When to have “the talk”

Question

So I’ve seen a couple of posts about parents teaching their toddlers their private parts and teaching them that only mommy and daddy can see them naked, etc. I have a 2 year old daughter and I’m very curious as to when I should start introducing these topics to her. We shower together and she will sometimes shower with her dad, but she’s never made any comments about our body parts. Should I start teacher her that she has a vagina? Also, when should I teach her that only mommy and daddy are allowed to change her diaper or see her naked? Or how do I explain that it’s okay for her grandparents to change or bathe her too since they watch her often? I’m just very lost and don’t know where to begin, so any advice is appreciated! I want her to be educated about her body and know that it’s not okay for just anybody to touch her or see her naked.

Answer

Now. It's never too early. You know her best, so you'll know what's best to say. Make sure you teach the proper names too. It has been shown many times in court, when a child has been touched or seen someone be touched, that their testimony can and will be thrown out if they dont know the actual names of the parts.

Answer

I taught my daughter that she had a vagina when we were naming the rest of her body parts... probably around 18 months. Then a little while later after she had down the term vagina, we talked about how no one should touch her anywhere her diaper/underwear covers unless they ask her and mommy’s or daddy’s permission... people that might need to are grandparents changing you or the doctor. Then we a bit later after that was reinforced we talked about how we shouldn’t show people or vaginas and how other people should not show us their parts either and if anyone does then she’s to tell us right away. We just started simply and basically and have built on it since, adding more as her layers of understanding develop.

Answer

When she shows interest or is questioning parts would be my cue. Until then I’ll just let her keep her innocence😂

Answer

We never have a “talk,” like it’s never a big deal. We talk about private body parts regularly during potty time or changing time. We taught him those words the same way we taught him elbow or chin. A hundred little conversations with information presented like it’s just a normal part of life is both easier on everybody and more effective than one big “talk.”

Answer

I’d say that’s two deprecate topics, which you’ll come back to again and again. 
1. Names of body parts. You probably started this in infancy, chatting or singing about hands and bellies, knees and toes, etc. now just matter-of-factory start using the correct terms for her private parts too. (Bonus points for saying “vulva” meaning all her external genitalia. Vagina is inside, like our heart and kidneys). Natural times to use the body part words is when washing and changing. 
2. Privacy and body autonomy. Also ongoing conversations. I’m not as good at this part yet. But the autonomy part is she gets to decide about things like hugs and kisses. Make it ok for he to say no, and maybe offer a high 5 instead, if she ever wants to.

Answer

To talk about body parts and how to care for them when they’re young. 
For sex maybe twelve

Answer

Around 2 is when I told my daughter about herself and around 2.5 when she noticed my son (3m at the time) was different I explained about that.

Answer

My daughter is one and knows about her privates never to soon

When to have “the talk”

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