[laila2]

My dd is almost 7. Time flies and the other day the question came, 'how can you stop from having a baby'. I forgot how it came up.<br><br>
I said well I waited till I was all done with college, and had a good job, and I was very careful. She was still puzzled so I added that men and boys make you pregnant, when your body is ready. I told her I would tell her how when she is older. I also told her her body was ready when she had her period like I do every month, and that will come when she is older. I thought telling her her body is ready 1 month before her period starts is too confusing at her age.<br><br>
I got my period when I was 14. But I have heard 10 is common these days. When did you tell your dc how a baby is made, in the spirit of prevention?

 

[MusicianDad]

DD is 11 and pretty much knows all the basics and some of the not so basics. She knows what sex is, how it works, how babies are made and how they develop, and steps that can be taken to prevent pregnancy. She knows the basics of STI's and how to decrease the risk of getting one.<br><br>
In the way of periods, we did talk about the month before it starts. We explained the whole cycle and how menstruation is really the end of the cycle, and what signs might appear to indicate ovulation or approaching period.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shrug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shrug"> She's curious and we are just honest, so the conversations can be long and detailed in this house.<br><br>
Menarche is mainly genetic though, so if the women in your family have a history of a later start, then your DD will likely have a later start too.

 

[zinemama]

My kids have known how babies are made for a long time, since they were 4, I think.<br><br>
We also talked about birth control around then, too. It came up because my son wanted to know how, if people have sex not just for babies but because they love each other and it feels nice, they don't have babies all the time. It's come up on and off since then, too.<br><br>
I highly recommend that you get the book <i>It's So Amazing</i> and read it with/to her. Believe me, it will be far easier talking about this later on, at a more mature level, if you've been talking about it with her all along.

 

[laughymama]

I don't have a preteen or teen yet but I'm one of those who started their period at 10.<br><br>
Sex was always an ongoing, open topic in our home. My mom answered my questions honestly from an early age. Sometimes she offered a bit more age appropriate information when it seemed like the right time or if it added clarity to her answer. Mostly we just discussed the answer and any follow up questions I had.<br><br>
At 7 I knew what sex was. I knew the mechanics of it and that people who cared about one another had sex and sometimes that resulted in a baby. I also knew about reproduction.<br>
My mother had a miscarriage when I was 4, almost 5. I remember asking very specific questions on why the baby wasn't coming anymore and how it got there to begin with. So she told me and we talked about it.<br><br>
She used a couple of books that really helped get through any 'awkwardness' for her and me once I got older and was asking more complex questions. I was grateful to have such a wealth of healthy knowledge about reproduction and sex once my own body started menstruating.<br><br>
DH and I will do the same with our kids. My son turns 2 soon and he knows how babies are born already and has seen births before. He asked, so we answered. (in a way that he would understand, at least.)<br>
We plan on continuing the open dialogue for all of our kids throughout their childhood and teen years. I want them to be comfortable talking about it and asking us questions they may have.

 

[dawningmama]

My kids all knew the mechanics and basic biology of sex around 4. They asked---usually because I or someone they knew was pregnant.<br><br>
ITA that it's a continuing conversation. Sex, relationships, friendships, commitment, etc are themes that come up a lot in daily conversation. The basic "how" was, for our family, the easiest part of the equation. [I remember when my cousins, now in their early 20s, learned about sex (they were between 4 and 7 then) and one in particular was so sure their parents were teasing them----took her years to believe the explanation was true. Yep, we still tease her about it every chance we get. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">]<br><br>
I would suggest talking to her again, very straight-forward and matter-of-factly. It sounds like she asked you a direct question and you dodged it. In a lot of kids, that can actually cause them to stop asking the important questions and those communication walls can be difficult to tear down once they are up. Good luck!

 

[~Demeter~]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>laughymama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15358597"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I don't have a preteen or teen yet but I'm one of those who started their period at 10.<br><br>
Sex was always an ongoing, open topic in our home. My mom answered my questions honestly from an early age. Sometimes she offered a bit more age appropriate information when it seemed like the right time or if it added clarity to her answer. Mostly we just discussed the answer and any follow up questions I had.<br><br>
At 7 I knew what sex was. I knew the mechanics of it and that people who cared about one another had sex and sometimes that resulted in a baby. I also knew about reproduction.<br>
My mother had a miscarriage when I was 4, almost 5. I remember asking very specific questions on why the baby wasn't coming anymore and how it got there to begin with. So she told me and we talked about it.<br><br>
She used a couple of books that really helped get through any 'awkwardness' for her and me once I got older and was asking more complex questions. I was grateful to have such a wealth of healthy knowledge about reproduction and sex once my own body started menstruating.<br><br>
DH and I will do the same with our kids. My son turns 2 soon and he knows how babies are born already and has seen births before. He asked, so we answered. (in a way that he would understand, at least.)<br>
We plan on continuing the open dialogue for all of our kids throughout their childhood and teen years. I want them to be comfortable talking about it and asking us questions they may have.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
This is us. My children all know the basics of bodily functions and how babies are created and born. I started from birth... talking about their bodies, their parts, proper names and as things progressed from there gave age appropriate responses to all of their questions. I think it's really important to be open before you hit the teen years, by then it's a little late.. if that makes sense. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[mtiger]

