How do you refer to genitals?

[Alipralli]

(This might be in the wrong area, if so, feel free to move mods!)

Ok, so I have been trying for a little while to think of something to call my little girls girly bits. And now that she seems to be ready to start toilet training, it's probably something that I should decide on.

So I am familiar with "Fanny", but I don't like it, sounds really crude/uncouth to me.

When we were little mum called it "Push Push". Still haven't managed to figure that one out. Except that it was probably being yelled at her while giving birth to the 4 of us!

Also familiar with "Front Bum", but don't want to use it (unless there is nothing better), coz Mum HATES the word bum!

So what other names are out there? I want something that doesn't sound yuck, but that makes it kinda obvious what she is talking about...

Thanks!

[snowchickie79]

Few friends use "Mrs Wuz Wuz".. I think it's cute so will probably use it with DD also..

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Vagina.

It's probably the best one to use because it's unambiguous and safe when it comes to talking to another adult, they will know instantly what she means.

We used "bits" which I hated. Bits of what? Fanny also means "bum" in the US, so some confusion there. "Front bum/bum" may sound cute but the bum is a different thing altogether.

We use vagina and penis in our house because not only are they words everyone understands, they aren't words that kids giggle about when their parents aren't around. And I'm going to be teaching senior science so have to get used to the words LOL.

[~Saram~]

Ali - have been having the same discussion!

So far we have found veejay, vjayjay, weewee, bits, privates, and obviously vagina.

Funny thing is I was so adament that we would not have a "made up" name for DS penis and that has been fine, although we did shorten it to penie sometimes yet I find myself unable to say the word vagina? What is with that?

[ladybird]

Hi Alipralli - up late too

Years ago I did a Lady Gowrie child care course and they were insistent that correct names were given from the start. The aim is to help prevent any guilt being associated to parts of the body etc. It also helps prevent abuse (sorry to bring up such a dark topic at this hour) but it is important children are aware of their body and its workings. Hope this helps

[Alipralli]

See, my thing is, as a nurse (and a urology one at that, so dealing with this area a fair bit), I don't want to call the entire thing "Vagina" when that is the name for one little bit, and not the whole thing...

Hmm......just thought of Scrubs where Elliot calls it HooHar...

Thanks ladybird! Thats kinda why I want it to be rather obvious what it is, but not be "Vagina". I don't want it to be "Flower" or something crazy like that, like what they used to call things in the olden days. Side note - I have seen a really old medical-type book in a second hand book shop that referred to it as a "Blossoming Flower". Crazy.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I know this is an AWFUL thing to ask, but think this.

If your daughter went to an adult and said "that man touched my..." what would she say? And what would that adult say?

Vajayjay or Mrs Wuz Wuz... "oh, did you not want him to play with your Dolly?"
Bits... "OK then love" thinks "bits of what?"
Weewee "that's not nice, is it?" thinking "sick freak playing with urine"
Flower "Oh did he?" thinks "and you're saying this because?"
Bum "oh dear, not nice!" and again thinking "I wonder what that was about?"
eta - HooHaa - thinks "aaah, one of those insidious night garden toys"

As I say, not a nice thought but you have to protect children these days. BTW, is there a better term than Vagina to cover the whole area? Be great to learn it!

[Santosha]

Whilst I think it is really important that kids are comfortable and open with the correct terminology of their anatomy (amongst other things) I have to agree the 'vagina' is not the prettiest word. I will endeavor to persist anyway with my little girl but if we get stuck, I really like the word used in the yoga texts (sanskrit I presume). They call the female genitals 'yoni' and always refer to the vagina with such reverence and respect - unlike so many of the 'dirty' ideas that seem to still appear in our culture.

[Mum030709]

In this house it is known as "Sally"..
I realise this might become confusing when she meets a girl named Sally, but I will introduce her to another word when she is a little older..
I have used Sally because I was brought up the same way too..

[smiles4u]

I'm with Rosehip Fairy on this one ... I have taught my 2.5year old to call it as it is " VAGINA " since she started asking earlier on

I guess i honestly can't quite get the reasoning for nicknaming a certain part of the body when other parts of the body don't have nicknames

My Mum taught me the same as a toddler back the late 1960's in given it the actual name ... i guess i would think * 40plus years later in 2009 * we would be a bit more up with the times if you know what i mean

But at the end of the day YOU are your child's parent and it's up to YOU with what YOU are comfortable with ... All the best xox

[LimeSlice]

I am absolutely with RF on this too.
I have a massive aversion to made up words for such things. The closest we get is fanny - because it is easy for her to get her tongue around, nd is trying to say it even at this early ge. It is the only thing we call fanny and the only word we use for it at this stage.
Never will I ever teach her veejay or hoohaa...why? I just dont get it.
It is a vagina. It isnt a flower or a love cup or anything lol

And also, as RF pointed out, if she is 3 and someone does something they shouldnt (goddess forbid they ever do) it is pretty hard to mistake the word vagina through misunderstanding or mishearing. It is unambiguous and direct.
It will also set her up in the future to be aware and proud and able to talk with confidence about her body (and yours for that matter)

You also wont have to worry about then re-teaching her that it is a vagina later on in life

Good luck though whichever path you take!

[Mother Goose]

What about Gina (as in Vagina without the Vag). We teach DD Vagina but (at almost 2) she is unable to say it correctly so comes out as Gina.

[Kitt3n]

We call it Pinda - its the hungarian word for vagina (pronounced pin-dah)

[{sarah}]

Vagina here as well, totally agreeing with Rosehip Fairy too.

[krisp]

We call it Fanny in our house, and my DS calls his a Willy. I know it's a cope out but I didn't really like the word vagina, it just didn't seem to sound right for a 2 year old to use, when our son pointed to his and said Willy and then pointed to his sisters and said Willy as well we had to give him another name to use!

[Lulu]

We do vagina, but let them say Gina or China while they are little. Willie and doodle for DS, and his dad calls balls 'jewels'.

[Pandora]

Whilst I think it is really important that kids are comfortable and open with the correct terminology of their anatomy (amongst other things) I have to agree the 'vagina' is not the prettiest word. I will endeavor to persist anyway with my little girl but if we get stuck, I really like the word used in the yoga texts (sanskrit I presume). They call the female genitals 'yoni' and always refer to the vagina with such reverence and respect - unlike so many of the 'dirty' ideas that seem to still appear in our culture.

We say Yoni too.

[Olive]

vagina in our house too! DH was calling DD vagina 'bits' but have got him to change and use its realy name!