"birds and bees" for older sibling

[Lyglc]

Hi, not sure if this is the right place to ask this question, but couldn't find where else to start this as a new thread. If there is already a thread similar to this, please let me know!

I am 6 weeks pregnant and our 4 .5 year old knows we are going to have a new baby. She has started asking me questions.

"How did the baby get it there?" - to which I replied - "it started to grow in there" and then quickly changed the topic.....

and

"How does the doctor get the baby out?" - to which I replied "there's a special place that baby comes out from" and then once again quickly changed the topic.

Does anyone have any advice as I don't want to make up stories that aren't true, but also don't want to go into detail with her as i think she is much too young (and may also decide to tell other kids her new found knowledge!!)

If anyone has any advicem I'd really appreciate it. Thanks

[OJandMe]

The most important thing is to answer the question correctly, but without adding too much info, and making the response simple enough for her to understand.

EG: How did the baby get it there?"
A: Mummies and Daddies have a special way of putting them there. And the baby starts to grow, like an egg.


Q: How does the doctor get the baby out?
A: Mummy gets the baby out at the hospital, with doctors watching to help if Mummy needs it. Mummy's are very special people and our bodies have a special way of stretching, like elastic, to get the baby out.

If she asks exactly where the baby comes out, tell her. Her body is the same. but phrase it something like.

- When little girls grow up and want to become a Mummy, the baby grows inside their tummy, and when the baby is ready their body helps the baby come out through the vagina.

Just be frank, honest. There is nothing wrong with children knowing where they come from. Children don't usually ask 'deeper' questions if you can give them an honest, age-appropriate response.

There are some very good books out there too.

One I saw recently was called "Where Willy Went" a story of a little sperm (who trained for a big race inside Mr Johnson, and then Mr Jonhson and Mrs Johnson came together on the race day, and off they went, racing as fast as they could to get to the 'prize' .. it's actually a very lovely little book" But maybe not for a 4.5 yr old... I'd leave it till about 5/6.


ETA: Oh and I would take the opportunity to start talking about fertilisation, and male and female having different jobs. If you DO see a bee collecting pollen, tell her. See that flower, the bee is collecting special powder from that flower... that's a male flower. When he lands on a female flower he will put the powder on her, and then she can make seeds to grow more flowers!

There's nothing wrong with children understanding and respecting biology.