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

[Flappergirl86]

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.

Being honest here- dd (8) nearly 9 calls it a flower. She knows about Vagina/penis etc but prefers to use flower.

My 16yr old ds has his own word for his penis that I wouldn’t like to use in public. Usually one beginning with K.

My dd knows all about periods etc so I’m not trying to baby her in any way, just wouldn’t use the word “fanny” as it would be seen as a rude word in my opinion.

I can’t stand the word “vulva” and have never heard anyone say it I real life. Sounds like the make of a car to me, Vauxhall Vulva.

I think older boys would refer to their cock or nob and balls.....that’s with peers. Unlikely to be penis., although they’d know that was the correct term of course.

I think it’s okay at all ages to have informal names as long as you know the proper names too. Children can learn that you call it your penis when you go to the doctor, but more informal names are fine at home or amongst friends - if you need to have such conversations!

I can’t remember the last time I referred to my vulva with friends. I might refer to it very very occasionally with DH but won’t be using the word vulva then. Do other people?

Not dramatic no child i know calls it that

I think it’s mostly ‘bits’ in casual parlance round our house, but both dc have known the actual words all along as far as I can remember.

‘Flower’ is creepy and twee imo

The whole "we say bum not gluteus maximus" shtick is nonsensical. We all know what bum means, it's accepted informal language. The twee, cringy language used for genitals is the equivalent of calling your bum a sitty moo moo. Flower/tuppence/minnie could be your vulva, your art installation or your chihuahua to the uninformed ear.

Son calls his his peons he’s 9
Daughter 7 flower

They know the correct terminology but we do use slang words too.

Widgey for DS (6)

And DD (15) Mary or foof - same as me.

It's more of a jokey thing, they both know the correct names.

'Flower' is appalling.

It’s always been fairy or willy in our family, fairy is very common in the region where we live.

I’m a midwife so perfectly comfortable with the correct terminology and my daughter knows that the anatomical terms are Vulva and penis but we wouldn’t use them everyday any more than I would refer to her tummy as her abdomen or her belly button as her umbilicus.

martha. *their.
It’s pretty important for kids to know and be able to say the actual name of their anatomy and not twee gibberish. For reasons detailed on this thread, in case it wasn’t obvious.

Loool nunee is a Punjabi word!! That is probably why it sounded a little confusing. Another Punjabi word for penis that I have children say is "tun tun" :)

I thought ‘willy’ might have fallen out of favour slightly, as when I asked my boyfriend’s 5 year old not to poke my dog on the willy with her colouring pencil because it might hurt him (he puts up with a lot, bless him, although he might have been put off rolling on his back ) she had no idea what I was talking about! She seemingly has only ever heard it referred to as a ‘dingle dangle’...

Penis and vagina. Mine correct people who use wacky made up terms! My eldest was once at a county show and some woman was explaining to the children how lambs are born out of a ewe’s ‘bottom’ and my then 4 year old was like, ‘no, actually it’s a vagina!’

Be interesting to know if anyone refers to where poos come from as bottom or anus?
I use pet names for my dd's I don't call mine a vulva don't refer to it often to be honest

Me and my son have always called it "bum". So if I ask him where did you pump from? He usually laughs and says "from my bum"!

Another related funny way of talking about the toilet and having a "poo" is when I started calling the toilet a "toilet shop", to make it a fun trip to the bathroom!

He used to love toothless from how to train your dragon (Still does!) so I started referring to the toilet flush as "let's flush toothless" and see how he sounds today.

We would always talk about how we are sending my son's poo off into the big blue ocean where the whales live! :)

@Jesse70 the difference is, everyone knows what is meant when you say bum. So for example, if a child said 'uncle x was touching my bum' you might question the situation. If a child said 'uncle x keeps touching my flower' there is the potential it could get overlooked.

I'm not against nicknames for things but I believe children should know correct terminology alongside this.

When I was growing up, my mum encouraged me to call them todgers and front bums.

Made me look a complete dick at school, let me tell you.

For me - I think willy is good for penis. I'm not sure what I'd call the vagina/labia/vulva because it just doesn't seem right to use correct terminology (like, to anyone) but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I've never used the correct names and in my circle of friends I don't know anyone who does , though the conversation did come up recently about how it's important to teach children the correct names. I've always used foo foo and willy.

A variety in our family!

Willy
Balls
Front bottom
Bottom
Bits

I can't articulate why Penis, testicles, vulva and Vagina jar for me if it's a kid of say 3-5 years old.

I have a pet peeve for people saying vagina for all parts of a woman's genitals, it's just not accurate I guess. But then neither is "front bottom" really so I'm probably hypocritical!

@pinkflipflops85

That's stupid
If u told your kid to call there vulva a flower or whatever u call it then I'm sorry but if she said my uncle touched my flower u would know exactly what they were talking about

I however use a word which means nothing so there would be no confusion

Kids out of nappies and that are vocal can tell you and point to different body parts

They don't need to know what everything is called
I hate it when a kid uses the name vulva which is just one in my circle and her mum seems to think she gains points for it

Vagina/willy (now cock since he got older )

@Jesse70
I was actually referring more to a situation where a child discloses to an adult outside of the family e.g. at school.

@pinkflipflop85

Again they can tell them and show them

I have not had the conversation yet with Dr about anyone touching her down below because she is always with me as I'm a SAHM and she has not started pre school or anything yet
I actually worry about things like that happening to her which is why I have not put her into nursery or anything yet
When she goes solo I will be having the conversation with her about people touching anything inside her pants

She doesn't need to know every part in order to be safe or be able to communicate

It's ok for kids to have kid names and for magic to be a thing

I feel like everyone wants them to grow up so fast talking like an adult as soon as they can

Front bottom and dingle

I hate front bottom, to me it says women's genitals are dirty.