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?

[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

[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!

[beckoes]

I found this tread interesting, DD is only 5 months so we havent had to think about it yet and to be honest it hadnt really entered my mind what we would teach her, i was tought to call it 'Mary' when i was little. DH's family call it Moo Moo. Not sure where either one comes from! lol

Made me think about it though and will certainly consider a better name for DD to learn....although Vagina is abit much for me i think. A friend uses Ginie (like jia-nee).

[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

[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'.

[Curly]

Inspired by another thread...

I never knew what a penis was until I was 9 years old, despite having a brother, because my Mum always referred to it as a "whistle". I certainly had no idea I had a vagina, it was all just "bottom".

I was so horribly embarrassed that I didn't know what a penis was I think I vowed then and there (at the age of 9!) that when I had kids they would know the proper words for things so that they wouldn't feel foolish the way I did.

So DS knows it as a penis, although it does sometimes get referred to as willy, and I'm also teaching him "testicles" even though he can't say it!

And when he wanted to know why DD didn't have a penis I tried to teach him "vagina". He couldn't quite say that and then I thought "well, that's not actually anatomically correct" so I tried "vulva" and he just thought that word was just hilarious and is always pointing and saying "vulva" whenever I change her nappy! But he pointed at me in the bathroom the other day and said "gina" so I guess he picked it up.

I also feel quite strongly that "penis" and "vagina" should not be words that anyone should be embarrassed to say...but when I mentioned this at my mother's group they all seemed to think "penis" was a bit too grown up a word.

We also use the general terms "bum" and "bottom".

What do you say in your house?

[BellyBelly]

There are LOADS of long threads on this, have you done a search?

[skybie]

we use penis and vagina, only because, god forbid anything happened to DD she'd be able to say exactly what happened and not only that penis and vagina arent dirty words so why should we call them anything different?