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Original poster

How do I explain periods to a 2 yr old?

23 replies

Gingerbear · 14/08/2004 03:24

My dd has become very interested in bodily functions, and knows that daddy has a willy to wee and that she and mummy have a noo noo. She always comes to the bathroom with me, and asked me about 'mummy's nappy' - this one has wings though. I just said ' sometimes mummy needs a nappy too' and left it at that.

What should I say to her?

OP posts:
hermykne · 14/08/2004 08:24

do u really need to say anymore?

Twiglett · 14/08/2004 09:15

message withdrawn

jampot · 14/08/2004 09:22

Agree - say nothing plenty of time for that later

motherinferior · 14/08/2004 09:42

I've always been quite open with both my girls. When asked, I say I get a bit leaky sometimes. I worried about dd1 freaking out with the blood but she does seem very chilled out about it.

Rainbow · 14/08/2004 10:38

I agree with the others. She doesn't need to know any more at this age. She won't understand.

mears · 14/08/2004 13:36

She has probably forgotten she asked you the question already . No need for further explanation IMO.

lou33 · 14/08/2004 13:38

When mine asked at that age, all I said was mummy has to bleed sometimes to tell me I am not having a baby.

Sozie · 14/08/2004 13:49

I bought a book called Hair in funny places by Babette Cole (I think) to help tackle these types of questions - my dd is 3.5 though but it may be a book that's helpful as she gets a little older.

nikkim · 14/08/2004 22:42

I was on my period while out shopping with some friends in Manchester. I went to the loo with my 2 year old dd and had to change my tampon, dd was absolutely fascinated and told everyone loudly on our return that Mummy's wee is pink and she has a stick up her bum!

I have just told dd that sometimese Mummy's have blood in their wee but it doesn't hurt.

edam · 14/08/2004 23:17

My mother had me drawing diagrams of male and female reproductive organs when I was three... so you could try blinding her with science Alarmed our childminder when I said: "Linda, I've forgotten how to draw a vagina!" apparently. Clever Linda said, very thoughtfully, "Do you know, I've forgotten too, shall we ask Mummy when she comes home" as she wasn't at all sure if I should know the answer!

hatter · 15/08/2004 22:36

in the car once with dds (4 and 2) and my mum I went into a shop for a couple of things. DD1 insisted on looking through my shopping. Carefully taking things out of the bag one at at a time she said "you've bought some water...you've bought some biscuits...you've bought some things to stick up your bottom".

lavender1 · 15/08/2004 22:42

you don't need to, when she's a little older she will be more questionable and them maybe you could explain it in more detail.

poppyseed · 15/08/2004 22:46

Tell her a little bit of the truth. Over the years you can build on it then so that it isn't all a shock at once! I can't be doing with made up stories about the ins and outs of things! As an ex-biology teacher I may be a little too much the other way though! Our DD (5) knows that daddy gave me a half a seed that joined with my half a seed to make her brother - and what's more she knows that he only did it because he loves me!! Very moralistic in our house!!

miggy · 15/08/2004 23:13

Kids were having a picnic with grandparents last week and playing a telling secrets game. DDs secret was "mummy does poohs in her pants", My mum started explaining that it wasnt pooh but blood and ds said "yes-dont be silly x, mummy must be in season" Kids couldnt understand why grandparents then insensible with laughter

Original poster
Gingerbear · 15/08/2004 23:15

Twiglett, I was worried that she would be concerned about the blood, but I think you are right. I will wait for her to ask as she gets older and be open and honest about things.

I hated only finding out about periods and sex at school and my mum buying me a book and telling me that I couldn't use tampons until I got married (she never explained why). I can understand her embarrassment, but I am determined to be more open with DD.

Nikkim and edam and Hatter

OP posts:
Original poster
Gingerbear · 15/08/2004 23:18

miggy , my DD also said that I had done a poo in my pants.

OP posts:
jampot · 15/08/2004 23:59

Edam

My son is obsessed with the human body and last year (aged 6) asked me "where do blastocysts come from?"

!!!

KateandtheGirls · 16/08/2004 01:17

I do prefer to use the proper terms for parts of the body. Although my 4 year old now thinks that a vagina is just the whole female genital area. She said to me the other day, "You have a really big vagina". How do you respond? Thanks?

nikkim · 16/08/2004 10:16

I agree Gingerbear that it is awful finding things out only through school and then thinking why didn't me Mum tell me that! But I would rather do it in a light hearted way as we go through life rather than sitting Grace down for a big talk. It is shocking but their are girls every year who commit suicide because they do not understand what is happening when their period start.

On a lighter note my dd 2.11 is obsessed with her vagina, she sits watching the telly with her finger inserted, only to remove it for a sniff, much to the embaressment of any guests. She announced quite proudly the other day that her bum smells of butterflies!

Original poster
Gingerbear · 16/08/2004 21:46

so what does a butterfly smell like then???

OP posts:
MeanBean · 16/08/2004 22:07

Jampot, what are blastocysts, and where do they come from??!

jampot · 16/08/2004 22:53

A blastocyst is "In mammals, the hollow ball of cells which is an early stage in the development of the embryo"

nikkim · 17/08/2004 01:33

Ginger bear I myself have been wondering what abutterfly smells of. But she has moved on as today she smells of apples. Took this as quite a slur on my culinary skills as I was making apple fool for her lunchbox at the time!

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