Word for vagina?

[ncnewbaby]

Parents of girls, what word do you use for vagina? I have a baby girl and can't remember what we used growing up!

Another advocate for just using vagina here.

@Howareyouflower

I had four children and don't remember ever having to refer to their genitals except in a medical setting, when I would have said vulva or penis. Why would you? When do you envisage saying these words apart from if your child asks?

Well...I remember saying many times "don't play with your penis in public" or "put your penis inside your pants" when my son was 2 or 3 years old. I can't believe your boys never played with it

[quote TheGirlCat]@NoDecentHandlesLeft Not even the same at all. A penis is external. Vagina is internal. It would be like saying prostate for penis.[/quote]
But do they refer to "penis" as the whole thing, or differentiate between the glans penis, shaft, foreskin etc? Calling the whole thing penis is also not correct, technically.

@Trixiefirecracker

I don’t understand people not calling it what it is. I mean you don’t have another word for nose do you, it’s just a nose.

Hooter

Vulva. Cue all the wee 4 year olds coming home saying they had a Volvo. Why would you not call body parts by their anatomical name?

@ncnewbaby
Penny -no idea why though

I think it's quite regional, so it might pay to know what's usual in your area.

I hate 'bits' but it comes in useful.

Tuppence/flower:Minnie/ are all used.

I wouldn't use foof or fanny for a child.

I wasn’t allowed to mention it when I was as child so I didn’t need a word. Times have changed.

front bottom, and its colleague back bottom, seems to cover all bases, so to speak.
also is all genders inclusive, so bang up to date !

@ThesecondLEM

Foof or mini, because it sounds nicer and easier to say than vagina. Pretty much, call it what you want. Can't be doing with people getting airiated about what someone calls their genitals.

Gosh I think foof sounds awful.

I've always just used vulva for the outer parts and vagina for the inner part. My little girls all struggled with the sound "v" and ended up referring to their "bulba"

I’m afraid we were in the front bottom camp here.

Why would she need to regularly say vagina?

I have noticed that people, particularly Americans, use vagina when the actually mean vulva.

My mum used front bottom, which makes be cringe. It’s vulva. Why is that such a bad word? Penis is okay. Why not vulva?

To all those who insist on only the correct anatomical terms, do you also tell your children to make sure they wipe their anus properly? I’m guessing bottom or bum are ok? And tummy for abdomen/stomach. So why not similar for genitals?

We’re a front bottom/bum family, which it seems most people on here dislike. I think for me I don’t know why I’d need to go into much more detail until they’re older, and as some other posters have pointed out, it’s pretty self-explanatory so wouldn’t cause an issues in a potential abuse situation.

The idea of talking to a toddler about a vagina makes me feel very uncomfortable. Vulva is fine, but why would a small child need to be aware of their internal reproductive organs? It’s not for me to judge the decisions of others though, I just don’t think I’ll be teaching my baby girl to say vagina any time soon!

Tuppence
Minnie
Nunni

Widgy
Todger
Cory

I am worried how many adults in this forum don’t know what their body parts are called.

I get there's nothing wrong with the word but I would rather use a more childlike term when they're babies/toddlers. Looking for any other terms.

Why not go the whole hog, and skirt around calling any part of her body by its actual name?

Daisy = chin
Petal = eyebrow
Dustbin = elbow
Motorway = kneecap
Hoohah = foot
Pookie-wookie = ear
Lucy = ankle
Penelope = shoulder
Derek = neck

What you want is a word which will help you pass down whatever hangups you have with the actual name of the body parts.

The idea of talking to a toddler about a vagina makes me feel very uncomfortable. Vulva is fine, but why would a small child need to be aware of their internal reproductive organs? It’s not for me to judge the decisions of others though, I just don’t think I’ll be teaching my baby girl to say vagina any time soon!

Because boys tend to be hyper aware of their reproductive organs.

Why should girls' organs be treated like some big state secret?

I get not calling it something unheard of like cookie. But I struggle to believe a teacher wouldn't know what a child meant if they said someone wanted their fanny. The nspcc says private parts, sounds like a good term to promote rather than making people feel awful for saying not saying vagina. Maybe future generations will be entirely comfortable with vagina, vulva, penis and testicles. Private parts would be okay for now wouldn't it?

I have sons but say vulva and penis..

I don’t remember never not knowing the correct terms growing up but also always remember referring to them as a flower and a willy too. I think I was taught both and then flipped between the two.

Girl bits and boy bits. We dont say it with shame, just with casualness. I would cringe if I heard a 5yr old say vulva. I dont really know why, it just seems so...scientific and mature. Like saying gluteus maximus or navel.

Vulva is its name

My Nana still says flower and would be if I said the word vagina or vulva in front of her.

@mathanxiety

The idea of talking to a toddler about a vagina makes me feel very uncomfortable. Vulva is fine, but why would a small child need to be aware of their internal reproductive organs? It’s not for me to judge the decisions of others though, I just don’t think I’ll be teaching my baby girl to say vagina any time soon!

Because boys tend to be hyper aware of their reproductive organs.

Why should girls' organs be treated like some big state secret?

but that was the point that the poster was making. obviously because male reproductive parts are so visible they get named. but a small girl, why would she be aware of, or need to be, of an internal organ. do you also name urethra, and carefully distinguish it from ureter, and then go on to aorta, descending colon, islets of langerhans etc for your toddlers. and test them on the same.

Vulva but my toddler used to call it her Vulcan

Anatomical names rather than pet cutesy names.