Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

So ever since DS (3.5 years) has been potty trained and wears underwear, he walks around ALL DAY LONG grabbing himself. We sort of reprimand him, and tell him that the only time he should touch himself is when he goes to pee, but lately I've come to yelling at him "STOP GRABBING YOURSELF!" and that isn't something I can really do in public

Now I know that this is something that will last well into his teen years probably but did anyone else deal with this and find a good solution? From what I can tell he's not doing it for pleasure, so I can't really tell him to go in his room (which is what I was prepared to do). He is just walking around holding himself, that's it.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

Maybe his underwear isn't comfortable? I know my DS readjusts himself more when they don't fit right. He wears boxer briefs and generally he seems comfortable in them and it's basically hands off. Maybe he needs a change in size or style.

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

I would try new underwear. My son has never had this issue, fortunately

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

I would buy him a few different types of underwear and see if it makes a difference. You can also try some baby powder down there in the morning, he could be sweating.

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

Both DSs do this. We don't reprimand unless it's in public. (They know not to do it in public)

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

Totally normal. I agree it may be him getting used to underwear & that baby powder may help. If it's not...

The way we handled it was to say if you wanted to touch your penis, you needed to go in your room because it's a private thing.

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

My younger son is much more a grabber than the older but both do at times...just not all the time. Sometimes it is adjusting and sometimes I think it is just habit. Like he is just standing there holding on to it.

We tell my boys that these are their private places and that they can touch them in private places. Unfortunately my younger son has taken to my closet to do this! lol.

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

My 4 year old did this and it turned out to be his underwear was making him uncomfortable. Switched to boxer briefs and it pretty much stopped.

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

DS2 did this right around that same age, it lasted less than a year but it was SO mortifying. People would constantly ask if he had to go to the bathroom! I just kept reminding him not to do that in public and eventually he stopped!

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior

My son just turned 5 and still does it all the time. SInce he was about 3. I tried a few different types of underwear and no difference.

I just tell him if he can't touch in public, he has to go to his room or the bathroom. I don't want him to be uncomfortable with himself b/c its a normal thing. If we are out I just say "your hand" and he knows i mean move his hand, lol

Re: Boy mommies - serious question about male behavior