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Parenting

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Original poster

How do you explain to a 3.9 year old what a tampon is for?!

52 replies

notnowbernard · 18/09/2007 09:07

DD1 just ran up to me with a tampax in her hand.
DD - what's this?
Me - it's something ladies use
DD - what's it called, though?
Me - a tampon
DD - What's it for?
Me - (crappy explanation about it helping a tummy ache)
DD - what do you do with it though?

Got a bit stuck at this point, tbh!

'Luckily' DD2 fell over at this point and all were distracted...

What do you say, though?!

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Bluestocking · 18/09/2007 09:12

DS is fascinated by tampons but hasn't asked me what they are for yet! He knows that sanitary towels are "mummy's little nappies" though.

saltire · 18/09/2007 09:14

My two have never really asked. However when DS1 was abo7ut 2- 21/2, I heard him asking the girl next door if she wanted an ice-lolly. Then I realised we didn't have any, and went outside to see him throwing the Tampax over the fence thinking they were mini milks! There is nothing more embarassing than having to go and ask your neighbours if you can get your tampax out their garden

Original poster

notnowbernard · 18/09/2007 09:15

A sanitary towel would def be easier to expain away... I am normally of the 'if they're old enough to ask, theyre old enough to get an answer' school, but was a bit stumped on this one.

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Roskva · 18/09/2007 09:15

A friend's little dd broke into the bathroom as she was getting out of the shower.

"Mummy, you've got a piece of string stuck between your legs" says little one.

My friend had no idea how to respond to that one, either

Original poster

notnowbernard · 18/09/2007 09:16

Saltire - that is very funny!

OP posts:

EmsMum · 18/09/2007 09:20

As my DD never had any inhibitions about coming into the loo when I was using it (and anyway have to share loo when out for the day) she knew from an early age where a tampon went. I think my explanation was simple but accurate enough - something on the lines of mummys have a place where a baby can grow and it gets ready each month with a nice lining but then if its not used the lining comes out with some blood ready to make a new one.

Hence no confusion with lollies or offering to DH for tummy ache ... really, its best to be straightforward with small children, they typically arent squeamish and have a purely scientific curiousity.

CaptainCaveman · 18/09/2007 09:23

Ds (3.4) came to the loo with me and I had to change my tampax. Unfortunately it was a busy public loo...

ds: mummy, why have you put a white mouse in your willy?

...tumbleweed......

Threadworm · 18/09/2007 09:23

I told my DSs the truth when they asked. Though I remember explicitly talking about 'red stuff' rather than blood, so as not to freak them out too much.

A related prob: What do you say when then-three-year-old ds finds your contraceptive cap and ask what it is? I had a split second during which I considered saying that it was a trampoline for Action Man. But I opted for a minimal version of the truth: 'When you do the special cuddle for making babies, but you do it for fun and don't want to make a baby, you put this in the way.'
I was dreading the follow-up questions but they never came, so I think Ds1 went away with the idea that I held it up like a shield.

Threadworm · 18/09/2007 09:24

ROFL at the white mouse.

fortunecookie · 18/09/2007 09:25

aghh! tough one. Ds, of course, thought it was a sweet.

I used my mother's old tactic of "none of your business".

Original poster

notnowbernard · 18/09/2007 09:30

Think i will go for the straightforward, biological approach. But with emphasis on the it only happens to ladies bit. DD1 is imitator supreme, have got visions of her grappling with a Tampax!

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FrannyandZooey · 18/09/2007 09:33

I have mooncup and just explained about an egg coming each month and the body getting a nice squashy lining ready in case a baby grows. If a baby doesn't grow then the egg and the squashy stuff comes out. It would make a mess on my clothes so I catch it with the mooncup and put in the toilet.

With tampon I would explain it goes into your vagina to catch the stuff that is coming out (agree maybe not say blood if you think it would scare them). I don't understand about the tummy ache thing - I think this would confuse them? Just tell a simple version of the truth, this is less likely to bother them than something made up or a flat "none of your business".

FrannyandZooey · 18/09/2007 09:34

Oh ds keeps wanting to see the egg! Sometimes when I get up from a chair he examines it very carefully "in case the egg came out when you were sitting on it mummy"

sfxmum · 18/09/2007 09:36

my dd 2.4 asked what the pad was for
I told her for my period. she left it at that
next month she informed her dad

'mummy is padding the knickers'

maisym · 18/09/2007 09:41

Not on topic but could be helpful... Preparing my kids in case I give birth at home - have explained that there will be blood but it's not from being hurt it's like the blood that comes when a tooth falls out or like the soil that stays around veg when pulled up. This makes sense to them!!

TheApprentice · 18/09/2007 09:43

Lol at this thread.

I agree about telling the truth bit. I still remember my little brother aged 4 seeing my Mum naked with the cord hanging out (!) and asking about it like Roskva's friends little girl. She talked about mummies making eggs and them getting washed away with blood etc and he seemed quite satisfied with that, simply asking if it happened to his sister (me) too!

I dont think telling young kids these things does any harm because they only take in what they can cope with anyway.

Roskva · 18/09/2007 12:55

Thanks for all the useful suggestions on dealing with these questions. My dd isn't old enough to ask yet, but I'm hoping that when the time comes, and that awkward question is asked, I might remember some of these answers and not stand there thinking "what do I say????"

Pruners · 18/09/2007 12:57

Message withdrawn

FrannyandZooey · 18/09/2007 19:56

Pruni you wooss

you haven't lived until you have had a small child examine the seat you just vacated for signs of eggs

or been in a public toilet with ds saying loudly "Mummy are you going to empty your egg cup now?"

Pruners · 18/09/2007 19:59

Message withdrawn

scattyspice · 18/09/2007 20:01

HA Ha Ha.
DS emptied a box of 40 super super plus tampax all over the check out at Sainsburys.
The poor teenage lad on the til was mortified.
(I told DS they were for ladies)
The old lady behind me PHSL.

sazzybee · 18/09/2007 20:02

Me and my sister did try and shove tampons up ourselves when were little because we were interested. It hurt

Perhaps those of you with DDs might tell them not to do that. But then your DDs probably aren't as stupid as we were

Original poster

notnowbernard · 18/09/2007 20:03

Am continuing to regret the made-up-on-the-spot pants story that a 'tampon helps with tummy ache'... DD1 asked later if you stuck it in your belly button to make it better

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choosyfloosy · 18/09/2007 20:06

LOL LOL at diaphragm shield

fihi · 18/09/2007 20:11

OMG this thread is so funny lol!! my ds is still convinced that baby sis was born thru my belly button and i'm not puttin him straight...

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