Can toddlers be sexually aware?

[Taikero]

so when he yells out "daddy" to the random guy at the grocery store- it implies yucky things for me lol)

 

I apologize, but this thought made me laugh out loud at my desk: "One woman's yucky is another man's lucky."

 

Aaaaanyway.......

[JonasWaingaro]

Good point. Also, they are reacting to us. They get attention and fussed over when they make moo moo eyes and smile all cute. Good point about projecting onto them. hmmm..makes alot of sense.

 

Sure, who would you be more likely to want to go grab - the big person smiling, cooing, and generally giving off 'omg I love you' cues. Or the big person being stand offish, half-smiling, and giving off the 'meh, snotty kid' cues? I know who I'd go grab...wait, that was kinda creepy.

[sidehop]

My son does that and it is SO EMBARASSING- it makes him look like he is on a mission to find a father (as if he does not have one at home) But again- when I turn red when he does that it is only because I am projecting the sexual adult aspect into it. (he just thinks men are "daddies"- whereas adults realize that in order for a man to be a daddy-biologically- he had to have sex with someone- so when he yells out "daddy" to the random guy at the grocery store- it implies yucky things for me lol)

 

Now that I think about it, she'll openly hug and even try to kiss guys sometimes on the lips especially if they are friends that we know but I'm very affectionate towards her physically as well as my wife. Maybe that has something to do with her being more open. Both of our parents believe it or not weren't physically affectionate and we believe that it's important for her especially with emotional health to get that kind of affection.

 

I think my daughter is confused with the term lately. If I call my wife 'honey' then she will be like "No, that's MOMMIE". It doesn't really bother me that she calls others daddy but it's like hey kid, I'm raising you, not him lol.

[Catdancer]

Sure, who would you be more likely to want to go grab - the big person smiling, cooing, and generally giving off 'omg I love you' cues. Or the big person being stand offish, half-smiling, and giving off the 'meh, snotty kid' cues? I know who I'd go grab...wait, that was kinda creepy.

 

lol...good point. And we wont call it "creepy" because I understand what you're saying. lol

[Cognitive_Canine]

My sisters loved men and my male cousins loved women. Mostly it was a shyness thing for them. They'd hide behind their mothers and peek out with one eye and smile before ducking behind cover.

 

I think we're evolutionarily programmed to respond to the opposite sex more strongly. I know that's mostly true for parents when the child is a bit older and I believe it can start from birth as well.

[pinkelephant]

Yes. I've had sexual fantasies ever since I could remember. Lol! Pervert babyyyy.

[Catdancer]

Yes. I've had sexual fantasies ever since I could remember. Lol! Pervert babyyyy.

 

Do you know how you reacted to adults as a toddler? Did you "flirt" with men? Were you more drawn to women?

[oldenoughtoknow]

I've read studies and seen fairly strong conclusions that sexual preference is inherent in each of us.

 

It's been over a decade since my kids were toddlers. But I remember my son always related well and seemed drawn to women. Likewise, my daughter was always more drawn to men. They were always moving towards the opposite sex people in the room, trying to entertain them or impress them (like falling on their butt and laughing while staring directly at them to elicit a response), making cute noises, asking to be picked up and held, etc. Same sex people always received a much more indifferent, standoffish attitude.

 

As well, I am at the age where I have watched several younger people grow up from infancy. Two of these infants/toddlers seemed to have a very obvious preference for same sex adults. Now as young adults, one is gay and the other is lesbian. That's what I've noticed in my world. Very interesting thread.

[Catdancer]

As well, I am at the age where I have watched several younger people grow up from infancy. Two of these infants/toddlers seemed to have a very obvious preference for same sex adults. Now as young adults, one is gay and the other is lesbian. That's what I've noticed in my world. Very interesting thread.

 

This I find very very interesting. hmmm...

[pinkelephant]

Do you know how you reacted to adults as a toddler? Did you "flirt" with men? Were you more drawn to women?

 

I'm not sure, but I know I've always been an attention wh0re, flirting and trying to elicit responses from everyone.. and as an adult, I'm kind of a bisexual (I say kind of, because I'm not entirely sure about the labeling).

 

 

Edited:

 

Actually, my parents said I spent more time with men and I remember feeling more with some men (or boys? they were teenagers or early 20s) and would often position myself within their paths to catch their eyes/attentions. This is at an older age though, maybe 4 or 5? Haha, I remember playing piano for a 17 yearold guy that I crushed on at 5.

[alcide]

Well, I have to admit that my son has grabbed more boobies in his 14 months of life, than most men have who are 30. And I have to say that he has had his hands on some great looking boobies. lol

 

I don't believe im hearing that , wooo ...

[Catdancer]

I don't believe im hearing that , wooo ...

 

lol...he was breastfed for a while and he just naturally puts his hands there when a woman picks him up. So, he's had his hands on ALOT of boobies.

[fLuiD]

I want to touch up on something here since it might be somewhat related. I've met a couple of people whose parents made a huge joke about their sexual interest at a young age. No problem with sexual interest, but when parents joke about it (laugh at kid grabbing boob, or 'humping gestures' etc.) they create a HUGE problem. I notice that these people usually end up being 'perverts' in terms of sex being the only thing they can talk about to a point where it is almost an obsession. Point is, to be careful not to subliminally encourage this behavior by laughing about it. It is kind of funny to see the amazement in a kid's eyes when he sees how squishy a pair of breast are, but you dont wan't him grabbing someone's breast who might be extremely sensitive to this, and may become very critical of the way you are raising your child.

