4 year old daughter always touching her lower private?

Question

My daughter Samantha is 4 and for the past couple of weeks she has been touching herself. She does it only when she is in a bathing suit or her ballet uniform, or when she is just in her underware. She will walk around when she has her bathing suit and hold her hand there and squeeze herself really hard and make a funny face. Or at her dance practices or recitles she will constantly be grabbing at it. I dont understand. Is this something i need to be worried about?

Answer 1

It could be that she doesn't like to be constricted in that area or that certain materials are a bit too itchy for her. Even if she's not necessarily scratching, it could be an odd sensation to have something so tight there.

I am thinking she is potty-trained since you said she wears underwear and that could play a role in it too. The tightness or itchy feeling could be triggering the same sensation as when she needs to pee or after she pees and she's not really old enough to completely discern the difference like an adult would be and that's where the funny face comes into play because she doesn't understand why she feels funny but doesn't have to actually pee.

The vaginal area is a sensitive area for many girls, even very young ones.

Try powdering the area with powder made for sensitive skin when she is in her ballet uniform or anything that she reacts to like that and see if that helps with any chafing she may be feeling and to keep the fabric from rubbing against her too much.

Also, if your family doesn't mind, allow her to go without underwear every now and then. Put her in a dress and let her go panties free to see if she still acts weird with the area. If she doesn't, it's most likely a constriction and discomfort issue, something she will just have to get used to. I don't know if they make boy short style underwear for little girls but I have many adult friends that say it's the only kind they can wear because the regular panty style is too constricting. Maybe test that style out if they are available in her size.

If she does continue touching the area even without underwear, she may have a yeast infection which is more common in younger girls than some people think. I was a nanny for several different families and with three of the girls I watched, they had yeast infections often, even as young as 1 year. Try cutting back on milk products and anything heavy in yeast to see if that may be the cause. And make sure when she pees, she's not dripping on her underwear and then pulling them back up.

If she starts to break out in a rash or starts to complain about the itch or a burning sensation, it probably still is a yeast infection but she will need Rx topical cream for it, as adult OTC cream is too strong.

If she is old enough to explain where the pain is and says it's more inside or if she says it hurts to pee, she could have a UTI which is another thing common in children, especially those who have recently been or are going through potty training or have recently started some sort of schooling.  

Answer 2

leave the kid alone shes in heat

Answer 3

you should be alert why is she doing this, maybe something happened with someone, be cautious with who you left her with, not to scare you but she may have been molested, talk to her and figure out what happened.

Answer 4

Dont worry.She is probably just curious of what it is or it may be possible she has found out how to pleasure herself.Ask a local doctor.

Answer 5

You should take her to a pediatrician to make sure there is nothing fungal going on. Kids can get yeast infections too.

Edit: Whoever gave the thumbs down is an idiot a perv or both. Bathing suits? Ballet uniform? Those are typical breeding grounds for infections. Put down the crack pipe Einstein.

Answer 6

yes It is normal for a little one to bedoing that..  My little girl who is 3 dose it. But talk to her and tell her that not nice to do infront of people. and also if she is (i want to say) understanble. ask her if anyone has tuched her there.. but dont make to much of a big deal about it.. When she dose that just bend down to her in her ear and say rember what we talk about .. we do that when no one is around.. My little girls been understanding it farly well.  

Answer 7

It's actually common for girls to have a fascination with their bodies, but it could also be something that's bothering her. The bathing suit and ballet leotard and even undies could feel "funny" whether it's itchy, good or an odd feeling. She may just not like the way it fits. It's always a good idea to rule out any possible abuse first, but after that, try talking to her to make sure nothing's really wrong. Don't make it out to be something 'bad' but let her know it shouldn't be done, esp around other people or while not at home. If there seems to be no real cause, then try to set rules about it, and just follow through.  

Answer 8

she sounds like a major perv j/k.

a lot of kids do that...she'll stop pretty soon  

Answer 9

thats competly normal every girl does that even boys do that 2

Answer 10

It's normal. She isn't thinking anything sexual. You are. Stop being a perv

Answer 11

This is totally normal behavior. Children do what feels good and she has figured out that touching herself feels good.  What you need to do is don't embarrass her or shame her, that will cause her problems later in life, just casually tell her that what she's doing is normal and is just fine in the privacy of her own bed/bedroom. But it isn't something we do in public or around other people. It may take telling her a few times but that should do it.  

Answer 12

does she maybe have an infection? ask her if it itches "down there".

Answer 13

Maybe it's a bladder problem? Or even a comfort thing to do when she is feeling uncomfortable? Try changing slight things to see if it gets better. Maybe its a fabric in the bathing suit or uniform? It couldn't hurt to take her to the Dr. it is probably nothing, try to discourage her from doing it...

Answer 14

It could be a couple of things, she could just feel uncomfortable, curiosity, or she could have an infection. It definitely is something to have checked with a doctor though. It isn't something you should be worried about though, sometimes a parent who worries about something a child does will affect the child, making them fearful. Often times, a parent's emotions will rub off on the child because you are their role model.

Answer 15

its natural though kids do that beccause their discovering their bodies..... you should tell her what it is and ask her why she keeps grabbing herself.... beaware tho  make sure shes not squeezing herself because shes been " touched"

Answer 16

uhh yeah talk to the grl

Answer 17

it could be something as innocent as curiosity or as bad as a yeast infection. maybe she has one. there is NO AGE to get a yeast infection. ask her if it is itchy or anything like that. just ask her alot of questions if you think it may be something medical. if its just her curiosity, tell her that its fine to be curious, but not to do it in public.

Answer 18

could the bathing suit, ballet suit be too tight?? otherwise she is just discovering what makes her different from herself and all boys... maybe soon or when she turns 5 u can do a little explaining about the details of what she (and if u want) what boys have down there between there legs...

i don't think u need to be worried...

Answer 19

Nothing to be worried about, she just discovering her body.

Answer 20

You should be worried about it, because their might be something wrong.

So she should see a doctor.

Answer 21

maybe these things are too tight, get her checked out just incase, she could have scabbies, you never know just look into it with a doctor  

Answer 22

She is still young and curious about herself so its okay, but encourage her that she shouldnt touch that part of her body.  

Answer 23

1 get her a doc apointment, 2 sit her down and talk to her ask her why

she may have seen or experienced something to trigger it, so yeah i'd be conserned, not worried yet though as kids do come up with a lot of things, but def enough conserned to get it checked out

Answer 24

Maybe the ballet uniform is itchy?