Explaining how babies are made

[boriam]

My 4 & 7 year old have recently started asking how babies are made.

I started off with saying its when a Mum and Dad love each other, they can create a baby etc.

Anyway, that's not cutting it anymore. My eldest wants to know the science behind it. She's v clever and older than her years, so I'm considering telling her about how the woman has an egg, man has the sperm and when they come together, a baby can be made.

I'm worried about using the word 'sperm' incase she starts going around school telling people, and she will obviously tell her younger Sister. I can't imagine a 4 year old telling people about sperm and egg will go down well in school.

Any ideas?! I feel like my eldest does need to know the truth though (minus the sex part).

There are loads of age appropriate books. I read mine Where did I Come From? Mainly because I remembered my parents reading it to me.

Im afraid you can’t leave the sex part out! It’s fine! Be prepared for lots of giggles and ewwwww!

I’m sure the school have heard it all before. Don’t make a big deal of it. Explain that parents like to tell children in their own time and it’s best not to talk about it at school if you think it’s a real issue.

Tell her the truth! The reality is they don’t actually care that much and their eyes start to glaze over when you go into the science.

Get this and read it with them
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/mummy-laid-an-egg-book-babette-cole-9780099299110?sku=GOR000743619&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvbm7BhC5ARIsAFjwNHtNrWXWySblQ1-eiguCun2YxpGrLZG8-I537p-iTowyqJIqPRuag24aApDTEALw_wcB

It's accurate and funny. Superb way to have this conversation

Sperm is an absolute OK word for a child to say, it isn't rude. A 7 year old going round saying spunk, jizz or baby batter is going to raise more eyebrows at school.

Amazing, thank you!

I've just ordered a book. Perhaps my 7 year old does need to be aware of the sex bit.

I don't know why this subject makes me want to curl up and die 🤣🤣🙈

@TheLurpackYears baby batter 🤣🤣

Why "minus the sex part"? At 7 she should know everything.

Don't be squeamish op.

Be matter of fact. Answer questions as they arise simply and honestly.

Children who are well informed are much less likely to fall prey to bs and are less vulnerable.

Also now mine are teen-agers I'm finding it very useful that this has never been a taboo topic in our house.
Shame/embarrassment never got a toe hold.

Conversations get harder not easier as they get older because right now they'll take their lead from you... and if the family culture is to steer away from these topics you are laying some shaky groundwork.
My kids are so used to this topic being treated with the same level of shock and horror as shopping for baked beans/ getting a haircut that we can talk about anything and BOY is that useful now. (Obviously you use age appropriate language)

True 😄

I agree and it's much better to discuss this now while there is no embarrassment on the child's part.

My eldest is also 7 and I was hoping to explain to them this year but it’s been slightly complicated by the fact I’m currently pregnant. Happy to tell them about how babies are made in the abstract but don’t really want them thinking about it in relation to their own parents! So feel a bit stuck.

If you have an intelligent child with an enquiring mind explaining sperm and eggs without the sex is going to leave more questions than answers. Would be a mite confusing I would have thought. Bright kids will fill in the blanks and can land on some interesting and creative answers.

Wildlife documentaries are handy. You watch those and can comment in passing 'that reminds me of the question you asked the other day, these lions are making babies now, and all mammals have a similar method in common, including humans'... Or words to that effect.

Reproductive biology is fascinating and that takes the embarrassment out of it, like how dolphin sperm has a special delivery system to protect it from sea water. That kangaroos have three vaginas so they can have babies at different stages of gestation for drought survival reasons (I think drought was the reason, would need to Google). Etc

At seven I don't think they dwell on it in that way. The mental imagery isn't the same as when you're 14.
Just explain and if they ask is that how sibling got made, just 'yes, that's right' and carry on.