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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

9 month old... masturbating???!

29 replies

takefu · 19/12/2007 18:17

DD seems to be, well, masturbating! She does it in her highchair the most (there's a big fat bar between her legs, can't remove it), but sometimes in the pushchair and carseat... squirms and twists her legs around, gets a glazed look in her eyes, and sometimes even grunts! I know this is normal, but I'm wondering if there's any way to dissuade her? She won't eat in the high chair once she gets going, but trying to feed her on my lap is proving to be very, very messy (and she's just as squirmy!). Any ideas? Anyone else have this problem? Will it pass with time?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

donnie · 19/12/2007 18:19

sounds more like she is trying to do a poo!!

bubblagirl · 19/12/2007 18:29

well for one at this age they have no idea what they are doing so is not masterbating lol

its more toddler age when they feel around and notice it feels nice but still they have no idea what they are doing sounds more like she is in discomfort could she have urine infection

nappy would stop any sort of good feeling with rubbing that area so must be another reason why she is squirming

could she be sore maybe itchy or as other poster said maybe trying to poo maybe she is itching and trying to relieve discomfort must be sweaty inside nappy maybe cream her and see if it eases

donnie · 19/12/2007 18:32

I did wonder if this was a troll actually.

Original poster

takefu · 19/12/2007 18:43

She does wear cloth nappies so I guess you're right, the chances of her feeling anything are probably slim... she hasn't had a fever at all, though, and the only other thing i can think that would be related is that she has been very squirmy recently and occasionally irritable. Definitely not pooing, because she does this even after pooing.

OP posts:

Original poster

takefu · 19/12/2007 18:43

Maybe a troll taking over my child's body, ha ha!

OP posts:

McGill · 19/12/2007 21:40

Hi - some babies do 'masterbate' in that they wriggle and squirm in certain positions cos it feels nice - think the medical term is something not quite as sexual sounding - something like 'self gratification'..... some wee ones even get referred to paediatricians cos they look like they are having a fit...think it is the 'glazed expression' and all the movement! No idea how to stop it but sure it ain't doing her any harm, but certainly must be a pain to feed her! maybe typing in ' baby self gratification' to google mght give you a few websites that could help.

CliffRichardSucksEggsInHell · 19/12/2007 21:42

Um, thread title ain't great. I agree that to call it masturbating in a 9month old doesn't seem right at all. She might have an itch down there, have you checked her for thrush?

evelina · 19/12/2007 21:46

I think it can be quite normal for it to start early with girls, but the "m" word is wrong sounding when so young as it implies a sexual awareness that just isn't there.

Bauble99 · 19/12/2007 21:48

My DS1 used to rock on his hands and knees from about 9 months until he was three-ish.

Not the same, but similar in that it was a pattern of behaviour that comforted him and obv felt good.

gingerninja · 19/12/2007 21:49

you're kidding right? Perhaps she's got an itch. My DD does this and sometimes it may well be for pleasure but I'd never consider it masturbation.

Original poster

takefu · 20/12/2007 23:00

Sorry if I made it sound so awful, I didn't mean to at all. I think I searched in the archives and came across the same subject, so didn't really think it through before I put the title in. Wish I could edit it!!! Anyway we're going to see the GP tomorrow, just to make sure there's not a medical reason for the behaviour. Of course it's not 'masturbation' in the sexual sense, just couldn't think of another name or way to describe it in my sleep deprived state. Also going to try a different high chair. Might be that she's just uncomfortable. Who knows. Also, apologies for the troll joke- I didn't know what a 'troll' was, until I clicked on the 'troll policy' at the top. Thanks for all the replies, even if everyone thought it was an awkward subject. Gosh I feel so silly today after a full nights sleep.

OP posts:

mears · 20/12/2007 23:10

Have you checked for threadworms? Not impossible.

LAB1009 · 21/12/2007 15:17

Hi there,

I just wanted to let you know that my DD2 (10 months) does this too, mainly in her car seat and buggy. It is quite obvious and it makes me a bit uncomfortable but, according to my HV, there's nothing much we can do until she is old enough to realise that its something to be done in private. Don't worry about it. Your DD has just discovered this early thats all.

LAB1009 · 21/12/2007 15:19

Meant to say, we use a stragetically placed blanket to try and hide what DD2 is doing in her car seat and her cosytoes for the pram. Maybe you should invest in a highchair with no big bar in it.

Original poster

takefu · 21/12/2007 16:47

Well, we've just been to the doctor and he said that there was nothing to worry about- asked about threadworms too. Ever since reading that from mears I have been sooooo itchy just thinking about it. I checked her last night, to see if it could be that, but saw nothing. And of course all night I kept thinking I was really itchy, ha ha! So we're back to square one. Today a friend watched her in the buggy for a few minutes and when I came back, she said 'oh, looks like she's done a poo- was just very red in the face!'... when I checked her nappy it was clean. I guess the only thing to do is to keep an eye on her, and see how it goes. Will try sitting her somewhere else for meals for awhile, and I'm going to put her in disposables for a few days. Thanks Lab1009, I'm glad I'm not alone here. So happy to have MN!!!!

OP posts:

loopylou6 · 21/12/2007 17:10

takefu, i am glad to see this thread, my dd is 3 and she does this aswell, although she makes it very obvious, it reaqlly does make u feel uncomfortable doesnt it, i keep trying to explain to her that she should do that in private, but she doesnt listen

Original poster

takefu · 21/12/2007 18:14

oh gosh it is embarrassing, and i can only imagine what it's like when they're 3. i guess society makes us feel like there's something really wrong with it.

OP posts:

Heathcliffscathy · 21/12/2007 18:17

it is masturbating, it is incredibly common and is nothing at all to worry about. babies stimulate themselves and it feels good to them.

nothing perverse about it.

penelope leach is good on this in her book iirc

Shitemum · 21/12/2007 18:24

I had a friend whose baby did this from about the same age. she was still doing it at the age of 3. By then she would rub herself against her mum's knee. I found it a bit embarrasing but i think the mum was right not to stop her or make a big deal of it. Last time i saw her she was about 4 and wasnt doing it any more, at least she didnt while they were visiting...
(This particular child had eating issues from very young - she refused any solids till about a year, thereafter ate very little and was very underweight. I think there was a battle of wills going on about that with the mother but it may have nothing to do with the 'masturbation'9

evelina · 21/12/2007 20:43

I've posted on this thread before but I just wanted to add that I've heard about it a number of times in relation to little girls. I think it's perfectly normal, happens to some and not others, and the best way of dealing with it is practial methods such as thicker clothing down below etc. I'm a mum of boys and I guess I will be having these type of issues further down the line!

Nathaliekhn · 25/11/2015 22:38

Hi moms :) if anyone is still on this thread can you let me know what happened when did you babies grow out of it ? What did u do ? My 9 month babu is doing the same and it gets me uncomfortable please help

QOD · 25/11/2015 22:41

Well being as their kids would.be at least 9 ... and this has been a zombie thread for 8 yrs ...
start a.new thread

Nathaliekhn · 25/11/2015 22:45

The reason i wrote on this thread was to find out what happened if they grew out of it and how parents dealt with it

gamerchick · 25/11/2015 22:49

Have you grew out of it Nathaliekhn or did you learn that it was a private thing?

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 25/11/2015 22:52

It's unlikely that posters from 9 years ago will respond. They may have name changed but you'd be much better off starting a new thread.

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