Terminology for private parts...

[madridbaby]

This is a bit premature as our baby is only 10 weeks old and may also be a weird question but - what do other people teach their children to call their, er, private parts? Penis and vagina seem a bit grown up but we are also not sure about using baby language. Was interested to see what other parents have done...

My ds (6yrs) has always called his bits a 'willy' and he knows the word testicles but did go through a phase calling them 'tenticles'. This was even more amusing when he shouted out 'look mum, testicles' when he saw a gian t squid on tv.

with our dd (3yrs), we've always used the generic 'bottom' but they are both asking what it is called as she doesn't have a willy. She calls it her 'little willy'. Would be pleased to hear some other suggestions. Don't think vagina appropriate at this age for some reason!

Ooh, lots of threads on this before- some people think you should use proper anatomical terminology, others prefer funny or silly names like twinkle or fairy. Most stick to willy, balls, bits, bum, I think.

Sorry but using scrotum and vulva sounds like saying epidermis instead of just "skin" - bit unnecessary really.

winky.

We use willy - our boys are 3 and 7, and we use vagina, our DD is 4.

It is just another body part. The more embarrassed and coy you are about it the bigger deal it is for kids.

I just use 'willy' for ds' bits and when I was little we called girly bits 'foo foos'. I don't know why!!! Agree with James, the scrotum and vulva seems very scientific and a bit over the top for kiddies. I would never even think of refering to my own as a vulva, it would sound a bit strange coming from a child IMO!

We use willy and winkle......sis in law uses 'tail' and twinkle but the 'tail' presented problems when we were in the park with a dog....say no more!

Winkle here. DHs choice. I think I would have said willy. Interested in ideas for girls.

hmm, this is what I thought - it is more difficult for girls. I don't think there is a universal, accepted "child language" word for vagina. There should be...

we say willy for ds and Dada, bits or 'gina for dd and me. 22mo DD has been endlessly fascinated by anatomy since ds came along six months ago, and never tires of telling me "baba got willy. He boy. Dada got willy. He boy. Mama got bits. You girl. Me got bits. Me girl." Bless her.

Tutu for girls. Willy for boys.

We use willy for the DSs. Have heard friends with girls use "tuppence" for girl bits. Not sure why, haven't asked, but it seems quite sweet...

I would feel a bit odd using correct anatomical terms for/about such little children (DS1 is 2.4, DS2 is 0.3), but wouldn't have any qualms about introducing them when they're older - wouldn't want them to be too coy about their bodies.

although my dd1 knows the proper names - vulva and anus - she chooses to call it 'front bum' and 'back bum'. she's 3.4yr so it may all change...

pipi for both male and female bits

I worked as a nanny for years and always felt a bit odd with what to call them... I just said willy, bottom for the obvious but always felt a bit odd calling it vagina or whatever so always say "bits" or "girlie bits". I even referred to my bits as bits when talking to the GP/midwife/consultant about stuff!!!

DD's girlie bit gets referred to as her 'tinkle' - this came from when we started potty training & I really needed to think up a name as there was a lot of chat going on about what was happening during wee wees - I was probably thinking about having a 'tinkle on the toilet' as my mum used to say to me when I was little!

DD2 calls hers 'bits'. The boys ones haven't arisen yet!LoL.
Oh and bum is bum.

when i was tiny i told a friend of my mum and dad's about my mum having a hairy bottom...

it seems i meant the 'front bottom'...

just to make it thoroughly embarassing, years later that old friend of my parents cropped up in my life again as my physics teacher when i started secondary school.

so my mum made sure she filled me in on all the graphic details (revenge for her embarassment?)

apparently i had also fully explained the facts of life to him

DD always said front bottom and back bottom!
Now she just says privates (she's just turned 9).
Friends with boys it appears willy is the fav or one of them said it was his wee man.

leonie D- like 'girl bits' neither twee nor too anatomical - will start using it today

My best friend taught her ds the proper terms (penis, vulva, anus) so that, in the worst possible circumstances, he would be able to articulate precisely what had happened.

I think I will teach GCSE proper terms as well, for that reason.

willy for boys and foofey for girls