The more comfortable you are in talking about sex, etc. with your kids, the better - it makes them more comfortable in talking to you and asking you questions.<br><br>
I think I've said before that it's been an ongoing discussion here with my two. As a result, they talk to me about all sorts of things - about themselves and their friends. No matter what it is, I don't freak out.

 

[Dar]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>laila2</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15358138"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My dd is almost 7. Time flies and the other day the question came, 'how can you stop from having a baby'. I forgot how it came up.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
Well, since she asked, I think it's the right time... but it sounds like she doesn't know the basic mechanics of sex yet, and it's hard to answer a question like that without first explaining how babies are created. I'd start with that... I really liked a book called "Where Did I Come From", although it's a bit old and some of the info is kind of dated - definitely one to read *with* your daughter.<br><br>
If she understands that part, I do think 7 isn't too young to explain briefly about ways to prevent babies - not all of them, but abstinence (because some kids really think they can become pregnant from things like kissing), condoms, the pill maybe... and I would also talk about how only men and women at certain times in their lives can get pregnant - with rare exceptions that I wouldn't bother mentioning, for example, 7 year olds cannot become pregnant.

 

[SeekingJoy]

We have already had two conversations about sex that my 4 yr old DS initiated. I anticipate we will have at least another dozen more over the years, if not more. If she is asking, she is ready for you to at least provide a general explanation of sex and conception.

 

[EFmom]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>zinemama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15358485"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My kids have known how babies are made for a long time, since they were 4, I think.<br><br>
We also talked about birth control around then, too. It came up because my son wanted to know how, if people have sex not just for babies but because they love each other and it feels nice, they don't have babies all the time. It's come up on and off since then, too.<br><br>
I highly recommend that you get the book <i>It's So Amazing</i> and read it with/to her. Believe me, it will be far easier talking about this later on, at a more mature level, if you've been talking about it with her all along.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
This exactly.<br><br>
We started reading "It's So Amazing" together when my girls were about seven. It's frank, it's honest, it's funny and it's factual. Reading it together, while slightly uncomfortable for me at first, was a powerful bonding experience. I trust that when my kids have questions, they now come to me for the facts and don't necessarily believe what they hear on the bus. DD1 is now in junior high, and it's worked well so far.<br><br>
Personally, I don't tell them that I will explain things when they are older. That translates to the kid as "don't ask that question" and that's not the relationship I want to have.

 

[Linda on the move]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>EFmom</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15359784"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">We started reading "It's So Amazing" together when my girls were about seven. It's frank, it's honest, it's funny and it's factual. Reading it together, while slightly uncomfortable for me at first, was a powerful bonding experience.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
this is really a super book and your DD is ready for the information because she is asking for it. Reading it together from a book will most likely be far easier for you than just "winging it."<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">Personally, I don't tell them that I will explain things when they are older. That translates to the kid as "don't ask that question" and that's not the relationship I want to have.</td>
</tr></table></div>
I think it means, "I'm not comfortable with that question, so you need to ask your friends."<br><br>
I have a very open relationship with my DDs they've know since they were younger than your DD that babies are made by the penis going in the vigina.<br><br>
My 6th grader is super social and sometimes rides the school bus. She tells me things the other kids say and the amount of misinformation floating around is amazing.

 

[Dar]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Linda on the move</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15359880"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My 6th grader is super social and sometimes rides the school bus. She tells me things the other kids say and the amount of misinformation floating around is amazing.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
Yes! Last summer my daughter was at a camp (briefly) where she was one of the oldest girls, and she spent a good amount of time correcting misinformation about sex...I remember that one girl thought that lubricant=spermicide... there was a ton of bad information out there about when girls can and cannot get pregnant.

 

[MusicianDad]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Linda on the move</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15359880"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><br><br>
I think it means, "I'm not comfortable with that question, so you need to ask your friends."</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
I've always translated it as "I don't trust you to be anything but a little kid so we aren't going to talk about that."

