Question about girls

[wendy41899]

I am not sure how to handle this situation. From what I can remember of my nieces going through this it is better to ignore them, but I wanted to get some advice of other's who have had to deal with this also.

My 5 year old daughter seems to be as she says "itching" a lot. She says it's her bottom but it's in the front. I think it's more that she has discovered her area and how it feels. I have talked with a few others who have mentioned it is completely normal for them to be curious.

How do you handle it when you see her doing it? Do you just ignore it, as long as your not in public or do you say something? I was concerned saying something may draw even more attention to herself. She starts Kindergarten this year and I certainly don't want her to do this at school.

Any advice would be great! Thanks, Wendy

 

[sunshiinedays]

My daughters never went through this except for exploring their bodies at bathtime as toddlers. You're daughter is old enough to know what itching is. Maybe she really is itchy? Could she have an infection or something?

 

[BeanMak]

I had boys, but when I saw them "itching" I would explain that they needed to go to the bathroom or their bedroom- not as punishment, but just matter of factly that there were times and places for everything, and bathroom things should be taken care of in the bathroom.

Of course, you might want to check with the doctor to make sure there isn't infection or worms (that happened to my neice after a Florida beach vacation)

 

[RoseofLima]

First- I would take her at her word and see if she doesn't have a yeast infection, or something. Has she been on antibiotics for anything recently?

In the Cahtolic Church - masturbation is a no-no...so I have to approach this from that angle. I also want my children to see their sexuality as sacred and beautiful, so that is another important thing for me. I talk about how God created that part of their body for making and having babies- and that we have to take very special care of our vaginas. I tell them that it can feel good when we touch ourselves- but that that good feeling God wants us to save for a very special present for the man we marry. I ask them "Wouldn't you like to have the most specialist gift of giving all those good feelings to your husband and no one else?" ANd I tell them that that is what God wants for us, or (becuase I am Catholic) to give that gift of that part of our body to Him by giving up that pleasure and not getting married, or having babies- to be a nun and to be married to Jesus- free to serve Him and others in need who have no one to care for them.

I try to emphasize how special our bodies are and how it fits into God's plan...without going into graphic detail.

If masturbation is chronic in the very young, and there is no physical issue (such as infection) --that can be a sign of sexual abuse.

 

[Leanna]

If she says she is itchy, what reason do you have to not believe? Maybe she has a yeast infection.... I wonder if acidophilus is okay for children? Its a probiotic and not as invasive as some other forms of treatment.

 

[AutumnDreamer]

My 5 year old is constantly itching, I just remind her that it is not appropriate in public, or when people are around. I told her if she needs to scratch to go into the bathroom and do it. She really is scratching though.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

My daughter gets like this too and she is only three. It's been going on about a year. She has very sensitive skin and certain soaps affect her as does bubble bath. She has also had yeast infections since she had to take some medication earlier this year.

I'd take her in and have her examined.

 

[HeatherJay]

I have two girl (5 and 7) and they both occassionally do actually get itchy. Why is everyone jumping to the conclusion that it's something more?

We keep baby powder on hand...just sprinkle a bit in their panties and have them powder themselves. Especially in the hot weather this can be a pretty helpful solution...sweating makes you itchy sometimes.

We also keep A&D zinc oxide cream (diaper rash cream) in the house...if they seem to be red or irritated, we just dab a little on the redness and that seems to help.

If it were me, I just trust my girls when they tell me they itch. Having the same equipment they do, I understand that sometimes itchiness just comes with the female territory. Try to be understanding.

 

[megg]

I have a son but my best friend has 4 duaghters, they have all gone through exploration of themselves. It is normal and I always saw her saying that it was fine, but needed to be done privately. This is also what I have told my son.
It is very natural for them to need to explore themselves and the different sensations that thier bodies feel, but they do need to understand about not doing this behavior publicly.

 

[Cright]

My sister and I both developed allergies to detergents (especially fabric softner) around the same age... 6-7 years or so... if she says she's itching, get rid of the fabric softner all together in the load that underwear are washed in first. If that doesn't work try for a different detergent (I use All free and clear) no color or sent.

If that doesn't work, I think that I'd take her to the Dr.'s or allergist.

 

[GolfingMom]

My daughter gets like this too and she is only three. It's been going on about a year. She has very sensitive skin and certain soaps affect her as does bubble bath. She has also had yeast infections since she had to take some medication earlier this year.
.

I thought my son had a UTI and his pediatrician advised that certain bubble bath soaps can cause UTI, especially in girls. If you read the bottle - there's a warning on it...just an FYI.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

I thought my son had a UTI and his pediatrician advised that certain bubble bath soaps can cause UTI, especially in girls. If you read the bottle - there's a warning on it...just an FYI.

it is true. I was not allowed to use bubble bath as a child due to my frequent UTIs. My daughter gets one every great once in awhile but I've found that certain ones cause her itching.

