Words for Private bits and bobs!

[SilenceIsChocolate]

Had a conversation at party about toddlers and their growing interest in anatomy - it gravitated towards the gutter end of terminology (men were largly responsible for that!) but it made me realise I've never really had a 'pet name' for my bits.

Not sure what is used today - friends use terms like minni, fanmf, noony etc (my dd is 3) - DD has never really asked directly but she called DH's penis a Duck when he was in the bath (!) when she was very little...

Last year she said "what's that?" pointing at it and I said it was daddy's penis but she has never repeated it or asked again - Is willy still a friendly term?!

I realise that at the age of three things should be fairly simple and matter of fact if she asked any more in depth questions.

DD just calls the whole area her bottom at the moment and never asked anymore - but just wondering what I should call it - I'm quite happy to call it a vagina - but clearly I can see it raising a few eyebrows at nursery!...

[ChasingSquirrels]

willy and vagina here (and I know the external part is not actually a vagina).
I have mentioned penis to 6yo, but use willy.
He has started calling his testicals "nuts" and I have said a couple of times that they are testicals. Not pushing the point, just making sure he knows the correct term.

[ChasingSquirrels]

testicles

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

Willy or penis for boys here. And testicles. Or sometimes balls. Not that they talk about them that much. Yet.

Don't have girls, so never given it much thought as to how to refer to it for little ones. But don't think anyone should use minnie, as that is my nickname within my family!

[SilenceIsChocolate]

yes I guess she is going to learn all the terms eventually but as long as they know what the real term is - she knows that the real name for a belly button is a navel and she uses the word nipple (although I have num nums!)....

[SilenceIsChocolate]

@MogTheForgetfulCat - No i'm not inclined to use Minnie - one of Dh's extended family relatives uses it and I don't fancy inheriting the term...

[Loulou73]

Always used minni for mine and DD's bits.

Usually use willy with DS and DH although a few weeks ago we told DS that his willy was called a penis. He recently tried to remember and referred to it as his peanut, that is now the new term!

[SilenceIsChocolate]

peanut! yay!

[Elk]

I tried to teach dd2 (3) the term vagina whilst we were in the bath. She can't quite pronounce it though and calls it her 'kagina', that works for us. I have read 'Where did I come from?' with dd1 (6) so she should know all the correct terms but dd2 is far more interested

[TamTam29]

AS a teacher we recently had some training on sex education and were told that we should use and teach children the proper names for all parts of their private parts!

Im comfortable using vagina & penis but dunno If I would want to use clitoros (excuse spelling I blame it on 3 week old DS)

[LyraSilvertongue]

Willy or bits here (both boys). I don't see why children should have to call things by their proper names. I mean, no-one calls their shoulder blade their scapula do they? And we say knee cap rather than patella. So willy instead of penis is fine in my book

[PacificDogwood]

5 and 6 year old DSs know "penis" and "vagina" but use winky/boaby (sp? - scottish ) and bits.
"Mummy, why do you not have a penis?" gets answered with "Because it would be in the way of babies coming out."
And thankfully, that's enough - so far!

[GwarchodwrPlant]

If your going to use the correct words then calling it a 'vagina' is incorrect it should be 'vulva'.

When I was little my mum used to call our girs bits our 'privates' and boy bits were their 'willy'.

I really like the term 'privates' but I will teach my DC the corret terms when they are old enough.

[Scorpette]

A teacher at school overheard me telling another girl that her 'foofoo' was actually called a vagina when I was @7 and called my Mum in to discuss my 'filthy language'! My Mum gave her short shrift, naturally...

Can't see what's wrong with the proper words.

[blinks]

long may their privates have cartoon names...

i wish i could call mine a foo foo rather than having to gravely mention my vagina when at the docs. it's such an effing sombre word.

[gembobs]

With my DD (22 months) i call her vagina (her flower) and when she shows an interest in her brothers (6 weeks) penis i tell her it is his willy, when she gets old i will tell her the proper names. I think 3 is too young 2 b calling it the proper names.

[qumquat]

I think it's confusing to call it a vagina, what small girl is aware of her vagina? I don't have kids yet but I'd use vulva, otherwise isn't there a risk girls will think they wee out of their vaginas?

[MoontheMightyThreadKiller]

My friend told her DD that her vagina was a noo noo which was a bit unfortunate as that's what we used to call my DS's dummy! Confusion all round.