To call it a vulva?

[elephantsinlove]

Baby DD is not yet at the stage where she calls it anything, but the time is approaching and she will soon start learning words etc, I have been wondering what to teach her to call it - I know that vulva is the correct term.

Then again, a lot of people use bits/front bottom/fanny/foof/lala/ various other cutesy or vaguely teletubby sounding names

What is it called in your house?

Is she going to be the weird kid if I teach her it's her vulva? I tend to (technically incorrectly I know) use vagina myself, or various comedy words in general chat as vulva seems a bit odd but perhaps something I just need to get over!

Which, I repeat, is why using the word "genitals" to describe your genitals works so well. It's inoffensive and, more importantly, the correct term. It's also a term that applies to everyone regardless of their sex.

Well except in how to explain how one set of genitals is different to the other sex (I have a willy mummy, what do girls have?)

@Uptheduffy How about using the correct terms for the genitals being asked about? Why is it a problem? Genitals is a catch-all term that refers to the area. If you don't want to have a breakdown along to the tune of "well instead of your glans, I have a clitoris, instead of your penis shaft, I have a vagina" you could say "I have female genitals" perhaps?

I think there are women who don't know the correct anatomical names for the different parts and who are unaware there are different parts.

I knew a woman in her mid 20's who was worked as a HCP, she was shocked when she found out you didn't pass urine through the 'sex hole' and that there was in fact a urethra. She thought there was just the one 'hole' which she called the sex hole.
Crazy

[quote SleepOhHowIMissYou]@Uptheduffy How about using the correct terms for the genitals being asked about? Why is it a problem? Genitals is a catch-all term that refers to the area. If you don't want to have a breakdown along to the tune of "well instead of your glans, I have a clitoris, instead of your penis shaft, I have a vagina" you could say "I have female genitals" perhaps?[/quote]
I did, I told him girls have a vulva I thought you were suggesting it was better to say genitals than the specific words.
I would like a word for vulva that had as universal recognition as "willy" but wasn't rude or overly silly. I don't think there is one.

Schools in Glasgow teach the correct terminology for all body parts - including vulva and penis - right from the very start (4 or earlier a think it might even start in nursery), as part of SHRE (Sexual Health and Relationships Education). Ds' primary school was one of the last to have it rolled out to, due to its high Muslim population (but with one or two expected exceptions, the parents were very supportive).

I wholeheartedly support the programme which is age appropriate.

They also pointed out, when introducing it to us, that using the correct terminology and being comfortable with it rather than euphemisms was important in safeguarding. It meant that a child complaining (eg) about an uncle playing with her bunny and she didn't like it wouldn't slip through as an innocuous complaint about a pet.

So to the OP, no, in Glasgow at least she wouldn't be the weird kid

ivfdreaming
Winkle?? That's far worse than vulva. I'd go with the proper name. Nothing wrong with vulva.

I would like a word for vulva that had as universal recognition as "willy" but wasn't rude or overly silly. I don't think there is one.

But the more people use vulva, the more universally recognised it will become.

vulva sounds foul for a little one to use

Imgladimnotyourchild

what's wrong with it? better than piss flaps, or cunt, or twat. Now those are foul names for your vulva.

@Imgladimnotyourchild there is absolutely no reason that the word "vulva" would ever sound "foul" to your ears that doesn't boil down to you having issues. Female bodies are not shameful or disgusting or embarrassing. There should be no taboo surrounding discussing body parts in appropriate context. If you are unable to use correct terminology for female genitals then that's your issue entirely. Ditto if another person using correct terminology in appropriate context (regardless of the age of that person) causes you to feel revulsion. Good parents word damned hard to make sure that they don't pass their own hang ups onto their kids. I bet many of us who have taught our children the correct words for their own body parts have had to overcome discomfort stemming from our own prudish upbringings. But we recognise that those are our issues and we never want our daughters to feel that their bodies or bodily functions are embarrassing in any way.

vulva sounds foul for a little one to use

There is nothing foul about vulvas and it makes me sad that you think that way.

Called (jokingly) in our house, a Volvo. This is because one of the littlies pointed out, to much hilarity in a very loud voice, that DH's brother has a massive vulva (XC90).

@Imgladimnotyourchild

vulva sounds foul for a little one to use

It really doesn’t.

@GrimSisters

Called (jokingly) in our house, a Volvo. This is because one of the littlies pointed out, to much hilarity in a very loud voice, that DH's brother has a massive vulva (XC90).

That just made me laugh out loud... partly because I just came in from washing my “massive vulva” 😂

Sorry Margaret Thatcher because she's a cunt right? Rotflmfho

We've always used the correct terms for genitalia here. Using daft names for just those parts suggests there is something embarrassing or shameful about them. I don't want my children to have negative associations with those parts of their bodies.

[quote IWantT0BreakFree]@Imgladimnotyourchild there is absolutely no reason that the word "vulva" would ever sound "foul" to your ears that doesn't boil down to you having issues. Female bodies are not shameful or disgusting or embarrassing. There should be no taboo surrounding discussing body parts in appropriate context. If you are unable to use correct terminology for female genitals then that's your issue entirely. Ditto if another person using correct terminology in appropriate context (regardless of the age of that person) causes you to feel revulsion. Good parents word damned hard to make sure that they don't pass their own hang ups onto their kids. I bet many of us who have taught our children the correct words for their own body parts have had to overcome discomfort stemming from our own prudish upbringings. But we recognise that those are our issues and we never want our daughters to feel that their bodies or bodily functions are embarrassing in any way.[/quote]
Yes to this! I was taught nothing about my own genitals by my parents and learned everything from a book. I used to feel really uncomfortable using the words "vagina" and "vulva" but I am determined that my daughter won't feel anything but positive about her own genitals. I think the words we use are really important and using silly names for genitals sends a subtle message of shame.

What's wrong with just saying private parts? Even if a child came up to an adult and said someone has touched my private parts we would know that is a serious issue that needs to be investigated.

We call it tuppence.

It’s clear enough that should she divulge any abuse it’s clear what she means. Avoid cutesy names

You do not think tuppence is cutesy?

Ffs! Just call it by its name!

I really dont understand the reluctance to use the proper names!

"We call it tuppence ... "avoid cutesy names"

🤣

You don’t think tuppence is cutesy, oh dear!!?

Vulva is the correct word. When we use real words to children they have the language needed to express if there is a problem. I teach in a special school. I only use the correct words and I use them when needed so they aren’t “naughty” or “dirty” words.

*We call it tuppence.

It’s clear enough that should she divulge any abuse it’s clear what she means. Avoid cutesy names*

I don't know anyone who calls it a Tuppence so it can't be that clear.