at what age do you talk to your kids about how babies are made?

[LilacGarden]

At what age do you talk to your child about the actual act of sexual reproduction in terms of how babies are made? And what words or approaches do you actually use? And if they don't bring it up do you avoid it- and until what age-- or do you deliberately bring it up?
Thanks for any advice on how and when to broach this subject for a first time Mother.

We started to talk about it probably around 4? I gave a very scientific explanation of sperm and egg and where each comes from. I didn’t explain how. It’s only been recently she’s 6 that I gave a very rudimentary explanation of sex - because we came across an exhibit in a museum that didn’t leave much to the imagination! I probably would have left it a little longer til she asked otherwise.

Whatever age they ask. So my two year old asked the others asked a but later and it's a civersatii you might have at different levels as they get older
I used simple language, the younger they were. "Mummies and daddies have a special adult cuddle that's only for adults and when they love each. Daddy's seed makes a baby with mummy's egg inside her and mummy grows baby in her tummy. You got the best of both of us. "

Be prepared for some awkward questions 😁

I don't think there was an age, just something that was mentioned as part of life from a very young age.
As toddlers they saw me emptying my mooncup, I explained what it was for.
When I was pregnant with my 2nd I explained how it happens etc to my 1st.
We talked about their developing bodies etc.
With teens the talk is now more focused on how NOT TO make babies!

Sorry about typos
I meant one asked aged 2, the others asked at later age. And it's a conversation not convsersii

I've never told any of my 5 how babies are made. They just found out themselves 😬 if they've ask I've told them that you get them from the hospital 🙈

Probably started from 3ish. At 5 & 8 they now know the specifics.

From as soon as they started asking about human bodies. So 3 ish. I told them about kidneys and brains and hearts and breathing and circulation and reproduction and biological differences. My eldest was 4 when I had my youngest and she knew then. Was simple biological fact. You just answer their questions in a simple way and it is an ongoing conversation, not a lecture.

Just before they started school, so 4. They hadn't asked and it was too important to leave it up to curiosity.
The book "where willy went" nails down the basics and will make you all snigger while you read it.

Start young and simple, when there is no embarrassment or emotion involved - it’s simply a set of facts, like teaching about dinosaurs.
There are some delightful books for toddlers and young kids on the subject. Babette Cole springs to mind.
Gradually increase the detail and emotional/relationship/boundaries
/respect/contraception stuff as appropriate as they get older.
The more matter of fact you are, the easier you make it for them to confide in you.

Mine were probably about 4 or 5 I think. We never had 'the conversation', but I always asked their questions honestly and in language they could understand. I seem to remember a friend being pregnant and DS1 asking how the baby got on her tummy. I think I drew a diagram!

It's always been important to me to be open with them because I wanted them to feel they could talk to me. My parents never really spoke to me about sex at all. My mum gave me a book about periods when I was 10, that was it. Everything else was learned from teenage magazines and from school.

As they ask/show an interest really. I've talked to my 4yo in a matter of fact and factual way about the sperm and eggs basics and how babies get out - he got interested when I was pregnant with his little brother. He hasn't asked about how the sperm and eggs get together yet but when he does, I'll tell him. If he hasn't asked by the age of 6 or so I think I'll buy him a book.

Be factual, answer questions, use the biologically accurate words as much as you can and don't spin them any bullshit about storks or cabbage patches or getting them at the hospital, they won't thank you for it.

I've been straight with all of mine from very early on. I've covered everything except the actual PIV act. My 12 year old has been given extra details like how pregnancy or infections can be caused (albeit extremely unlikely) by other... methods such as semen or pre-cum on hands then coming into contact with her. I've also debunked the myths of "can't get pregnant first time", "can't get pregnant on top or in a pool" and the other one of "can't get pregnant if he withdraws"

My 5 year old has never asked me about how babies were made, even when I was pregnant with my second and he was 3.5 years old.

I have tried to raise the topic God knows how many times but he’s just not interested. I will say general things to him about babies being in their mummy’s tummy etc to try and trigger an interest in him to see if he will ask me something about it but he never does.

I guess I will have to just wait until natural curiosity hits him.

I started introducing some of it aged 4/5. There is an Usborne book. It also has sections on the digestive system and the senses. This led to questions maybe a year or two later on how the sperm actually get in (not via the mouth!). But very much presented alongside other biological facts. We teach boundaries in other ways, and also privacy/dignity in other ways. It will all be joined up later.