[Catdancer]

I do agree with you. And if my son was 6, I could definitely see the harm. But he is an infant who is still on the bottle. If he grabs some boobs, it's natural for him to do so, right now at this point in his life. And to be honest, he grabs the boobs of any woman, pretty or not so pretty, so I dont think this boob grabbing is a sexual thing.

 

The things we laugh and joke about are the way he smiles and will toddle up to a woman and want her attention.

 

But I do understand your point and it is a good one.

[fLuiD]

I do agree with you. And if my son was 6, I could definitely see the harm. But he is an infant who is still on the bottle. If he grabs some boobs, it's natural for him to do so, right now at this point in his life. And to be honest, he grabs the boobs of any woman, pretty or not so pretty, so I dont think this boob grabbing is a sexual thing.

 

The things we laugh and joke about are the way he smiles and will toddle up to a woman and want her attention.

 

But I do understand your point and it is a good one.

 

 

Yeah at this infant stage it is all laughs and he really doesn't understand what he is doing. For kids his age, its pretty much straightforward and black and white for them. Their impulse is to gravitate to anything they like rnaging from toys to people. I guess keep a close eye on him and as he gets older if you see he might be crossing the line where people get uncomfortable because of the behavior, teach him right from wrong. But then you also don't want to 'reprimand' him for being a flirt or exploring his sexuality. Its a sensitive thing where you have to give him enough slack to satisfy a bit of hir urges to flirt, but you also have to draw a line without damaging his ego and making him believe he is doing something wrong.

[getbiii]

im highly skeptical at 14 months, he is probably more looking for afection.

 

but just to share, i remember i wanted girls at 5.

me and my BF/neighbhor who was also 5 would talk about girls and how we wanted to hug them, i don't think we fully had an idea of how babies were made but we were atractted to girls!

lol i remember we found a porn magazine and he hid it and kept it for some time,

we would look at it and wonder for hours

[sharsachan]

Now that I think about it, she'll openly hug and even try to kiss guys sometimes on the lips especially if they are friends that we know but I'm very affectionate towards her physically as well as my wife. Maybe that has something to do with her being more open. Both of our parents believe it or not weren't physically affectionate and we believe that it's important for her especially with emotional health to get that kind of affection.

 

I think my daughter is confused with the term lately. If I call my wife 'honey' then she will be like "No, that's MOMMIE". It doesn't really bother me that she calls others daddy but it's like hey kid, I'm raising you, not him lol.

 

not so much on topic, but this made me laugh!! i call my husband honey all the time, and now bear has taken it up too. he'll ask daddy something and if he doesnt respond right away, he says "hooooooneyyyyyyy!!!!" its so funny

[sidehop]

lol yep, she's confusing the word honey too calling my wife honey. Kids are too dang funny

[Night Pumpkin]

No one can know for sure what a toddler is thinking, but I am really concerned that this question is even being asked. Why would you want to know? Why would you want to know how a toddler views sexuality (if indeed they do have a viewpoint).

[sharsachan]

Because it's an interesting topic. just like how a toddler views dogs, and car rides, and new people. sex doesnt mean BAD. WE make it taboo.

 

and for a person who might be interested in child psychology [even just recreationally] they would want to know.

 

it doesnt make someone a bad person for being curious about a toddler's mind. no matter what the topic. not entirely sure what you are implying there pumpkin

[Catdancer]

No one can know for sure what a toddler is thinking, but I am really concerned that this question is even being asked. Why would you want to know? Why would you want to know how a toddler views sexuality (if indeed they do have a viewpoint).

 

Because it's an interesting topic. just like how a toddler views dogs, and car rides, and new people. sex doesnt mean BAD. WE make it taboo.

 

and for a person who might be interested in child psychology [even just recreationally] they would want to know.

 

it doesnt make someone a bad person for being curious about a toddler's mind. no matter what the topic. not entirely sure what you are implying there pumpkin

 

Shara answered that question perfectly! Thank you Shara!

 

I love to watch him with people. I love watching his face and his reactions. When someone he loves comes into a room, like me, his daddy, his aunt, his nana, his eyes just light up and his whole expression changes. I also watch him when he sees strangers. And his reaction to women just sparked the question. I wonder if he sees women as attractive. He definitely prefers slender young women. lol If you were to line up a beautiful 40 year old and a beautiful 20 year old, he would go to the 20 year old.

 

And again Shara is right in that I always wonder what he's thinking. Whether he's looking at women, catching ants or eating sidewalk chalk...I always wonder he's thinking.

[sharsachan]

you're welcome cat. i am constantly wondering how my kids see the world. its amazing to watch their reactions. like christmas and easter. dot, was completely okay with santa and the easter bunny. bear screamed like you were torturing him. i would give anything to see in their minds and understand why they had such different reactions to the same thing.

[Catdancer]

you're welcome cat. i am constantly wondering how my kids see the world. its amazing to watch their reactions. like christmas and easter. dot, was completely okay with santa and the easter bunny. bear screamed like you were torturing him. i would give anything to see in their minds and understand why they had such different reactions to the same thing.

 

And a Happy 1st Birthday to little Dot!!!!

 

I wish it was easy to see what they're thinking and how they rationalize. they use much more of their brain than adults do, and this also intrigues me. How fast they learn, how do they decide to do something or not do something. It's all so interesting!

[sharsachan]

dot says thanks!

[SamiJayne]

I really don't know.But I was wondering this on the weekend, when We took my son over to my mother in laws friends house to see some chicks. And the friends daughter Millie was there, and she grabbed my son. And God not only did my son ignore the Dog, and the chick right next to him... He ignored everyone but Millie (daughter) just stared at her like she was the last female on earth. Or the last Jam donut. And he's never stroked anyones face like that! He normally grabs and pulls. He just had his palm on her check. Was sooo cute =D