3 Yr Old Masturbating?

Oh my! LOL Well, at least she told you the truth and then politely asked you for some privacy! =0) Sounds like she's a couple steps ahead of you mom!! Because the talk would consist of how you know it feels good, but it's something that should be done in private. In my opinion she is right on track development wise. They obviously do not associate pleasuring themselves with anything sexual at all.....they just do it because it feels good. I would just reinforce her obvious preference to do that in private and not worry. It's perfectly natural.

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My 5 year old niece has been doing this since she was 3. Apparently it is normal and it is a self soothing thing for her. ...and this was from her doctor. She's just encouraged not to do it out in public or in front of other people.

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I don't have daughters, but I can tell you from my own experience. I started masturbating when I was 4 years old, and yes, I even had orgasams. But, it wasn't sexual at all because I didn't even know what sex was! I just realized that if I rubbed myself down there for a while I could reach this very nice feeling. And honeslty it felt so nice to me that I would masturbate any opportunity I had. I was cought by my mom a few times and her reaction to this was not good. She once even said that she would "cut my fingers off if she cought me again:! But, I didn't stop. It was my "dark" secret that I was ashamed of but could not give up. So, I may be an exception, but I turned out ok and didn't have any abnormal or strong sexual desires once in my teens or anything like that. Actually the opposite, I wasn't sexually interested in boys until I was in my late teens. Good luck!

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totally normal behavior. I would suggest that mom tell her its ok to do that in her room or bathroom, some private place, but let her know it is ok to feel pleasure down there and she can touch herself as often as she wants to in private

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good for you for you calm and sensible response, and good for her for her honest answer and request for privacy! you've had a lot of good responses here, i just wanted to chime and give you a high-five for being a thoughtful mom. and your daughter's response is a great indication of the atmosphere of respect in which she's being raised.
:) khairete
S.

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Wow! First of all has she been exposed to seeing anything like that? Yes you should talk to her about special and private parts. My nephew saw my brother and his wife on several occasions and they thought he was too little to understand. Boy were they mistaken. Dont make too big a deal when you talk to her because she might pick up on it and then start hiding it from you or worse hiding and peeking. So many children have been abused and the parents never know. Think about where she has been and around who? What she might have seen or heard to get her curious. Dont freak out but dont take this situation lightly.

It's 100% normal. My son use to "wiggle" when he was that age. It lasted about a year. I talked to my Pediatrician and she assured me it was okay but to let him know it was only appropriate to do in private.

You need to talk to your daughter and ask if anyony touched her or you may have to take her to the doctor to see if something is wrong medically such as (pin-worm)

both my daughters did the same thing. they would lay on top of teddy bears, push themselves on stair railings etc. my doc says it is normal. but i would ask what the aproppriate way to handle it is.

I have also read that its not sexual and you should not make a big deal out of it. Just talk to her and at least she is asking for privacy

I just read an article about this in Parents magazine. It said, at this age, make sure there is nothing bothering her down there, which you did. If it is just something that feels good, she should be reminded that this is something "private" and she should go to her room or bathroom by herself while doing it. Tell her it is not appropriate to do around others. The article said you shouldn't tell her it is wrong or not to do it because it may make her feel bad about herself.