What's a good age to have the birds and bees conversation?

[TinyGang]

My dd is 7.5 yrs. I seem to have told her today what's what. Well, she asked and I answered her questions truthfully.

It was fine, but I hope I haven't talked about this too young to her. She seems curious, a bit incredulous, but has asked some well thought out follow up questions. It all came about because I mentioned periods a couple of months ago.

I didn't want to, but keep hearing that girls are starting so young these days and didn't want her frightened if anything happened early. She seems to have filed this away in her head and said no more until today. Do your dd's and ds's know about all this yet at this age?

I just answered things as they came up tbh.We didn't do a 'talk' as such with DS1 and am not planning it with the other two either.

Sorry,I can't remember specific ages for each thing.Just as and when.

Thanks. Yes, I wouldn't call it a 'talk' exactly (that sounds like the lecture in the Meaning of Life), but she suddenly had lots of questions.

They don't half pick their moments though - Monday morning of all times when we're rushed. She picked up again with it though this evening. Seems quite happy about it all, but a bit surprised I think.

My ds is 9 and still hasn't asked anything! Think i need to pluck up the courage to talk to him!

will watch with interest. was a bit suprised at another thread when people were explaining - at least a bit - at age 6. so in light of that I took a semi-plunge tonight infact and when dd2 (only 4 bless her) asked me what tampons were for (dd1 was there too) I basically told them. It was actually suprisingly easy. the questions came thick and fast. ended up asking how long it takes for babies to come out - when I said it could take as much as a day dd1 found this hilarious - she said "WHAT you mean you can't go out all day cos there's a baby half out of you?". and I said the word vagina. very proud of myself.

It's not too bad I found. It's just another question in the millions they have every day to them I guess.

It's worth putting some accurate info into their heads before the playground rumours kick in properly, which is about Y3 ime.

Although I overheard ds (nearly 7) having a conversation with a friend along the lines of "and they kissed" "hee hee hee" "and he sexed her" "tee hee hee" . So I buttonholed him later, told him I'd overheard this and asked what he thought 'he sexed her' meant. Turns out he thought it meant kissing. I told him he was wrong about that and asked if he wanted me to explain what it really meant. He thought about it for a minute, and said "Not really, no."

So that's me told.

i always thought, when they ask/when it comes up....sounds like you've done really well to me tinygang....

I've told my dd (5) the basics (and I mean really basic) over the last few weeks. It's kind of crept out gradually as she's asked questions - like how do babies get out of their mummies tummies...then how do they get in there in the first place... how do daddies get the sperm to the egg ("eeuuggh that's horrible"). I didn't plan to tell her this soon but she was saying things like "you have to poo babies out" and I'd rather her know the truth. ( I didn't tell her it it feels like you're pooing it out!!!!)

I'd answered bits and bobs as we went along, but did it all in more detail last summer when dd had just turned 8.