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?

Vulva and vagina.

And penis BTW for boys. And if toddler DD saw a pregnant woman the baby was in her womb or uterus not 'tummy'.

There are so many reasons. Mini or tuppence are ambiguous. What if her teacher or doctor is French or Persian? Ditto foof, flower and all the other ridiculous words. You're placing responsibility for your child's safety on everyone having the same cultural references. Bottoms are where poo comes from so 'front bottom' is nasty.

The only euphemism I'm not entirely opposed to is 'private parts' since it covers the safeguarding aspect and is fairly universal. However, only if you use it for boys as well. Otherwise girls have to be coy and boys can be overt and that's feeding a message that hurts girls.

Vulva here too. I will admit that I felt very awkward saying it but made myself get over it! Because... that's what it's called!

Then why aren’t you using penis for a boy?

Front bottom, mini, private parts, and all the other euphemisms listed in the thread are ambiguous enough to allow an abuser to go free. Paedophiles themselves told researchers they stay away from children who use the correct terms.

Don't let your discomfort overrule that. Use vulva and vagina.

Vulva

No I wouldn't say foof to a nurse or Dr for myself but I'd deffinately say 'down there'. If I was taking a 3yr old then yes I might say in front of the child 'she's told me her foof is sore'. If the nurse didn't know what I meant then I'd be surprised. But where I live everyone says foof.

I also have been known to say boobs for breasts. I'm sure people know what is meant.

So we use 'yoni' as an informal term, which is sanskrit for female genitals, and vulva as the proper term.

^^

Totally off topic, any one remember Brian??

My yoni says noni

😂

Vulva. My three year old calls it her Volvo 😂 I actually find it easier to say than penis, but I do try my best as all the experts say it’s best to use the anatomically correct words.

My Mum was horrified but that’s probably the reason I feel quite uncomfortable with my own body/bodily functions now, so I’m trying not to pass that on.

Was just reading these comments thinking that 😂 Literally no one I’ve ever heard (adults or children) have called it vulva/vagina. Yes it’s childish etc etc but I feel a bit sick at the thought of anyone saying that casually, let alone my child. Front bottom is child-friendly and gets the message across if needed. That’s what I’m going with I think

Anyone who has spent time drinking with nurses (my best friend is one) knows they aren't shy. I've been in a pub with a nurse describing having to shout VULVA because the hurty-foof owner was deaf. Packed pub, nurse screaming VULVA at the top of her lungs.

Not shy.

The only euphemism I'm not entirely opposed to is 'private parts' since it covers the safeguarding aspect and is fairly universal.

Plenty of children are taught that anything covered by their underwear is their private parts. That isn't just the vagina and vulva and so it's ambiguous.

That is definitely regional because I have never heard anyone say foof.

Bum/bottom are the kind of neutral words that don't exist for vagina and vulva. I don't count foof because it's clearly not anywhere near as universal as bum/bottom.
I also think there are regional differences with "fanny". Where I am that's a bit crass - not massively rude but you really wouldn't expect a child to say it. But I'm sure I've read on Mumsnet before on this topic that fanny is commonly used in some areas.

I know you’re talking about your DD but I have a 2.5 year old DS and we use penis, testicles and he uses vulva if he talks about mine while getting changed or on the loo etc, felt really strange at first but it’s been so long now that it just feels totally normal and I’m really proud that he knows the correct anatomical terms, from a SG perspective mainly but also that I don’t want him to feel embarrassed about using these words as he grows up like I was.

Can you explain the difference between vagina and vulva to me

What else could front bottom possibly mean though? If a child said someone had touched their front bottom it’s literally the exact same as saying they’d touched their vulva. There’s nothing else it could be

An elbow is an elbow, a knee is a knee. A vagina is a vagina and a penis is a penis

Teaching the correct words is now recommended.

I bet you don't make your toddlers say I need to urinate or defecate, or 'mummy I've had a bowel movement'. Bet you say wee or poo.

What about if your child farts? Bet it's a fluff or a windy-pops or whatever 😀

@Vinrouge4 Vagina is on the inside. Vulva is on the outside. Google is your friend.

But why though? I mean, I know it's a common view so I do apologise for singling you out with my question! But I am actually genuinely interested in the thinking behind that opinion.

Vagina is the internal passage to your womb
vulva is the lips, both inner and outer, clitoris, and all the other swirly wonder on the outside
My kids are older, so were bought up with foofoo and willy

Yes but a red flag will go up for the teacher/doctor in a way that won't if a child babbles about flowers and minis. I use vagina/vulva anyway though.

And @GoodVibesHere is every one of the HCPs and teachers, SWs and TAs near you from the same area? I don't think I've ever had a doctor born where I am. Round my way the NHS is run by everyone from Australia to Barbados. Foof would draw a total blank if you're not from the same place.

Downstairs.

I feel just the opposite. Front bottom is a horrible term.

All the people saying they can’t cope with using the real words for stuff need to think about why that is. It’s not right or normal to be embarrassed to use the correct name for something, and even if you personally have some kind of odd hang up about it, surely you’d actively try to avoid passing that on to your kids?

We use vulva and penis. They are just words. I don’t want my kids to feel ashamed of their bodies or not be able to describe them accurately.

NHS child safeguarding teaches all of the common words - minnie, willy, winky, flower, even magic button as I recall