Hands In The Pants...

[Brooksie]

Uh-oh! Just caught my first dcg with her hands in her pants at nap time. She will be 3 next month and is pretty much potty trained but parents keep sending her in pull ups. Yesterday we forgot to give her her binky at nap time and she didn't say anything and slept for 3 hours w/o it. Today I didn't give it to her and she sort of mumbled something about it and her woobie but I always tell the children I can't understand them if they mumble, if they need to tell me something it needs to be clear. She just rolled over so I let it go.

She's been talking a bit but it always takes her 45+ min to wind down and fall asleep and I just went into the kitchen and did my glance over and she had her hands down her pants playing with herself. Have not noticed this behavior from her before. Guess its just a new comfort thing? I know its natural and I didnt' even point it out, I just told her to close her eyes and fall asleep and she pulled her hand out. Do you guys think it has to do with the binky? I'm used to this behavior from DD, but only when shes naked (she's OBSESSED with touching herself and to my horror, putting things in between her legs ) But I know its a phase and I just remind here that things don't go there.

Any way, Idk if there is any advice in this situation? It doesn't really bother me unless it starts happening all day. My thought on it is its another comfort tool like the binky was. DCM has been talking about getting rid of it for a while now but doesn't make the move...

[Unregistered]

Child is old for a binky, I don't allow touching at nap or any other time no matter what the reason.I let the parents know right away that behavior is not allowed here.

[Brooksie]

Child is old for a binky, I don't allow touching at nap or any other time no matter what the reason.I let the parents know right away that behavior is not allowed here.

Don't I know it! The binky drives me crazy! I do not allow it for any thing other than nap time, and even then I don't like it. This was her second day here napping with out it and she was fine. Still sleeping actually.. Mom still gives in to her demands. Soon as mom picks up she starts whining for binky and woobie. I don't see that behavior here.

[Size18]

Yep... hands down the old pants (diapers)... dealt with that a few times as a mom. A couple of my children would stick their hands down the front of their rubber pants.

I remained strict on the issue, spanking their hand or hands when I caught them doing it, then plugging my nose with my thumb and index finger and saying to them "ewwwy... stinky... dirty... yucky..."

I also would give a stern "NO" (with a wagging finger) when I caught them with hands down diaper pants. It comes with steps and stages, and most children outgrow it, but it is unsanitary and should be nipped in the bud.

[pandamom]

For the 2 year olds in my class I don't tell them that it's "gross" or "yucky". However, I do tell the children that if their hands go down their underwear or diaper, they need to wash their hands- same as if their hands go in their nose, mouth, armpit, etc. Having to wash their hands constantly makes them think twice about where they stick their hands.

Some still nap with their hands in that area, but now the hands are outside their pants

[Starburst]

Yep... hands down the old pants (diapers)... dealt with that a few times as a mom. A couple of my children would stick their hands down the front of their rubber pants.

I remained strict on the issue, spanking their hand or hands when I caught them doing it, then plugging my nose with my thumb and index finger and saying to them "ewwwy... stinky... dirty... yucky..."

I am not trying to judge you or anything on your person parenting style for your children; But I am pretty sure that would not be allowed in daycare setting (spanking/hitting their hands) and I would definitely advise against saying "Dirty" or "Yucky" to that (especially with someone else's child) because many psychologist believe that that can cause lots of body image issues when they are older. I have also seen many shows where women had a hard time being intimate with their husbands because they were told for as long as they can remember that their bodies were "gross" or "dirty" or because sex was frowned upon when they were growing up, and sometimes those beliefs followed them even after they were married and negatively effected their marriage. I have also taken a class in human sexuality that shows lots of research that backs it up that labeling their bodies as "dirty" could cause sexual dysfunction in both males and females into adulthood, especially if it starts at a young age.

But I would just tell her "We don't do that at daycare (or in public), now go wash your hands" and then let her parents know and, if possible (if your brave enough ), get their take on what they plan to do about it (some parents may tell their children "it's normal and natural to be curious about your body, but that is something you do in private in your room; not in front of others" some parents may just say "don't do that"). It's better if you are both on the same page about this, because this could effect her self-esteem.