Help!! What do I call it??

[Bunnybaubles]

DD is 2yo and learning the different parts of her body. I grew up being told it was called a flower. Hell will freeze before I pass that on 😂 There must be a better name! DD is starting to call it her 'pee' 🙈

Vulva, or vagina. The correct words are the right words.

I always went with correct terminology.
DH went with front Botty and back botty.

I have sons but have just told them vagina. I know vulva is correct but vagina is just what it’s called (to me). I hate all the other nicknames to be honest!

@ABabyPanda

I have sons but have just told them vagina. I know vulva is correct but vagina is just what it’s called (to me). I hate all the other nicknames to be honest!

Ditto. Exact same here

When I was small I called in a mini (why?!) but after reading that it’s best to teach children the proper name as it’s far safer, we use vagina. I know vulva is the correct term, but Dd is 3.5 and can’t differentiate between the 2 atm. As she gets older I’ll explain the different parts and what they do.

I dont think there is anything wrong with teaching her the correct terminology, but telling her she can call it "privates" or whatever. That's what we called it. I'm sure some will disagree with that. I dont really like cutesy names but have never heard a kid say vulva when describing hurting themselves/itching etc, they almost always use a nickname.

Vulva or peepee seems totally clear to me. Maybe wee wee to differentiate from penis. To her at this age it's not a sexual organ, it's related to doing wees so wee wee/peepee is clear and appropriate.

I personally find vagina to be inappropriate because small children aren't talking about the inside part, they're talking about the bit they can see. Why define a girl's genitals as the part of them involved in PIV sex? It's like calling a penis "shaft" IMO which would be just as inappropriate.

I don't see a problem in having a "nickname" after all most boys use willy, but it should be something immediately recognisable for safeguarding reasons. Front bottom works for that purpose but I don't really like it. But defo avoid totally ambiguous words like flower, minnie etc.

Why not just use the proper words?

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply! I was a bit concerned creating this post but I'm glad I did now.

I wasnt sure if there was a 'willy' equivalent I should be teaching her. But it never occurred to me to just call it by its proper name and makes so much sense from a safe guarding pov.

I agree, I dont really like pet names and was always embarrassed having to refer to it as flower growing up. A friend of mine taught her DD to call it her foof but I really dont like that either!!

YY, foof always makes me think of really soft farts.

Vulva or privates

Fanny

@BertieBotts

*YY, foof always makes me think of really soft farts. envy

I use the correct terminology. Vagina for internal, Vulva for external and penis for, well the penis. My girls are 5 and 8. DH wanted them to say 'tuppence' but I ruled it out from day one.

We call it a vulva, because that's what it is. Dd (age 4) also knows a penis is a penis. Feel like we're in the minority though as when she refers to it in front of anyone else they look surprised! E.g mum I banged my vulva on the slide. However I want her to know and use the proper words and not feel like she has to use some strange cutesy word.

I think willy & fanny, bum, wee , poo etc are fine for little kids.

I think using scientific terms penis, vulva, anus, urine, faeces makes them sound a bit like precocious little mini doctors 😂

@paintmywholehousepink

I think willy & fanny, bum, wee , poo etc are fine for little kids.

I think using scientific terms penis, vulva, anus, urine, faeces makes them sound a bit like precocious little mini doctors 😂

I think the point in teaching them actual names for vulva/penis is so that in the case of abuse there’s no ambiguity in what they’re saying. Some people come up with ridiculous names for them, particularly for vulvas, and if an abused child told her teacher (for example) that someone touched her ‘flower’/‘tuppence’/‘Minnie’ then it won’t be obvious what the child is actually telling them. I suppose things like fanny/willy are common enough that it’s fairly universally understood though.

Things like this are so complicated.

I have always used the correct terms with my son from as young as he could talk and his penis has always been a penis.

A few months ago he came home from school (Year 1, aged 6) and started using the word ‘willy’ instead. I told him it isn’t a willy, it’s a penis and he said, “I know mom but the teacher said I wasn’t allowed to use that word and told me to say willy instead.”

I obviously had words with the teacher

Why are the names of genital parts seen as something taboo or words that our children shouldn’t know? It’s madness.