Pelvic Thrusting Toddlers

Ok moms...I am going to talk about this touchy topic.  It is NOT taboo, abnormal, a sign of mental illness, or in any way wrong.  In fact, upon doing my research of my own concerns, I found a LARGE number of parents sharing this same concern, so we are not alone.

What is this I speak of?  Pelvic thrusts acted out by toddlers.  Some posts used the term "humping", but this behavior is by no means related to what doggies do when they are aroused.  In fact, there is no relation whatsoever, and the behavior acted out by toddlers is indeed normal and healthy. 

What I have learned through my own research is that toddlers begin doing this anywhere around the age of 12 months and up as a means to calm themselves or entertain themselves.  Some reasons they may be doing this could be boredom, frustration or tiredness.  The repetitive motion provides the same calming effects as banging their heads against the wall, for those of you moms who have witnessed this concerning behavior.  My son has done both, and I will admit I felt a little concerned when I saw him laying on the floor and thrusting his pelvis into it repeatedly for a few moments.  But I didn't stop him, nor should you.  He was tired, and it all made sense when I looked it up.  He has also done it during a temper tantrum to help himself calm down.

Please rest assured that this is in NO WAY a sexual behavior, as these little ones do not have any such ability or mentality.  If you feel the need to confirm, I encourage you to do so.  But as I sometimes feel the need to have a resource out there to share my experiences with, I offer this to you.  I hope this is reassuring and encouraging. 

As my little prince grows up, I will encourage him to stop without putting too much emphasis on it.  If we make a big deal out of something, our kids are likely to respond in the opposite way just to push our buttons.  I hope that he will find other things to satisfy his need for rhythm in time.