Birthmarks

Dawn5481

Anyone else have a LO with a birthmark? Baby girl is almost 5 weeks and has what doctors believe is a port wine stain on her hand. When adults ask about it, I can easily explain, but we're starting to bring her around kids and I've been trying to explain the best I can when they ask questions. How do you all handle this? I know it'll be a long time before I have to prep her for comments from other kids, but I'm not even sure what to say to her to let her know it's no big deal when the time comes.

fintin

My DD was born with storks bite, Mongolia spot on her bottom, birthmark the size of 2 quarters on her chest and a birthmark on her left hand ring finger (looks like she's wearing a ring). DS asked why she has marks and he doesn't and i just explained they are just birthmarks and that's is how God made her. The hardest to explain surprisingly is the storks bite, because adults will point it out like something is wrong with her hair line. I just repeat that she was born with it.

Ashleypixie

My daughter has a birthmark on her wrist/lower arm that is shaped like a wide U. It's very noticeable and I'm sure kids ask about it, but I've always told her that a fairy bit her on the arm when she was a baby because she was jealous of how beautiful she was. She knows the story isn't true now, but it was a special lesson in self acceptance. It made her interesting when we changed the context. Don't overthink these marks. The important lesson is to make certain that she shouldn't feel embarrassed.

billybumbler

DD was born with marks on her forehead, under her eyes and under her nose, as well as in the back of her neck. They've mostly faded now that she's almost 2 but when she was little I would get a lot of the "WHAT'S THAT ON HER FOREHEAD" very rude comments (from adults).

I would always answer with "She was born with it" in a neutral tone but one that conveyed the message that this is not something that we're going to chit-chat about. Maybe I'm too prickly but I don't feel I have to explain mine or my daughter's appearance to anyone.

If it was kids I would just say "It's just a birthmark, it doesn't hurt her".

Dawn5481

Thanks for the insight ladies. I know I'm jumping the gun, but I was just curious as to how everyone handles situations like this. Kids can be assholes (I guess adults can be too), but it's good to know most of you all have just run into curiosity more than anything. @HilarityEnsued‌ You are absolutely right. I should be thankful it is on her hand, and I am.

flyingsaucer

I have a strawberry birthmark (hemangioma) on my inner arm and DS has one on his chest (his actually got bigger after he was born, then went down).  i have been asked "What is that?"  my whole entire life.  It looks like it could be a rash or an injury.  I tell people "a birthmark" and usually do not get questions from adults, but kids often ask more questions (I am also a teacher), so I always answer "my skin is just a different color there.  I was born that way".  Have never gotten any teasing or questions beyond that

Aurora1181

Lurker here... I have a port wine stain that covers half my face. It is very noticeable, but much lighter than it was when I was a kid and had laser surgeries to lighten it. Nowadays I just wear make up and most people don't ask about it. I'm a high school teacher and I've never had a student ask. It's all in how the parents react, I think. To my parents, it wasn't a big deal, thus it wasn't a big deal to me.

FalconCrest

DS was born with a Mongolian spot right above his butt crack.  It has faded over time, but it looked like a pretty serious bruise when he was an infant. 

MrsT0514

My DS was born with a storkbite birthmark on the back of his head/neck. It lightened up to the point of being barely visible be for his hair even grew in. Now that he has hair, tou cant see anything at all.

RayRay007

I have a pretty large birthmark on my back/shoulder and it is irregularly shaped and bumpy and just weird. But I don't remember ever been asked about it and I rarely ever think about it. It shows when I wear tank tops and stuff but I have never cared about that. I'm pretty sure it's because my parents didn't make a big deal out of it. Just a "it's just a mark on her skin, she was born with it" would be fine. The only time someone commented that stands out in my mind was when I was a teenager and we were playing beach v-ball and someone said I had sand stuck to my back. I didn't quite hear so I was like "hunh?" And then they realized it wasn't sand and were obviously embarrassed and I realized what they had said and was like, what's there to be embarrassed about?

marchbaby

My son has a large hemangioma on his stomach, its fairly raised and red.  His pediatrician had originally told us that it would be gone by the time he reached school age, but he's now in 4th grade and its still very much there....maybe a TINY bit smaller and less red. 
Anyway, b/c its on his stomach not everyone see's it but whenever he is at a pool or takes his shirt off its obvious.  Honestly, so far i've had more adults ask me about it then kids.  They just don't seem to notice or don't care. Just last week I did hear another kid ask him in the locker room and he just said "I was born with it" and went on with what he was doing.  He doesn't seem to be bothered by it, and we have never made a big deal about it.