Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

My son won't leave his willy alone!

28 replies

charlie1000 · 06/03/2009 10:59

My DS1 is 5 and without meaning to he will not stop touching his willy. It is while he's dressed he constantly has his hand there and it's becoming embarrassing as people keep asking him if he needs the loo. I think now he's done it for quite a while it's become habit and I keep reminding him not to put his hand on it but within 5 minutes his hand has wandered back to his crotch! What can I do?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
IwishIwasmoreorganised · 06/03/2009 11:00

chop it off

Original poster
charlie1000 · 06/03/2009 11:02

Ha ha! My sister-in-law said her son was the same and she told him it would eventually drop off and he would be a girl to which he replied "is that what happened to you mummy" thought this was hilarious!

OP posts:
edam · 06/03/2009 11:03

Oh dear. It's amusing in a baby when they first discover it's there and you think, there's the start of a life-long fascination, but not good at all for a 5yo.

I tell ds his willy is private and if he wants to fiddle, he should do it in his bedroom. Trying to balance not giving him a complex or making him think his body is dirty with acceptable social behaviour...

PortBlacksandResident · 06/03/2009 11:03

It is the start of a lifelong love affair .

5 is old enough for him to be told it's inappropriate in public. I think i went down the route of it's your body and we all have private bits and it's not nice in public.

MrsMattie · 06/03/2009 11:04

My 4 yr old is always at it, too. It's not even a 'pleasuring himself' thing. He just rearranges his bits all the time. I think it's normal, although I do sometimes remind him that it's best not to touch your private parts in public!

Original poster
charlie1000 · 06/03/2009 11:08

I agree MrsMattie, he's just re-arranging as you say and although I have told him on numerous occassions it's not appropriate he still does it! It's usually in an absent minded way and I think he's been having some 'sensations' (sorry if tmi) down there which I have told him is all perfectly normal but not to do it in front of other people. Keep joking it'll drop off but at same time don't want him to think his body is dirty. Do you think this is just a phase or have I got to put up with this till he moves out?

OP posts:
mankyscotslass · 06/03/2009 11:11

DH has taught our eldest DS, nearly 7, to say "it's complicated down there mum", when I remind him that he shouldn't be playing pocket snooker in public.

Furball · 06/03/2009 11:12

god my 7 yo has just started this, he litarally has at least one hand near at all times.

Original poster
charlie1000 · 06/03/2009 11:14

OMG he's never gonna stop is he???!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
charlie1000 · 06/03/2009 11:15

Perhaps I'll gaffa tape his hands together

OP posts:
cory · 06/03/2009 12:51

I think you just have to resign yourself to an awful lot of nagging. As with any other bad habit you try to wean your child off. It's what mums do.

gremlindolphin · 10/03/2009 22:24

My friends ds (6) had to be taken out of school assembly because he got his hand stuck through a hole in his trousers! Boys eh?!

WilyWombat · 10/03/2009 22:28

Mines 8 and I often walk into the living room to find him looking guilty and it hanging out the top of his trousers. I have pointed out to him that any of the neighbours could see in through the window and it isnt really "socially acceptable" but tbh his dads behaviour isnt that much better (rummaging around and scratching)

I feel like I live in a zoo sometimes.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 10/03/2009 22:36

PMSL at this

DH is pretty good at not rumaging so I'm hoping that DS will be alright, although he's only just discovered it (at 7 months) and as soon as his nappy comes off his hand is down there like a shot!

My youngest brother used to take all his clothes off and draw lines down his in felt tip pen.

WilyWombat · 10/03/2009 22:40

My youngest did get very upset and kept telling me "mum hes doing it again....its private " but now hes getting older ive noticed a little bit of rummaging from him too

smilesattheweekend · 10/03/2009 22:47

My 5yo loves his little man. The most embarrising is when he is at his swimming lesson, all the parents watch through glass windows. DS gets out at the end and they do a jumping in the pool thing, they all line up on the edge, fully facing the adoring crowd of parents, and I am there watching feeling the excruciating embarrasment rise through my body whilst DS makes sure it has not been lost during the swimming lesson - - yes, it's still there, lets just check and I will pull it as far as I can, yes, it hasn't dropped off therefore good for another tug - fabulous all the mums and dads think it is great after all they are all laughing and mum has gone the deepest shade of red I have ever seen - should i actually put my hand in my shorts to make sure my willie is still there - sorry what's that - jump in?? of course off we go - splash - nightmare over for another week!!!! It will pass, I bribed him with chocolate from the vending machine!!

Original poster
charlie1000 · 11/03/2009 09:39

LOL!!! All these posts made me PMSL!! Makes me feel my son's clearly not the only one then! I dread it when DS2 starts!

OP posts:
purplemonkeydishwasher · 11/03/2009 09:45

oh yes. i'm in this club as well (unfortunately!!) DS(3yo) LOVES his willy. he goes through phases that are worse than others (liek the one where he 'swam' across the carpet with his willy hanging out)
boys.

sadly his dad has the same infatuation. ever had 2 of them doing a 'weiner dance' at you at the same time??

please let me be having a girl this time!!!!!!!!!

Margomum · 24/05/2009 18:33

charlie 100 I am with you entirely! My little boy is 5 and he is at his bits every 5 seconds. It's so instinctive he doesn't even seem to notice he's doing it. His teacher mentioned it to me the other day and I was so embarrased. I reprimand him every time, going the route of 'it's your body and some things are not done in public' but it just doesn't get thro'! By the sound of it, we're stuck with it!

dingledangle · 24/05/2009 18:40

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I was hoping my 14 month old would grow out of it as he touches it at every opportunity!

LOL to all the posts!

lottiebunny · 24/05/2009 18:45

My brother is 19 and still does this. At least he won't do it in public but sitting there watch TV its like he has a need to know its not dropped off.

EvenBetaDad · 24/05/2009 18:51

DS1 and DS2 did and still do it.

The partial solution was to make sure thay had a shower EVERY NIGHT and wear boxer short. Often it is just sweating and itchy so if they start we tell them to go and wipe themselves with a baby wipe. Sometimes they have just 'forgotten' to go to the toilet for a wee and need reminding.

These approaches seem to stop it. We do not tolerate it. It is not mandatory boy behaviour.

psychomum5 · 24/05/2009 19:07

DS1 is another one fascinated with his willy. I have to keep reminding him.

strange thing is, DS2 could not care less. I thought it was mandatory for all boys (the twins I nannied for also held their willies a lot!), but seems not. I think some boys just have more of a habit about it.

embarrassing tho when in public

stillenacht · 24/05/2009 19:14

my DS (9) was having a good old fiddle with his as i walked into the front room yesterday and he looked up and said 'but mum it feels nice'...i just told him it wasn't something he should do in public ...yet another thing that makes me think he is growing up too fast....

candyfluff · 24/05/2009 20:07

loved your post smeilesattheweekend

my ds is 2.10 and is in constant contact with his little fella too
i feel your pain
he also try's to shoot us with his machine gun willy -i pmsl at that one

Swipe left for the next trending thread