Word for toddler girl private parts...

[Blessedbethefruitz]

Weird question, sorry! Huge searchable history on here, I'm not a troll!

With ds it was easy - willy is freely used across the UK.

But I want dd 20 months to have a word to describe her vulva/vagina, for if she's hurt, needs a wee, has a uti etc. Right now she seems to think it's her bottom as I refer to changing her bottom/nappy. I don't want something ridiculous like flower, or something gross like minge or fanny. What's usual in your home/circles/region? She knows when she needs a 'wee wee' from copying her big brother. I could use that I suppose?

So teach her vulva or vagina? It's not a bad word, why not just teach her the names of her body parts?

What's wrong with using the word vagina?

Vulva
Obvs.

My 2 year old Dd just calls it her vulva, as that's what it is 🤷🏼‍♀️ I don't like the ambiguity of anything else.

Agreed, teach her the actual words. They're not bad or shameful and if she ever had to tell someone but you something, they'll know instantly what she means.

Vulva and vagina, as recommended for safeguarding purposes as much as anything else. That's what they're called.

We just use vulva, felt odd/ uncomfortable at first but is normal now. I haven’t really introduced the distinction between vagina and vulva yet, probably I should.

Vulva and vagina.

FYI children who use the proper words for their genitals are much less likely to be victims of child sex abuse.

Vulva and Vagina. Normal words.

I would just use vulva (not vagina), and leave it at that. There’s no universally recognised word like there is with willy, so it’s safest for her to know the proper word.

We used vulva but also ‘girl bits’. Which is a bit naff but clear enough if needed to communicate to others.

My dd calls it her front bottom

Everyone here will say vulva is an appropriate word and while they are right, it's not generally accepted in society and may well cause issues with older family members or childcare / school staff objecting to her talking about her vulva.

So, we used 'front bottom' or 'private parts'. Not quite so blunt but equally, very clear what's meant by either term to remove any doubt if she needed to talk about it to a medical professional or for safeguarding reasons.

Use the proper words.

If children don't know them and need to disclose abuse it can be misconstrued if the proper words aren't used.

My daughter called it her front bottom despite me calling it vulva.

You’ve already got the perfect and anatomically correct words- vulva and vagina.

Using alternative terms just signals your discomfort, children should be confident in describing their body parts correctly and without shame or embarrassment.

From a safeguarding point of view it’s also really important children know the correct terms for their anatomy.

I agree that it should be called its correct name, vulva.
However years ago we did use the word 'tuppence'!

Our daughter uses “front bottom”. I think it’s fairly unambiguous.

No school staff will object to her calling it her vulva. In RSE we teach the words penis and vulva to Reception age children.

This is mumsnet where everyone tell you to say vulva.

In real life everyone I know says 'foof'. I mean for years and years it's been foof - even nurses and doctors will know what is meant. This is perhaps regional but c'mon it's better than vulva.

Like bum or bottom. Nobody says 'gluteus maximus' do they.

Even as adults we say foof or 'down there', e.g. if you needed to say 'I'm a bit sore down there' a Dr knows what you mean. Let's be real you wouldn't say my vulva is sore to a friend/Dr or whatever.

We use vulva, but I tend to say 'wipe between your legs' after they use the toilet (no reason, just habit) and DD1 uses 'between my legs' most of the time. I figure that's pretty unambiguous if needed.

Please teach her the proper words, in the event she is touched inappropriately being able to say “they touched my vagina/vulva” is so much more useful than they touched my bottom which could be anywhere. It’s also not too young to be talking about body autonomy and private parts being private.

I was contemplating this exact same thing this week with regards to my 2.5 year old.

I know it should be vulva and vagina but those words just feel so clumsy and awkward to me. I know that is due to my own hangups from them not being used in my own childhood and I should just use them but if im really honest it feels too clinical and ott.

For now I go with front bottom but I will re asses this.

Private parts for the region and vulva etc for the specifics.

In our family it’s mini.