To ask how you refer to your DD's vulva?

[Lalunya85]

I'm not sure if this has been done a million times before but here's my dilemma:

We speak three languages at home (including English, but it's neither my DH nor my mother tongue). In all of those languages, there are plenty of nice/cute/child appropriate ways to refer to ours son's penis.

Now my DD (15 months) has begun to show an interest in her genitals. But she is pointing at them and then uses the word that we use for our son's penis. I want to offer her a nice name that is neither technical, nor has been sexualised or turned into an insult.

None if our languages offers a solution.

Any ideas??

I hate these threads and I have horrible feeling some sick Fucks get off
On them

Stop them
Please MN !

English is neither my nor my DH's first language. Never heard of any of the twinkly English words before so we just went with the more universal vulva/vagina from the start. Not getting why these are particularly difficult words to pronounce by the way, there are nursery rhymes that sound more incomprehensible to me!

what would you say to the doctor if you had eg a lump on your labia? or an unusual vaginal discharge?

I would say I have a lump on my labia or an unusual vaginal discharge. Using another word day to day doesn't stop you knowing the proper words. Likewise I often say belly or tummy day to day but would say stomach to a doctor.

Genitals aren't the only body part people refer to by a different name. There are slang names for all sorts from your noggin to your tootsies!

We say vagina here, I know it's not correct but everyone knows what area it means.

Well I'm 55 and I don't ever recall having to discuss my "bits" with anyone, ever!

And, unless we are having a proper discussion about bodies, I have never heard any of the hundreds of under 8's I have cared for in the past 35 years say vulva or vagina to describe their bodies, even though they know the words, on a day to day basis.

my own boys know exactly what all the body parts are called and have done since about the age of 3, but they had willies when they were small and now they are older it's not something they mention very often!

Nunni here. My breasts are currently called my Boom Booms, no idea where they got that idea from but it makes me laugh.

Correct terminology will be introduced when they ask for it. They are 3 and 5 so no rush to get the dictionary out just yet.

I don't call it by the correct term unless I'm talking to a medical professional.
I say fanjo, DD calls hers tuppence. I know MN frowns on this but luckily I give less than a fuck.

Oh & DC call breasts boobs I call them bangers, thanks Gok

Foofie, i have no idea why

Willy, tummy, finger etc. Are all words used throughout the english language, everyone knows what they mean, I am sure they are in the dictionary etc.
The problem is is there isn't a universal word for Vulva, no such word like tummy exists, so all the cutesy words are just euphemisms to avoid having to call it a vulva. Calling it a "fairy" 😷 or a "foofoo" is not the same as calling a penis a willy, or breasts boobs as it is not a universally accepted word, its just a euphamism. And all the words uses to describe a vulva are all so flowery and vomit inducing. It's a vulva and theres absolutely nothing wrong with a small child calling it that.

I'm actually laughing now, I looked up Volvo in the dictionary when my mam told me the correct word. I also looked up Fagina, when I didn't find it I tried looking up Phagina. Penis was easy to find.

Who honestly cares what a five year old calls their vulva? Only on Mumsnet would this be a contentious subject.

Oh and by the way the dogs erection is called 'getting his lipstick out'. Floyd dear boy, put your lipstick away and stop humping the cushions would you💄

Restless what have you taught your kids to call their bottom/bum/arse then? 'My gluteus muscle group' (there's actually a piriformis in there too, tho I may have the spelling wrong). 'My anus'?
HelenaG

'Mummy! Mummyyyyy!!!! I've done a bowel movement from my rectum! Come and wipe my anusssss!'

Apologies, all, I've gone too far

However, the issue is we only have Latin for the proper words for this. I don't even know what the Latin is for elbow and I don't expect my 2 year old to. The word for vulva in German is Kuntus. Cunt was a proper word but became vulgar in the C14th (I spend too much time on Wikipedia). Don't know what the proper word for penis was, but presumably there was one. And for those who think men are somehow privileged in this, you've obviously never heard someone referred to as a dick, a cock, a complete willy, a penis etc.

I hate front bottom.

We use vulva/vagina but they also call it their Gina- as in the name.

Mine was called a dingle when I was little. When my kids were wee it was pee-pee or willy for boys and cookie for girls.

voldemorts

When we start properly talking about parts of the body, we'll tell DD the proper technical terms. Right now we call it her foof or a nooni.

I'm 47 and I don't think I've ever even SAID vulva! In fact that might be the first time I've even typed it!

Privates for boys and girls, then add in the specific language a little later. That gives them a broad term when generally chatting, while they still have a detailed term when needed.

They will soon learn many more names off the rest of the world

Waffles I think there is a clue in your username here........ quite appropriate I rhin

In my late 30's and never called it my vulva, when I was little my mum called it private parts.

MIL is retired paediatric nurse and never heard any child refer to her vagina as a vulva. It's only here on mn that some parents act in shock to calling a vagina by a nn

Already on here but my DD uses the term "gina" as well

purple I agree,

voldemortsnose - exactly.

Ladies bits are tuppence, and boys bits are winkie in our house.