Age appropriate reply to How does the baby get in her tummy

[CrazyLucky]

One of the teachers at daycare is about 7 months pregnant.  Yesterday, DD(3), DS(5) and I were talking about how exciting babies are, if it's a boy or a girl, whether it kicks a lot and if the kicks hurt, etc.  And then DS asked how the baby got in her tummy.  We were on our way to get Valentine's cookies for their parties and had just pulled into the grocery store.  I just said, "That's a big question and will take a while to answer.  Do you mind if we talk about it later?"  And he didn't mind, but I'm sure he will bring it up again.  What do you tell your 5 year olds?  And does the message change if the 3 year old is also listening?

[cabbagecabbage]

My mom told us about intercourse in a simplified way at that age but it was a bit horrifying to my 4 year old mind.

My daughter, 3, is more interested in our baby's exit strategy (for which we have a book and use the words birth canal and vagina) but so far, she just knows that a mom and dad make a baby together and the mom grows it in her belly. That has been enough for her so far.

[charley]

Honestly I just said mom and dad made her together and if/when they asked how, I changed the subject. I'm just not ready to go there with them.

[macmars45]

I'm a preschool teacher and 6 months pregnant currently. I get away with "because my H and I want a baby" so far. And as for how does he come out... I get away with "My DR at the hospital will help me".

/not helpful and not looking forward to answering those questions in about 3 years myself

[bugandbibs]

My 5 year accepted that "Daddy puts a special seed inside Monmy and it grows into a baby. "

[luckyval]

So far we've said we take a part of mommy and a part of daddy and it grows into a baby in mommy's tummy.

[CrazyLucky]

Thanks for the help. I was thinking something along the lines of what you all have said - mommy and daddy make a baby together, but I'm scared of the follow-ups!

[housewife]

We haven't started to include the male role yet. I told them that all girls have eggs in their tummy and when they are ready for a baby the egg grows into one.

[thebuddhagouda]

Yeah, Ethan was content with "Mommy and Daddy make the baby together and it grows in Mommy's tummy". He was far more concerned with how she was going to get out, but I kept sticking with "The doctor at the hospital will help her come out" without going into specifics because I knew he'd ask to see where she's going to come out

[knx9211]

This is the only good part of IF. For a while, I feel like I can honestly answer "The doctor put you there."

[underwaterrhymes]

When I was three, I was intensely curious about this and asked how babies are made.

My mom told me they took a seed from the daddy and an egg from the mommy and it made a baby and grew in the mommy's tummy.

That seemed to work well for me until I later told my dad that they took a seed from the daddy and an egg from the refrigerator.

[thebreakfastclub]

My son is almost 3 and has started to ask, since a few of his classmates' moms are pregnant.

I said that daddy and I made him and he grew in my belly. Then I added that a special doctor helped you get out, because you have a big head. LOL, c-section boy.

[hocus2]

My 5 year old wanted details. So I explained that there is a special hole the baby comes out of near your bottom. That seemed like enough for her. FWIW we also had a simple conversation about how babies get made and it was fine. She's never asked about it since.

[lolobeth802]

The book called "Its Not the Stork" is fantastic. It has great pictures and refers to body parts as anatomically correct. I feel like it's empowering and important to not say the baby grows in the tummy. The book makes it so easy to explain to kids in familiar language so you're not searching/stumbling for the right words.
www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Stork-Families-Friends/dp/0763633313

[sessy]

I told my kids that it's a special part from the mommy and a special part from the daddy and it grows the baby in tummy. When they asked how I told them the doctor put them in there, which is true for their conception (infertility).

I'll clarify at a later date

[callmehales]

"A butt load of cash, a bunch of shots, some AWKWARD positions at the doctors office, and bam, here you are!"