Where DO babies come from? Here’s what to remember when your little one asks some tough questions

"Mommy – how DID I get inside your tummy...?"

“Where did I come from?” and “how are babies made?” are questions most parents can expect to face without warning from their kids. Been there? Getting asked some rather straightforward questions by your child about the birds and the bees – or, more specifically – where do babies really come from – can make us all a bit flustered. In our house, we have one of the Let's Talk books – and in all honesty, I found it great for getting to talk about some pretty important things with my own two children. The book was often something they asked to read or even flicked through themselves, then came to me with all their questions and queries later. Did your kids start asking some questions yet? According to a new study, children are most likely to wonder where babies come from around the age of six. Interestingly, the research also revealed that a whopping one in 10 parents claim they picked the baby up at the shop! Thankfully, one in four, on the other hand, are straightforward and honest, and answer their child in a biological correct manner, while 32 percent of parents simply explain 'babies are born when two people love each other very much.' Recently, Comparethemarket.com spoke with mums and dads who’ve already encountered these questions, to help prepare those yet to be caught off-guard. And it seems early preparation could be the key. According to the parents in the study, while six is the average age for springing the question, around 12 percent of children start wondering about the birth of babies from as young as four.

How to deal with the 'where do babies come from' questions

“It’s important we tell children the truth, considering their age," says PhDr. Ivana Poku, Motherhood Life Coach. "What works really well is reading books on specific subjects, together." Poku explains that she has one of the 'Let's talk' book at home too. "It has worked really well. It explains things in great detail (considering children's age of course) and it made our job as parents much easier." Another way to give your children some answers – or spark important conversations, could be to get your child interested enough in the subject to start asking questions, says Poku. “Another tip is to show your child pictures or videos of babies in their mummy’s tummy and let them ask questions as this supports bonding and builds trust.”