bit embarrassing (sorry poss TMI)... explaining periods or period paraphenalia to a 2+8yr old

[mankymummy]

so... obviously cannot go to the loo in peace with a toddler.. have my period at the mo and using a towel. sat on loo, DS comes in and asks whats that? why are you wearing a nappy mummy?

didnt want to say yes mummy is wearing a nappy because i've been trying to tell him big boys and girls dont wear nappies (trying to warm him up for potty training).

totally flumoxed and ended up telling him it was a cushion for mummys bottom. obviously will try to conceal in future but what on earth can i say to him when he brings it up tomorrow, which he certainly will because he is an encyclopedia when it comes to memory!

I've told my dd(7) that grown up ladies wear a special nappy sometimes and they also grow hair on parts of their body. Shes doesn't seem too phased by that so far since I've often got dressed in front of her. I suspect my dn(12) may have been filling her in on some details, or will soon so I anticipate more questions soon or maybe not. The one thing I won't do is lie or pretend I don't know.... but having said that, I changed the subject when they mentioned abortions on Coronation Street the other week since thinking of a way to explain that did make my mind boggle.

ditto F&Z.
Mooncups - just say it catches the blood so it doesn't mess your pants.

ds1 was over 4 when he first asked (my first period since he was about 2.8) and accepted it fine.
ds2 (26mo) sees me putting it is, but is only just becoming verbal (single words) so harsn't asked anything.

ds2 (23mo at the time) had some playdoh things (like mr potato head stuff) for xmas which included a hat which looks pretty much like a mooncup (except it is green).
He picked it up, looked at it, and then tried to stuff it up between his legs (he was fully dressed at the time). I said "ds2 it is a hat for the playdoh". He brought it back up to eye level, looked at it, looked at me as if I was mad and recommenced trying to stuff it bewteen his legs.

chasingsquirrels

ditto F&Z. I explained it in these terms to my 5 year old a few months ago and he took it in his stride and accepted it.

Lolling at bottom cushion though, and at ChasingSquirrel's DS

mankymummy don't be embarrased about your response. sometimes they catch you on the hop and you just don't have the answers. whenever DS asks about his penis and why he can make it go hard, I just refer him to DH on the grounds that I am penis-less .

what i have learned though is that whatever you do tell him comes back to bite you, so don't be surprised to hear him shouting to the world about bottom cushions when you are re-stocking in Sainsbury's in a few months time!

My DD (6) knows all about this stuff and even chose my regular brand of towels for me in Tesco last week. She is fascinated with watching my mooncup disappear though. She said the other day "Mummy, I can see right up your fairy" I said "Well you came from up there so its no big deal" she then replied "You can't see up mine, mine looks like a turtle" PMSL.
DS is 16 months and I change my mooncup in front of them both, I will just answer his questions honestly and appropriately whenever he learns to talk and ask me some .

my nephew asked my sil what her pads were....she told him they were to keep her bum warm! next morning, getting dressed to go out, he comes downstairs covered in sanny pads stuck all over himself....he said he was cold !!!

Oh don't feel daft, we have all blurted out something silly on the spur of the moment

I usually find I have to distract him and not give a proper answer the first time he asks things like this, as I also panic a bit and need time to think something through