don't stop doing it!!!!!!!!

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Ah, remember this well from Ds1 soon after he had turned 3. We called it 'bouncing'. He liked to do it to a big teddy he had and didn't care who saw at first (a few awkward moments with visitors) but overtime he learnt to do it alone - cue 'Mummy can you leave the room I want to do bouncing' - and eventually only in his room. Don't know if he still does it (nearly 7) though think I walked in on him doing it about half a year ago.

DN used to do this. He stopped ages ago - I can't remember exactly when, but a few years ago (he's 9 now). I understand that all NT children grow out of it, following a similar pattern to EmilyF's DS1. DS does it now - he's 18 mo. I'm hoping that the early start means an early finish !

Am so relieved my dd not the only one! She started humping the side of the sofa around two and I hoped she would grow out of it - she still occasionally does it - calls it 'doing work' .

I tried to tell her to do it in private and unfortunately do have to tell her off because she's four now and I believe she's well aware that it's impolite (to say the least!!) to do it in company...it isn't as frequent thankfully, and there are no sound effects anymore, (which was horrific for a mother to witness - a three year olds version of when harry met sally!)

it seems more absent minded than anything.