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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

At what age and how did you explain to your kids where babies come from?

128 replies

WhereIsMyGuideBook · 19/10/2023 21:25

DD has just turned 7. She's known for years how babies develop once they are in utero and how they are born and she's known about periods but just in the simplest terms.

I've been expecting DD to ask me more questions but it still blind sided me a bit when she wanted to know how exactly babies are made and how we can control the process. Obviously it was after a long day on a weekday when we were already super late for bed. I tried to go from the general to the specific (or rather from easy to explain eg it needs a fertilised eggs to the difficult one of how does sperm get into your body to fertilise the egg) to make sure I'm not explaining more than she wants to know but she definitely wanted to know the specifics. So I went into the specifics of how humans have sex as well but I'm not sure I did a great job of it and I think she might be even more confused now. I told her I'll get a book and we'll talk about it again.

I don't think I handled it brilliantly. I'm also not sure if she isn't too young. I think I was a similar age or maybe slightly younger when my mum explained it to me (and probably did a much better job) but I'm sure dh will think she is too young. He won't be thrilled we has this conversation. I did say (not entirely truthfully) that this is something that only adults can do.

I'm also a bit worried that she'll talk about it at school and the other parents won't like it. But isn't age 7 a normal age to want to know more? And the advice always seems to be to honestly answer their questions in an age appropriate way but I guess my question is what is an age appropriate way.

Anyway, I'm very curious how other parents have handled these questions and how old your child was. I wish I'd asked yesterday. I'd also be very grateful for any book recommendations.

Thank you!!

OP posts:
WhereIsMyGuideBook · 04/11/2023 17:57

MollyRover · 04/11/2023 16:59

I would message the other parents to be honest. I wouldn't be annoyed, it happens, but would appreciate the heads up if the tables were turned. To mitigate misinformation at least.

I'm not too far along on this either, hence watching the thread, but I've told my dc that's it's a chat that children should have with their parents first. Dc is 7, for context.

That's a good way of telling your child not to tell other kids.

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 05/11/2023 07:37

Children have shared this kind of information with one another since time immemorial, so it's as well that this other child is being told something which is factually correct.
I wouldn't bother telling the other child's parents tbh.

mamaM0 · 29/11/2023 01:22

Its not so much how babies are born but rather the "sex act" topic of conversation which concerns me. My DC aged 8 recently told me "sex" is a swear word, that's what all my friends say at school!
🤔Despite all the mumsnetters out there, educating there kids on sex it sill appears to be a dirty word in the school playground.

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