How to answer "Where do babies come from?"

[teacherjacks]

My 6 year old asked the dreaded question this morning and although I managed to distract her with her spellings, I know the question will come again.
Can anyone recommend a good book which explains this delicate matter, appropriate for a 6 year old?

[boobesque]

i would thoroughly recommend the book in the link below, my mum gave it to me when i was about 6 or 7 and it is very good, it explains stuff in a very good way, but not in an unrealistic way, i want to buy it when i get the question!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/03303 31132/qid=1151564984/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_ xgl/203-2702524-7486320

[BlueHeaven]

Can't recommend a book, but I would suggest only telling her what she needs to know and what she will be able to understand.

My daughter is 8 and asked the dreaded question when she was 3 or 4 and I simply told her then that she grew from an egg in my tummy and she was satisfied with that. So far, the question hasn't come up again, but I am expecting it to, soon!

[leandrews]

I asked this question to my poor mother, and this book proved invaluable, and gave me all the info I needed.

If the hyper link doesn't work, this is the full address:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0746042450/ 203-5707054-7954331?v=glance&n=266239

On the Amazon page, you can even flick through a few pages!

[:Ace:]

I thought that the doctor put a baby in the mothers belly button and thats where it came from?

That's what I was always told anyways.

[mimififi]

The book I have used with my children is called "Our new Baby" and it is all done with photographs which are really beautifully done. It is kinda like a photo story about a mum having a baby from the perspective of the older siblings.

The book is quite old and is currently out of print, I bought a copy from a second hand seller on amazon.

The book does have a christian bent to it and it does talk about marriage which may or may not be appropriate. The last page reads the psalm 139 "Lord, you made every part of me and you put me together in my mother's womb...."
You don't have to focus on the side of it, but it is a good book from the biological point of view. It also talks about family life and how we all look after each other.
it is written by Marlee and Benny Alex and the ISBN is: 0-85648-422-4

[jake-the-peg]

Blimey mimififi that sounds a bit heavy for a 6 year old!

For something a bit lighter I'd recommend "Mummy laid an egg" by Babette Cole

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/00992 99119/qid=1151586052/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/202-6 493767-2321460

It's very funny! My kids really enjoyed it when they were younger

[teacherjacks]

Thanks very much. just ordered two books on Amazon. I will let you all know how it goes in due course.

[sense4all]

I love the Babette Cole one.

[mimififi]

Hi Jake, I have perhaps painted the book in a bad light. It isn't at all heavy and is just a photo story following the pregnancy of a mum through the eyes of her two older children who are about 5 And 6. It is actually a really lovely book for all ages.

Sorry if it sounded like that.

[vehelpfulguy]

Why do so many of you say it is a dreaded question?

So sad to say you had to distract her with spellings.

Maybe adults know about sex and somehow think it is rude but children have a very innocent view of the world and you should encourage them to see the wonder of childbirth.

Say something like:

Your father planted a seed inside me which grew into a baby in a special area in my tummy.

Mummy looked after it inside her tummy as it grew until it was big enough to come out.

It is then a small baby and we have to look after it until it is big enough to look after itself.

Easy. So why is that a dreaded question.

[Lore]

VHG, I loved your reply!

At the age of 6, you could have had a really nice discussion firstly by asking your daughter where she thinks babies come from... by doing this you'll soon find her level of understanding on the subject and can then use it to your advantage to expand on her ideas and opinions using language that is age appropriate.

[teacherjacks]

Thanks to all of you for all your comments. When asked by my daughter I was totally taken by surprise, I think distracting her with spellings just gave me more time to think (and ask for advice from you all). I am a school teacher but teach an older age group. When we do Sex Ed at school, we use all the correct vocb etc..I suppose I am just unsure of how much detail to go into as she is much younger than my pupils.

Thank you to all!

[RATTER15]

The Babette Cole one is great! I read it when i was about 6 ish and it explained it well but made it funny at the same time.. and i have never seen any babies under gooseberry bushes yet so its well worth a read!!!!!!!!