 

[karne]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Linda on the move</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15359880"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><br>
My 6th grader is super social and sometimes rides the school bus. She tells me things the other kids say and the amount of misinformation floating around is amazing.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
Our experience as well. AND, when dd spoke up about correct info, I got a call from another parent asking if I knew that my dd knew about such information. The underlying message was that it was shocking that my jr. high aged child knew correct information. There are some circles of parents here who value "innocence", and are truly judgmental about kids who have factual information. I have heard the term "fast" floated around regarding this, and it makes me crazy.<br><br>
OP, in our house these conversations are ongoing. I used to think that I would answer only what my kids asked, but that doesn't work all that well, precisely because there are kids who are totally winging it with a small amount of fact and a lot of guesswork, and that's what gets passed around as "information". I really want my kids to know the facts because it's the right thing to do, and because it's empowering.

 

[Storm Bride]

I've started talking about the basics early with all my kids. I discuss it just like I discuss the importance of drinking water and getting exercise, or answering their questions about sunshine and rain.<br><br>
DS1 explained the risks of c-sections to three girls in his class when he was 12 or 13. DD1 knows all the parts of the female reproductive anatomy, both internal and external. She also knows about sperm and how a woman gets pregnant. I can recall both her and ds1 asking - at different times, obviously - if that meant daddy had put his penis in me. (There are downsides to being open.) DS2? It's hard to say how much he knows. I talk about it with him, but...his brain is wired a bit differently, and I'm never sure what he really knows.<br><br>
I think waiting until it's directly relevant - puberty or thereabouts - is a mistake. Kids are getting self-conscoius at that point. DS1 and I don't talk about it much at all anymore. But, I know he knows what he needs to know.

 

[Linda on the move]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Storm Bride</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15363252"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I've started talking about the basics early with all my kids. I discuss it just like I discuss the importance of drinking water and getting exercise, or answering their questions about sunshine and rain.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
yeah, my big advice in life:<br><br>
1. Once you get your own apartment, get renters insurance.<br><br>
2. When you have your own car, get the oil changed.<br><br>
3. If two people want to have sex and they don't want to have a baby, they should use 2 forms of birth control. One of those should be a condem because they also protect against STDs.

 

[floss&ferd]

We have on-going conversations. The six and seven year olds know the basics.<br><br>
12 yo knows a lot more including birth control, STI's, etc. Lately, I've been getting updates about what girls in 6th grade are "skankin" around kissing boys. She's pretty comfortable talking about it.

 

[Tigerchild]

At 2, correct terms for the male and female genitals.<br><br>
At 3-5, dicussions about body integrity as well as expanding knowledge of the mechanics of how a baby is "made", answering questions asked, not dodging or TMI<br><br>
I had originally planned to start taking about puberty and body changes at 10, but my DD started developing breast buds shortly after she turned 8. (like within a few weeks), so I've moved that up quite a bit. We have been talking about body changes and what a period is/means for now.<br><br>
Either when DD starts asking questions/showing interest or by the time she's 12, I want to be discussing sexuality more fully, including things (like STDs and social pressure) that she frankly probably won't be interested in asking much about.<br><br>
I do think that you owe your DD a kind of apology, OP. I think it's okay to admit that you feel embarassed talking about the subject, but you don't want her to have the wrong information. College doesn't have anything to do with preventing a baby, and it's not true that you won't have one until you are "ready". If she truly has no idea that a baby is made when a sperm from a man and an egg from a woman join together, IMO she should, and that the only way to truly prevent a baby from being made is for the man and the woman to make sure that doesn't happen.<br><br>
I love the It's So Amazing book, but if the reason why your DD doesn't know how babies are created is because you strongly believe that she shouldn't be exposed to information that doesn't fit your values, that is *not* going to be the book for you. It has a (non-graphic, but honest) section about what abortion means, talks about masturbation, also discusses what being gay/lesbian and transgendered means. I would advise checking out the library (esp. if you've got a cool computer hold system!) to look at all books you're considering buying, so that it's not a total suprise when she wants you to read the comic part with her at bedtime or something. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> But it is an excellent book!

 

[Linda on the move]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Tigerchild</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15368838"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Either when DD starts asking questions/showing interest or by the time she's 12, I want to be discussing sexuality more fully, including things (like STDs and <b>social pressure</b>) that she frankly probably won't be interested in asking much about.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
for my social DD who is 11 and in 6th grade, there's a fair amount of pressure to have a boy friend. It's not pressure to be sexual, just to have a boyfriend. We talk about it a lot.

 

[laila2]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>MusicianDad</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15360826"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I've always translated it as "I don't trust you to be anything but a little kid so we aren't going to talk about that."</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
I hope I can salvage.