ACKK! 8 yo son wants to know how babies are made! I thought I'd...

[KellyBelly]

be ready for this... but now it seems harder! When he was very little we talked about mommies and daddies who loved each other could make babies etc... it was very sweet and innocent. Now, it seems harder b/c he wants DETAILS. I feel like a complete WIMP - why is this so much harder than I'd ever imagined?

How much detail do I give?

[Robin Hood]

Not many. Start with something evasive and see where it leads. Color me strange, but I like seeing how their imagination tries to figure it out. He'll keep asking questions and you can keep giving short answers. He should be easily satisfied at first. He'll let you know when he gets it. I did eventually tell my dds at 9.5, but it was fun prior to that. I learned that they do not put it together the way you are thinking. It is still over their heads.

[KellyBelly]

Thanks for the suggestion. Should I get a book in case he wants more details... and just let him read it himself?

[hsmom]

look at your library some of them carry videos about this stuff you could use.

[Scarlett]

I had sort of the 'reverse question.' Ds, at about age 6, began to ask 'what EXACTLY is sex?' I really had no choice. I finally figured if I didn't tell him someone else would--most likely less acurately. I read a book with him....when we got to the 'details' he said, 'Well. I didn't expect that.' LOL Still makes me laugh to picture his cute little face so shocked at the facts of it all.

[Sena]

We read 'The Wonderful Way Babies Are Made' by Larry Christenson. It is written from a Christian persepective and made the talk with our boys much easier! There are two sets of text one to read to a younger child and one for an older child. I believe my husband read through the less detailed text with our sons and then we gave the older son the book to read the more detailed text on his own. It was a great springboard for conversation.

HTH

[Old Dominion Heather]

Tell him the truth... If it is easier, explain it with mammals and then tell him that people are pretty much the same.

Kids knew all this stuff real, real young a couple hundred years ago. Think of all the farmer's kids! I watched my great-granddad breeding goats when I was about 6 or so. I was relieved to find out that sex was more fun for people than it seemed to be for the nanny goat!

[Mom2legomaniacs]

I had sort of the 'reverse question.' Ds, at about age 6, began to ask 'what EXACTLY is sex?' I really had no choice. I finally figured if I didn't tell him someone else would--most likely less acurately. I read a book with him....when we got to the 'details' he said, 'Well. I didn't expect that.' LOL Still makes me laugh to picture his cute little face so shocked at the facts of it all.

LOL! That's so cute!

[Adrianne]

Since he found out I was prego, my ds9 wants to know details too. I have just been saying, "Can we talk about it later?" hoping I will find the right book to give him or thinking of the right thing to say. I have a bad habit of giving too much information.

I am glad you posted this!

[camibami]

I gave my DD's the info in little bits- where babies grow when I was pregnant with my youngest, where they come out watching an animal have babies, what a period is and why you have it (they often follow me to the bathroom, so, that came up at about 2-3!). Eggs and sperm, girl parts and boy parts.

BUT- I left exactly *how* the sperm gets TO the egg. Untl they asked that specific question one night last year, and then I just had to gulp and tell them. Poor kids- they listened, but they looked sort of shell shocked. I don't think they had any clue it would be THAT, you know?

;)They've never brought it up again.

Just tell the truth, in bare-bones, sort of medical style. Your child will be horrified (aren't we all as kids?). My plan is to address the whole feelings..love...marraige...side of it when they are in puberty.

[riada]

My dd9 wanted to know "details" when I was pregnant a few months back. I thought "details" meant it all. I explained it, still somewhat vaguely, but in more detail than "when a mom and dad love eachother..." and apparently her "details" and mine weren't the same. She looked bewildered and said, "so did you and dad do it here on the bed? I'm never coming in this room again!"

My suggestion is to follow your first reply- keep it simple and vague. If he asks for more info. then ablige but not unless he requires more. I messed up on this one probably out of my own nervousness and fear!

[Laurie4b]

We had a couple of books about it. Dh read it to the boys and it was no big deal. They were probably 8,6,4, &2 at the time.