Question
My baby is 18 months old and often touches his little chick chick with his hand, sometimes even pulling or rubbing it. I’ve tried to stop him, but it hasn’t worked very well. I want to know if this behavior will become a bad habit, and how to help my child break the habit of touching his little chick chick?
Answer
Exploring one’s own little chick chick is a form of physical exploration and learning for children, especially common during summer, when not wearing clothes, after a bath, or after urinating. However, long-term touching may lead to hygiene issues, potentially causing urinary tract infections and discomfort. It is recommended that parents gently move their child’s hand away when they see them touching their little chick chick, and use other toys to divert their attention to reduce the opportunity for them to touch it. Moreover, parents should avoid using the act of touching the little chick chick to amuse their child to prevent confusion. Patience and gentle guidance are important; do not scold loudly.