 

[wendy41899]

I remembered my niece going through this and I thought my mom said to ignore it, unless of course your in public. She always felt the more attention you draw to some things the more curiosity she will have.

I thought about an infection too, she doesn't seem to do it when people are around. It's more of a just happen to catch her type thing. I will just watch for right now, she has to go to the dr. in the next week or two to make sure she is caught up for shcool. If it is still bothering her, I will have them check and mention my concerns. I know from my stand point the infections drive you absolutely insane so it would seem as though she would mention it at other times.

 

[wendy41899]

OH, and I have also heard about the bubble bath causing irritation and infections. My dr. told me she should be showering at her age, well good luck. She can't stand water running down her face when it comes to bath, but I tell you when she jumps in a pool it doesn't bother her a bit. I thought about telling her that if she keeps acting the way she does at bath time she wont be able to go swimming. It's not like I let soap run down her face in her eyes or anything.

 

[HeatherJay]

OH, and I have also heard about the bubble bath causing irritation and infections. My dr. told me she should be showering at her age, well good luck. She can't stand water running down her face when it comes to bath, but I tell you when she jumps in a pool it doesn't bother her a bit. I thought about telling her that if she keeps acting the way she does at bath time she wont be able to go swimming. It's not like I let soap run down her face in her eyes or anything.

My 7 year old only just started taking showers in the last month or two. My 5 year old is no where close. And it's not something I would ever push them into doing...as long as they're getting clean, what's the big deal? Just use gentle soap in the bath...Ivory, Dove, or an all natural cleanser (I get one at my local vitamin/herb shop that's good).

 

[wendy41899]

I agree as long as they are getting cleaned. I have always just been glad my girls liked baths. My son can't stand them. He is now finally okay, until it comes time to wash, as soon as I bring in the towel he goes nuts because he knows what is coming.

 

[Marie D]

In the Cahtolic Church - masturbation is a no-no...so I have to approach this from that angle. I also want my children to see their sexuality as sacred and beautiful, so that is another important thing for me. I talk about how God created that part of their body for making and having babies- and that we have to take very special care of our vaginas. I tell them that it can feel good when we touch ourselves- but that that good feeling God wants us to save for a very special present for the man we marry. I ask them "Wouldn't you like to have the most specialist gift of giving all those good feelings to your husband and no one else?" ANd I tell them that that is what God wants for us, or (becuase I am Catholic) to give that gift of that part of our body to Him by giving up that pleasure and not getting married, or having babies- to be a nun and to be married to Jesus- free to serve Him and others in need who have no one to care for them.

I try to emphasize how special our bodies are and how it fits into God's plan...without going into graphic detail.

If masturbation is chronic in the very young, and there is no physical issue (such as infection) --that can be a sign of sexual abuse.

I think there's a good chance this girl genuinely does have an itch so ideas like using non-perfumed soap and detergent are good precautions.

However, there's always a risk that someone touching themselves there for innocent reasons could discover a pleasure they shouldn't, so I think she has to be taught that if it itches she mustn't touch but should just think of something else until it goes away. My mother did this with me, and thanks to God it worked. She just explained that that part of my body belonged to God until I was married then to my husband. Plus she said if she caught me scratching there she'd ask my father to beat me.

 

[Sarah2221]

Yes, but if the child has a real itch (and I can tell that this places sometime itches and one has to go into the bathroom and relieve the itch!). The panties maybe too tight, a young girl maybe not have wiped herself well enough, sweaty thighs and so on...etc, etc.

I think it's very easy to tell when your child touch herself for pleasure and touch herself because it's itching, and before any beating take place (and I don't think anyone should be beaten no matter what and didn't you agree that some of your parents methods were wrong?) the mother should rule out any sort of legitimate itch, which is impossible, because sometimes your hand itch and you have to scatch it, and sometimes other parts of your party itch and you have to scratch them - that place is no differen than other places.

 

[CFpetRESCUER15]

My youngest had problems with that. She had several yeast infections and a few bladder infections. So I would look at it from that first. She was very bad at wiping and always the wrong way. So I would talk a little bit about how to wipe and when you bath her make sure it gets really clean. If she likes to shower do that for a while, since sitting in the bath can be bad for it. Also if she is using bubblebath, leave it out. Only the little bit of soap that has to be used for washing.

 

[Momma2H]

Plus she said if she caught me scratching there she'd ask my father to beat me.

What if you actually did have an actual itch? You would still get beaten?