OT: Best way to explain birth to children - 3 and 5?
I was prepared for the "How does the baby get in there?" question but somehow hadn't thought up an answer for "How does the baby get out?"
My friend's daughter (5) asked me this weekend...I was caught off guard and first I asked her if she'd ever seen an animal at the zoo or fair giving birth. She said no...so I told her it's hard to explain and she didn't ask anything more. I better get cracking on a good answer though because SS3 and SD5 will surely be asking me soon enough!
Any ideas?
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At 3 & 5 can't you just tell
At 3 & 5 can't you just tell them that when it's time the dr will take it out?
I don't think the 3yo will
I don't think the 3yo will think about it too much, my 3yo niece didn't wonder about that. Anyways we just told my SD5 that the doctor was going to cut my tummy and take the baby out. She seemed fine with that answer not to much detail. That age has a short attention span, so just a short answer should do. No need for them to know the truth about where the baby comes out.
When I was pg with #3 my kids
When I was pg with #3 my kids were 3 and 4. They asked how and I simply said when the baby is finished growing I'll have to go to he hospital so the baby can come out. My 3 yr old was fine with that answer. My 4 year old wanted more. I told her the dr helps take it out. She asked if he would cut my tummy open and I said sometimes they have to do that. She asked if it hurt ad I said no (epidurals rock!) I would keep it simple. If the older one is curious ask her what SHE thinks will happen. But anything other than a simple answer should come from mom or dad.
My son who was 4 when I gave
My son who was 4 when I gave birth to my daughter. I just said it would come out when it was ready.
He created a version that the baby had a special shovel and would dig it's way out thru my belly button. I just let it at that.
Thanks -- the plan was
Thanks -- the plan was definitely to keep it simple and I surely wasn't going to go in-depth with them at their ages anyway. I think that SD5 will have a lot more questions about how it will happen and maybe I'll just direct her to BM if that happens.
Reminds me of when SS about
Reminds me of when SS about 10 or 11, started asking the sex questions and DH didn't know what to do...We went to Barnes&Noble, got the appropriate "ducky" books and set DH out to do the "dirty" work. BUT, I had him record it and we listen to it still today occasionally and laugh hysterically. He was sooo embarrassed!!