Question
The recent news reports on precocious puberty have me very worried about my four-year-old niece. She often crosses her legs on the bed or sofa and sometimes places her hand near her vagina, stretching her legs out with force. When I asked her why she does this, she said it feels comfortable. According to her description, she believes this behavior makes her vagina feel more comfortable. I am very concerned whether this is a sign of precocious puberty and how to treat it? What effects could it have on her body?
Answer
Some children may inadvertently rub their genitals and experience sexual pleasure, thus developing the habit of masturbation. At the appropriate time, it is advisable to counsel and stop the child, and explain the reasons to help her gradually abandon this behavior. It is recommended to avoid exposing children to pornographic content, control the channels of computers and TVs, and keep adults’ sexual lives away from children, and not mention this matter in front of them. Engage in positive guidance, let her play with children of the same age, and tell more fairy tales to shift her attention. Wishing the baby a healthy growth.