It would not be wrong to say that masturbation might be seen in babyhood because sexuality exists in every developmental stage.  Attention of the genital area begins in the early ages, especially for boys. When babies’ diapers are changed, they rub their feet against each other. When children are older,  they touch their genital areas.  Babies are too sensitive towards touching because of their skin being very sensitive.

The childhood masturbation is very common. This situation is more explicit between 3-6 ages.  When girls masturbate, they clamp their legs or give pressure towards their  vagina.  When boys masturbate, they lie on their stomach to rub against their sexual organ or to touch their sexual organ sequently.  The interest in sexual organ is a healthy development.  If the masturbation is not excessive and repetitive, there is no abnormal case to be worried about.

What are the reasons of the masturbation?  Let’s go back to babyhood, the babies, who lack of breastfeeding or soothing, live deficiency of stimulation so they look for other ways to get themselves sexually satisfied. The other reasons might be divorce ( living with single parent), changing the caretaker, the birth of new sibling  and some traumatic events and sexual abuse which could trigger the masturbation.  Also, narrow clothes and underwear can lead to pleasure in children.  Emotional deprivation, genital tract infection and minority environmental stimulation also might encourage children to touch their bodies.

Things to do towards this situation, are the parents showing much more interest in and spending some quality time with their children.  They should not focus on masturbation and should not make verbal warning. They should immediately do activities that would distract children from masturbating. While hugging children, parents should pay attention not to touch or not to stimulate genital area of children accidentally. When the children are alone, there should be kind of toys to play games with and keep themselves occupied with.  To enhance environmental stimuli, it may be useful to send children to nursery or kindergarten. Punishing, reproving or shaming children is not a suitable way that you should definitely avoid doing so.

                                                                                                             Psychologist/ Family Counseling

                                                                                                                          Fulden Yumru