Is It Normal For...

beautifulb · May 18, 2006

I thought that that happened when they were older too. I remember a friend of mine, her little girl about 2 years old, would grind herself on the floor (sorry) to make herself feel good. I thought that that was odd but I wonder too if it is normal.

lucky4timesover · May 18, 2006

If it is normal for all children I don't know, but ALL 3 of my boys constantly pulled at their member when they were around that age. My youngest thinks it's funny to pull his diaper off to do it. Don't worry, I am sure she is just fine. Hope this makes you feel a little better. :)

Sunny

fergus51 · May 18, 2006

Are you kidding? Half of the kids in the NICU do that, so I don't think any age is too young! LOL!

Meerkat · May 18, 2006

Are you kidding? Half of the kids in the NICU do that, so I don't think any age is too young! LOL!

LOL thanks everyone....

TazziRN, RN · May 18, 2006

This is very normal, but when the kids are pre-speech another thought should come to mind: possible UTI. If there are no other symptoms I wouldn't worry, but if she seems uncomfortable in any way, you might want to have her urine checked.

sharann, BSN, RN · May 18, 2006

Ruling out yeast or UTI I would say sounds like every little kid I know. Actually my 18 month old neice was doing that today in the mall play area(of course)

babynurselsa, RN · May 18, 2006

It is TOTALLY normal. Do not sweat it meerkat. My 18 month old is never happier than he is when he is walking around with a bottle in one hand and his other hand down teh front of his diaper. Just ignore it. It will pass. She will eventually findsw something else more interesting.

LoriAlabamaRN · May 18, 2006

I was about to say what Tazzi did, sounds like she might be itching down there. Possible allergic to the cream or powder you use?

maddynrs · May 18, 2006

--from frued's psychosexual stages of development--

phallic stage:

"sensitivity is now concentrated in the genitals, and masturbation (in both sexes) becomes a new source of pleasure. the child becomes aware of anatomical sex differences (phallic comes from the greek word meaning member), which marks the beginning of the oedipus complex in males and the electra complex [color=#f2e6ff]in females. both boys and girls experience conflicting emotions relation to there same, and opposite sex parents. how successfully these are resolved is crucial for future personality development. it is through the resolution of the [color=#ffffcc]oedipus complex that a child’s superego and sex role are acquired"

i've seen the same in young kiddos. they seek pleasure especially in instances of stress. erikson called it

initiative vs guilt

begins to initiate, not imitate, activities; develops

conscience and sexual identity

i don't think there is necessarily any malice or deviance in the behavior when it's a small child, except where other symptoms are present. i.e. night terrors, distance from strangers with fear, clinginess to parents or other trusted figures, physical signs such as abrasions or tearing in the genital area. or like the last poster said, uti possibilty. the age and area that i grew up in would automatically make me think of something sinister like molestation, because otherwise, why would a baby know how to masturbate. but that's not always the case. it's a natural thing for them. they don't know any of the stigmas placed on it yet. they've found something that gives them a different feeling so they run with it and even do it in their sleep.

hope that helps.

m.