How to react when his young child discovers his intimate anatomy? this is the question to which Catherine Blanc, a sexologist and psychoanalyst in Paris, responds on Tuesday in Sans rendez-vous, the health show of Europe 1.
The question of Chloe, young mother
My two year old daughter is touching more and more often with sex in the shower. I know it's natural, but I should tell him something. She will understand that we do not do this in public, but at what age?
Catherine Blanc's answers
Two years is when the child discovers little by little, awakens to the libido, so in fact, it's on the way. So there is the libido that leads the hand, but there are also events. Chloe's daughter is quite intelligent, and as she is very intelligent, she returns to it. It is something completely natural. There is no need to worry about that. If this is obviously to be able to handle this as a mom in front and be quiet about it.
Afterwards, we must be clear: it is masturbation in etymological terms. It is indeed a hand that comes to solicit a place of excitement, which has spotted that there was a real enjoyment, and that as there is a real enjoyment, there is a repetition quite natural about that.
Should we tell him something?
It must be quietly said 'my darling is great, it's great'. But tell him also 'my dear, it's your body, so presto, now we close, it's over, it'll be for later'. There now is the bath or shower but after it's over. And if there is a sibling, say that what concerns the body of one does not concern the body of the other.
There is nothing to worry about except when you can not help the child to be in a quiet social life. She is going to meet a society that is not ready to do that, because it's her own body. She runs the risk of encountering the mockery of one or the other, the modesty, even the prudery of the adults who suddenly stigmatize her. That's what's more disturbing.