[tika]

We've been watching birth videos with our 2 year old.

Now almost every day she comes up to me and looks at my crotch, basically sticks her head in my crotch, asking me if the baby is coming out of the "tootie" (her name for the private area, came up with it on her own). Then she pats my belly and asks if it hurts. Anytime I hurt myself or make any kind of grunting noise, she asks me if the baby is coming out of the tootie. She looks close and inspects that area to check and see if she can see the baby.

It is so sweet, she is probably going to start thinking the baby is never coming because we have such a long way to go still! Especially in toddler time.

 

[cuddlebug]

That is very cute. It will seem like forever to her.

 

[Llyra]

Wow, she understands a lot more than my 2 year old does about this. It's wonderful that you're preparing her so well! If you ask my DD where the babies are, she'll give you one of three responses:
1. She might, if she's really paying attention, point vaguely at my chest or belly.

2. Sometimes she'll go get her doll.

and

3. Sometimes she'll answer, "in the trash." I have no idea where THAT one comes from.

I figure I'm gonna wait until you can feel the babies moving from the outside, and explain it to her then, when there's something concrete she can really see and touch. Right now the concept is way too abstract for her, I think.

Unfortunately, with twins I'm getting risked out of my VBAC, and so it's gonna be a scheduled section. I think the idea of mama's belly getting cut is way too scary for DD so I'm gonna have to really minimize that part.

 

[lotusdebi]

When I got out of the shower the other day, my 4 year old son walked over, squatted down a bit, and started staring at my crotch. He said he was checking to see if the baby's head was coming out.
He's very anxious to meet his sibling! I keep showing him how big it is now, and how big it needs to get before it's ready to come out, but he wants it NOW!

 

[DecemberSun]

My three year olds watch the birthing shows with me sometimes. When my son figured out where babies grew and came out of he kept asking if he could go back in.

Then when he saw an umbilical cord getting cut he screeched and covered his penis with his hands. He said "Mom, what are they cutting off?!?"

 

[lotusdebi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DecemberSun My three year olds watch the birthing shows with me sometimes. When my son figured out where babies grew and came out of he kept asking if he could go back in.

My son said the same thing last year!
Now, when we talk about the possibility of him having a baby sister instead of the baby brother he really wants, he says that if it's a girl, he's going to push her back in - or make me swallow her so she gets back to my belly!

:

 

[ILoveMySofie]

tika thats so cute!

Sofie "sees" the baby through my belly button sometimes

she also says "when the baby comes out the baby doesnt like the doctor"

 

[tika]

All of these stories are adorable!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveMySofie she also says "when the baby comes out the baby doesnt like the doctor"

Very smart child! I bet they really don't like the doctor. I don't like the doctors much either, hence I'm using a mw.

Llyra - DD is actually 2 1/2, will be 3 in January. She wouldn't have been able to comprehend it even a few months ago. You could just talk to your DD about "when baby comes out of mommy's belly". That's all she really needs to know.

Leah & lotusdebi - I was worried that it was only c-section babies who asked to go back in. I've heard many stories of c/s babies asking that later in childhood which always made me sad. I guess it is more of just a normal kid thing.

 

[ChillMom]

Such sweet stories! It is amazing how much little kids really do comprehend! My DD is only 14 months, but I've been patting my belly alot and saying there is a baby inside. The other day she picked up a snapshot of her cousin (8 months) and held it up to my tummy and said "baby!". Pretty cool!

 

[Wild Flowers]

My 4 yr old is obsessed over how the baby looks. She will talk to my belly and ask the baby to be a boy. I think it is cute that she wants a brother, but we are really trying to let her know that we have no way of changing this.
And my 2 yr old, sees the baby through my belly button too!! She tells me there is a girl a boy and a horse. So we are trying to tell her that mommy isn't going to give birth to a horse

I really don't want her to be disapointed when I go into labor.
Another slightly funny thing, when i was pregnant with my 2nd, my then 2 yr old said she had a baby in her belly. Now, she, now 4, doesn't have a baby this time, but my 2 yr old now does have a baby in her belly.
I have tried for them to see how baby are born, we don't have tv, and don't they usually blur the baby coming out? But if anyone can let me know where they get video of a birth... I found a couple online, but they were very hospital births, showed getting the epi, the mother never left the bed. But we are planning a homebirth this time and if they aren't asleep they said they wanted to be there. So I would like for them to have an idea

 

[tika]

My two year old says she has a baby in her belly too.

I have a copy of Gentle Birth Choices DVD that I watch with DD. She calls it "watch baby in the belly?" and requests it daily. They show close ups of the baby coming out. There are two home births on there and several birth center births. The "birth" shows on TV are garbage IMO, we don't watch them.

If you're using a midwife, she may have videos that you can borrow. Or if you know of any doulas, they may be another resource. Your local library *may* have something as well, but maybe not.

I think www.youtube.com has some short home birth videos. Just type in Home Birth in the search