in September 2022 Babies 🇺🇸

Body Awareness in Children

My 2 year old has discovered his private part. He enjoys playing with it like how babies find new toys. I let him know what it is. Like the thing that goes pee pee and poo poo from the stinky booty. When he has his hands in his diaper I let him know its okay but we leave it alone until its time for potty or when you are alone in private. At night he leaves it out his diaper and i just well… cover him back up. I know he doesnt fully comprehend yet. But i do my best. My husband on the other hand is absolutely dont touch its nasty and scolds him for touching it. Am I doing the right thing or are we indirectly teaching him something else? I breastfed for a year and a half. He is still learning mommy’s boundaries which my husband hates. I dont scold him. i just be like hey. these are mommys we keep hands to ourselves. I occasionally do yell at him like hey enough mommy doesnt like that but my husband would rather whoop him. idk… its our first child. advice??

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Teaching children their body parts and safe touch and unsafe touch is important.

Teaching body shame leads to some…things down the line. Good to research it. I’m assuming the husband is the type to listen toto what a doctor/child psychologist says rather than some people online. I let my son explore his and his dad tries to get him to stop. I say “ITS HIS P-nis, LEAVE HIM ALONE” 😂 there’s a book I read about sexual health and it had a section on shame that talks about parents scolding their children at a young age for innocent exploration “Come as You Are” by Emily Nagoski.

PLUS OUR BODIES ARENT NASTY, your husband probably has some negative views around bodies and also we pee from our privates and that’s unclean. I think better language is in order

There’s nothing wrong with a child exploring their body, it’s their body. Of course, you teach them that it’s not something that should be done in public. Your husband and yourself shouldn’t be telling him off for something that he may find soothing. It’s normal behaviour. Of course, when it comes to your body that’s YOUR place to set the boundary. Not your husband.