Explaining childbirth to a four year old

[Y1986]

We're expecting our second child and our 4.5 year old is very excited and asking lots of questions which is lovely. He keeps asking how the baby will get out of my stomach and I'm not sure how much detail to go in to! I've said I go to hospital and the midwife helps the baby out my tummy but he still asks how. Can anyone recommend any books which we could read together to help him understand? Thanks x

When my kids were little I just explained things in very simple terms. I presume he knows you don't have a willy like he does? (yep, we call it willy in this house even now they're older and all know and can use the proper terminology)

I explained that ladies have another hole that is near the hole their wee comes out of and this hole is for babies to come out when they're ready. When it's time the hole gets really stretchy and mummy pushes the baby out.

From what I remember that seemed to be enough detail for them and they didn't obsess or even ask more questions about it, though they did remark that it was cool and amazing which of course it is . We didn't use a book at that stage sorry.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

I was completely honest with my 3.5 year old. I don't see much point in softening it. She's very curious and knows about doctors and bodies and names for things. I told her the baby would hopefully come out of mummies vagina but it might come out of her tummy with a big cut. After I had him she told me he was very big and I must have a big vagina and not a small one like her.

Our 4 yo had a great book about this, and also pregnancy… wait a bit I will have a look …

DD1 was 3 when DD2 was born. I told her ladies have 3 holes in their bottoms, one for wee, one for poo and one where babies come out of. I told her about her birth c section and how we were hoping DD2 would come out of my bottom but I may have to a c section and she would need to be gentle with me afterwards. She spent weeks performing c sections on my bump which at least allowed me to rest when she played with her her doctors set.

After I had him she told me he was very big and I must have a big vagina and not a small one like her.

I just told DD1 the truth, she already knows what a vagina is so she just accepted the answer. She has a book called first fabulous body facts which has a page showing a baby in a womb, she saw that and asked about it so I explained it simply (the baby grows in the womb and when it’s ready comes out of the vagina). I think simple but honest is the way to go.

When I was pregnant with ds2, ds1 decided he was going to nibble his way out like the very hungry caterpillar

Dd was 4.4 when her brother arrived and we just answered all her questions as she asked them.

She started school when he was 4 days old and apparently on her very first day in reception, performed a CS in the role play corner.

I perhaps wouldn't tell them a baby comes out of your bottom as per a previous poster as this could lead to some serious confusion.

Another one for the "three holes" explanation here. DD (3.5) is fascinated by umbilical cords and their relationship to belly buttons. I found her a photo of herself a few minutes old with hers still attached and she was delighted.

Spare a thought for me though - when we started TTC I explained to her how a baby forms from a little egg etc etc - all about one baby. Months went on like this. We're now expecting twins and she was clearly at how I'd been going on about one baby when apparently it can be any number .

@sylbunny

I was completely honest with my 3.5 year old. I don't see much point in softening it. She's very curious and knows about doctors and bodies and names for things. I told her the baby would hopefully come out of mummies vagina but it might come out of her tummy with a big cut. After I had him she told me he was very big and I must have a big vagina and not a small one like her.

Sorry but this made me laugh out loud .

DS was 4.3 when DD was born and he was asking how she would come out from about 6 months and I was completely honest with him. Explained that there’s a hole below the one I use to go to the toilet that baby comes out of but there could also be the possibility that she could come from An operation. DS was born via C Sec so he could see the scar and understood this a lot more so Lots of questions about the hole not being big enough and would it hurt etc but again I was just very factual and honest.
Same when he asked how she got there in the first place

Oh god you're all so sensible. My 2 always ask questions like this and I just try and change the subject

I'll use the 3 holes next time

Just be honest!

Thanks for all your replies. I had mentioned about the three holes but started to worry I was going into too much detail I'll continue answering honestly. Xx

I said there is a special door, for babies to come out. It opens, the baby comes out and it shuts again. 🤣. We then moved on. They all learned more specifics a bit later on then they had a better understanding of human biology.

I told mine that the baby grows in a place called the womb and that when the baby is ready to come out, the womb opens a little and baby comes out of my vagina which is a hole next to where my wee comes out

Honest, relatively factual, and when they are 4, not embarrassing at all