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Original poster

What name do you use with your child for their genitals?

128 replies

Flappergirl86 · 05/10/2019 08:40

I was raised to call them Willies or Fannies. Though I was recently informed that 'fanny' is more of a swear word. 'Vagina' feels weird to teach a kid but I also dont wanna be really twee and call it something that implies its shameful or not what it is! (Ie privates or tuppance).
What words(s) do other mums use so their daughters are clear on what their anatomy is called? Should I just get over myself and call it a vagina?

For the record, I call my own various words I wouldn't want my daughter to repeat! Ha!

I think it's important because if she ever had an issue down there or, God Forbid, anything were to happen to her, she'd be able to communicate it to me or another grown up without anything being lost in translation or misconstrued. Shes only 2 and a bit.

OP posts:
cheesenpickles · 05/10/2019 09:15

Willy/penis
Front bottom/back bottom

Very outing but I grew up thinking my vagina was called something which is actually a shoulder bone. I only found out when I was about 13 in a terribly confusing biology class.

Babdoc · 05/10/2019 09:18

Retired doctor, so always used correct anatomical terms with the DDs when they were kids.
I still chuckle over a thread on MN called “My cabbage drinks the bath water”. In 36 years in medicine, I had never heard a patient call her vagina that before!

Pinkflipflop85 · 05/10/2019 09:21

Correct terminology in our house alongside nicknames.

I think it is important that they know the correct names so that god forbid if anything untoward happened (abuse etc) they would be able to tell an adult what had happened.

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Pippinsqueak · 05/10/2019 09:25

Peach and willy but when old enough will teach her correct terminology too

Biancadelrioisback · 05/10/2019 09:27

'bits' as a general term ("watch daddy's bit when your jumping on him", "yes mummy does have different bits" etc) but we will say willy when talking specifically about the penis ("don't forget to shake your willy after a wee")

AfterSchoolWorry · 05/10/2019 09:27

My dd has her little bum (as opposed to her big bum) She coined that herself and it does the job for now. I'll teach her the proper names as she's ready.

LettuceP · 05/10/2019 09:33

Willy and gina. MN has made me hate the world vulva 🤣

DrFarah · 05/10/2019 09:34

My 5 year old son calls his penis "nunee"! however we have talked on many occasions about girls not having a "nunee". Children at this stage are still working out their bodily parts, and are realising with time that their gender is constant over time. As he grows and develops, he will of course hear vulgar names for male and female sexual parts! However I personally believe that being transparent with children and answering their questions in a matter of fact way is best. This approach avoids the liability of children developing pathological fears and/or fantasies about sex, gender etc.

BeanBag7 · 05/10/2019 09:41

I just call it her bits. Shes only 2 and vulva sounds too grown up to me. Same reason we say "tummy" instead of abdomen or "bottom" instead of gluteus maximus.

Rachelover60 · 05/10/2019 10:00

Long time ago for me but I did teach 'penis' and informally, willy. He used to say, "Wilso".

For myself I used vagina and vulva but informally, 'minge'. I have a fondness for the word 'minge', we used to say it at school and sometimes say people were 'mingey' which doesn't make sense.

Looking at this post, it seems dodgy with me saying I taught penis! Then saying I used vagina and vulva! However I'm sure you all know what I mean and if you don't, you are well mingey :-).

(There's a book called, 'The Little Book of Minge Topiary'. Mind boggles).

SchoolDecision19 · 05/10/2019 10:01

Penis and vagina/vulva.

Always have.

fedup21 · 05/10/2019 10:01

It always amused me at pre school type groups where mums would proudly announce they used the correct anatomical terms with their children, but then taught them vagina which made no sense.

A child saying, that ball just went right in my vagina/I just hurt my vagina on that chair/table/post etc are not being anatomically correct.

My children know they have a penis /testicles or a vulva (vagina actually only really came into conversation in any depth a bit later when talking about periods) but we all use the generic word ‘bits’ for everything-my bits itch, my bits hurt (whereabouts, I ask? Inside or outside?!) which works well.

No adults I know talks about their bits much at all really-it tends to be euphemisms. My friend might say, ‘God, I had thrush last week, the itching was hideous!’ or, ‘I think I’ve got cystitis-it really burns when I go to the loo’.

People (that I know) generally don’t use the words vulva or penis in conversation-it could be that I mix in unusual company, but I don’t think so.

My boys are much older now and ‘cock and balls’ are the words of choice! The girls still say bits.

LucieLucie · 05/10/2019 10:06

Boys were taught penis and girls front bottom.

At the very least they should be referred to as 'privates'.

MissPepper8 · 05/10/2019 10:09

DS is 2, doesn't know any different but we're using willy for potty training

Rainatnight · 05/10/2019 10:11

Fanny and willy. I have a pet liking for fanny.

I know this isn’t very MN-friendly, but there it is.

Ofitck · 05/10/2019 10:13

Willy and vagina (I know it's a vulva but I'm so used to the word vagina).

Hotpinkangel19 · 05/10/2019 10:15

I actually work in a nursery and have only come across one child who called it a vagina. Pet names are the norm here.

megletthesecond · 05/10/2019 10:20

My DD knows and uses vagina and vulva. But binky is the nickname we mainly use.

Using vulva also means they think it's hilarious when we see a Volvo 🙄.

RolytheRhino · 05/10/2019 10:27

My 5 year old son calls his penis "nunee"! however we have talked on many occasions about girls not having a "nunee"

Ironically, upthread a PP said that nunny means vulva where they live, suggesting that, in fact, many girls do have a nunny.

BrokenWing · 05/10/2019 10:27

I have a boy only, when he was young he knew it is a penis and testicles and we would refer to it as such at the Drs etc, but we call it a willy and conkers/nuts (nursery came up with conkers and it stuck!) if we talk about them. He knew girls have a vulva and vagina which could also be referred to as fanny which is still very common in Scotland.

He also knows other people use lots of different silly made up words for genitals, especially girls like front bottom (my pet hate), flower (really?), etc and as he's grown older he's shared with me some of the ruder ones he's learned at school!

BoomZahramay · 05/10/2019 10:34

We tend to do both.
Willy and penis interchangeably.
Privates and vagina interchangeably.

Noneyerbuisness11234 · 05/10/2019 10:35

I was brought up calling it a Minnie or a Micky lol

Marthadumptruck · 05/10/2019 10:36

My God !!!!!!!!!!!!!! what kind of child calls there private area a Vulva , what planet do you all live on

RolytheRhino · 05/10/2019 10:40

A tad overdramatic there @marthadumptruck. It's just a word, you know.

fedup21 · 05/10/2019 10:43

My 5 year old son calls his penis "nunee"! however we have talked on many occasions about girls not having a "nunee"

I have only ever heard of girl bits being referred to as a noonie!

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