How the body works
Beginner concepts

Where do babies come from

Talking to your child about where babies come from is an important part of their sexuality education.

Introduction

Many children are curious about where they or their siblings came from or how something as big as a baby can get into someone’s tummy! By talking to your child about conception and birth you are ensuring that they are getting correct information that is right for them.

How much information do I give my child?

It is important to give your child information that is at a level that they can understand, fits with their current knowledge and satisfies their curiosity.

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Conversation Starters

Have you ever thought about how you were born?

Do you see that lady over there? She is growing a baby in her tummy. Do you know how the baby got there?

That woman on the TV is about to have her baby. Do you know how babies come out?

Strategies for you to try

Teachable moments

Look for teachable moments in your child’s everyday life to start the conversation about how babies are made. These moments might include:

Seeing a pregnant woman on the bus, at school or at the supermarket
A school friend has a new baby brother or sister
People on TV are talking about having a baby

Use these moments to ask your child questions about what they know about pregnancy and birth, while allowing them to ask you questions in return. Take advantage of these opportunities to have frequent and repeat talks about pregnancy and birth, and to check in on your child’s understanding of what that means.

Use resources and activities to help your child learn

Finding the right way to give information to your child is just as important as finding the right words to explain something. If your child loves pictures then sit down together with a book and ask them questions about what they think is happening in the pictures. If they prefer to learn by doing things, or use non-verbal communication, then worksheets and sorting games can be helpful. For example, you might cut out the images of the different steps involved in making a baby and ask your child to sort them into the order they think they happen.

Don’t wait! Be proactive!

Don’t wait for your child to ask you about where babies come from. Be proactive in bringing up the topic with your child. This lets your child know that you want them to talk to you about these things and that they can come to you if they have questions. If your child needs a little bit more time to learn new things bringing up the topic with them early gives them more time to hear repeat information, understand it and ask questions.