DD3 and explorating genitals

[southernmommie]

I don't know what the realm of normal is for toddlers exploring their private parts. She is at the stage where she wants to go around naked and I'm fine with that for the principle of it. She's back and forth on the potty training. However, she constantly plays with her tushie. She will put whatever is in her hands on her tushie. A month or two ago she discovered that she has a hole there. Just this morning I caught her with a screwdriver playing with her tushie. She scares me like that. I've explained and explained and put it different ways trying to get her to understand that she cannot put things in her hole. I think she plays with her tushie excessively.  I fear the day that she gets a hold of something and seriously injures herself. But NOTHING I say or do is working. How do you potty train AND keep her from doing this?! I don't know what else to do. I know there are different ways to handle this particular circumstance and that is what I'm looking for. Another way to work with this.

[Courtney-Ostaff]

I had a friend whose daughter was like that, and who finally gave up and just started putting her in clothes that she couldn't get off until she gave up the fascination with the private parts.

We just tell my daughter that those are delicate bits and she's got to be careful with them. She really doesn't even like me washing her there, so it's never been a problem.

[rightkindofme]

Eek!  That would freak me out.  I require panties at all times, even with potty training because I am completely squicked out by naked heiney's on furniture.  Just the thought of it makes me gag.  So I get hands inside the panties but it seems to be a barrier to other 'things' going in there.  The few times she has tried (that I've seen) I've talked to her about infections and doctors visits and pain and she seemed to think that sounded unpleasant so she backed off.  I do, however, tell her that as long as she washes her hands before and after she is totally free to go explore all her bits in her bedroom with just her hands.  I emphasize that this is a 'private' activity. :)

[justKate]

I tell dd (often), "we don't put toys on our bottoms."   If she continues to put the toy on her bottom, then she has to wear a diaper.  All very non-confrontational--it's just a fact.  We don't put toys on our bottom.  See?  Mommy doesn't put toys on her bottom.  Let's wash our hands and find a place for the toy.

[msmiles]

I'm with you there, sister. Since we began potty training my son (who is 2 1/2), we have opened up the Pandora's box of orifices. He will often have an accident when clothed, so he spends a lot of time running around naked, waving his butt in the air. I swear, some days I can close my eyes and see after images of little testicles and spread butt cheeks. Anyway, I've been struggling to find ways to explain and negotiate with him over keeping his fingers out of his butt….which inevitably end up in his nose. So, potty training has made my son a butt hole picker and a nose picker. He isn't fascinated with sticking objects up his butt--yet--but I can be sure to find him on all fours with a finger in his butt at least a few times a week. Sigh.