Names for private parts

2xj3hplqgsbkym

My 2 year old knows that he has a 'willy' . He has already being asking where his newborn sister's willy is. I told him she didn't have one, that only he and daddy have one.
I know the next question will be 'what does she have?'. But actually don't know what to call her vagina. What is the usual name ?- not crude obviously. Can't remember what my mum used to say.

MrCreosote

Not being smart here, but why not just call it a vagina? (Or vulva if you want to be anatomically correct)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/31/family-problems-solved

Condatis

For goodness sake just say "vulva" and don't teach "chu-chu" for train.

Squ

Using odd names just teaches toddlers theres something unusual about their penis/vagina.

Do you think these words are rude op?

angelfalling

That's what they are. It's a penis and a vagina. There is nothing crude about calling them by the names they are meant to be called. Boys (like daddy and you) have penises, girls and mommies have vaginas. Easy. My kids know them that way and there isn't a problem. Don't pass on insecurities.

bootybouncer

Button for vagina.......................... and Tail for willy wagger

vickers209

when i was small we were told boys had willys and girls had lillys

WhatNowForUs?

Irish society has a huge problem here. Its a vagina and a penis.
Any women I have met has a huge problem with this or infact any other name given to the vagina, which leads me to believe its not the name that is the problem but our attitude to 'that area'.

2xj3hplqgsbkym

Squ- no I don't think they are rude. I was simply looking for a common euphemism that isn't crude like fanny or many more.

off topic - Angelfalling - I don't have insecurities, perhaps you do as you obviously feel the need to judge someone for asking a lighthearted question.

I don't have a problem with using the words penis or vagina/vulva but personally I think that sounds too grown up for toddlers. I don't insist that he calls me mother instead of mammy or ask him if he needs to urinate or defecate or if he has a sore maximus gluteus.

I think willy seems to be an acceptable euphemism for penis and I was simply wondering what is the usual euphemism used for vagina. Any helpful answers from parents of toddlers would be appreciated.

2xj3hplqgsbkym

Squ- no I don't think they are rude. I was simply looking for a common euphemism that isn't crude like fanny or many more.

off topic - Angelfalling - I don't have insecurities, perhaps you do as you obviously feel the need to judge someone for asking a lighthearted question.

I don't have a problem with using the words penis or vagina/vulva but personally I think that sounds too grown up for toddlers. I don't insist that he calls me mother instead of mammy or ask him if he needs to urinate or defecate or if he has a sore maximus gluteus.

I think willy seems to be an acceptable euphemism for penis and I was simply wondering what is the usual euphemism used for vagina. Any helpful answers from parents of toddlers would be appreciated.

Squ

........

pwurple

This sounds so ridiculous as I even type it... I didn't think I would be the one going down the baby names for things. But, as our toddler isn't great with her diction yet, and she loves to name body parts in the bath, we have a name we can contribute.

She calls it Front Bum.

She also calls her elbows knees though.

Hannibal Smith

I've heard people refer to it as minnie ..I dunno why lol

Id be the same as the op....I've never heard a toddler say vagina so we're obviously not too much in the minority.

I don't think what you call it is the issue...they've no ideas of the correct names so they're not drawing any negativity whether you say vagina or Minnie. its how you talk with them about it....ie answering questions frankly and encouraging them to talk about whatever body part they like.

We call my guy's Willy his peppy ...I dunno where it came from...I just said it one day and it stuck lol. he hasn't asked what mine is called he just knows boys have peppys and girls don't.

He also calls his stomach his tummy...his hands his handies and his nose his snout....they're just different things he has different names for...no big deal.

Gee_G

pwurple wrote: »

This sounds so ridiculous as I even type it... I didn't think I would be the one going down the baby names for things. But, as our toddler isn't great with her diction yet, and she loves to name body parts in the bath, we have a name we can contribute.

She calls it Front Bum.

She also calls her elbows knees though.

Yeah it was also referred to as front bum in our house by me and my older sister when she was younger. Didn't do us any harm

uck51js9zml2yt

pwurple wrote: »

She also calls her elbows knees though.

My wife still calls her toes, fingers...they are all fingers in her native language:D

Play Bunny

Front bum.....& ding a ling

2xj3hplqgsbkym

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

I've heard people refer to it as minnie ..I dunno why lol

Id be the same as the op....I've never heard a toddler say vagina so we're obviously not too much in the minority.

Maybe because Mickey and Minnie go together;-)

KGLady

Mostly our two refer to it as their 'girls bum' as opposed to Daddy who has a 'boys bum' (I had to come up with something quickly when they asked one morning what was that floppy thing when he was on the way into the shower!). When we're dealing with bathroom stuff and toilet training 'front bum and back bum' for clarity in where they are meant to be cleaning (while of course they are just trying to TP the bathroom).

I'd suggest not complicating it, just find something simple that you are comfortable with and the kids will accept it.

wmpdd3

Emery Short Matchbox wrote: »

Maybe because Mickey and Minnie go together;-)

I never new that!

I would never had contemplated calling them penis and vagina, but I need a plan in the next few weeks as my girl is 2.

I would have said willy and front bum.

My partner has names I have never heard of, each one worse than the last.

DBK

Hootin

Short for Hootin Annie....rhymes with..eh....*American for bum :P

lounakin

angelfalling wrote: »

That's what they are. It's a penis and a vagina. There is nothing crude about calling them by the names they are meant to be called. Boys (like daddy and you) have penises, girls and mommies have vaginas. Easy. My kids know them that way and there isn't a problem. Don't pass on insecurities.

Except it's not a vagina, it's a vulva...
Vagina is more accepted than vulva.
I have a little girl and I'd rather call it a crazy name like 'fanny' rather than vagina, which is technically wrong.
I think I shall start a trend and tell her it's her vulva and if people are shocked then let them be shocked.
I've noticed that it's much more common to hear boys refer to their penis than girls refer to their vulvas. Another example of how women are over sexualized and therefore their parts must not be named.

Roselm

lounakin wrote: »

Except it's not a vagina, it's a vulva...
Vagina is more accepted than vulva.
I have a little girl and I'd rather call it a crazy name like 'fanny' rather than vagina, which is technically wrong.
I think I shall start a trend and tell her it's her vulva and if people are shocked then let them be shocked.
I've noticed that it's much more common to hear boys refer to their penis than girls refer to their vulvas. Another example of how women are over sexualized and therefore their parts must not be named.

I disagree re oversexualisation.But i agree parents are less likely to suggest a name for a girl's bits.But a penis is an obvious appendage with an obvious function-urination whereas vulva not so much-a girl cant particularly see where the pee comes from. I imagine a boy is more likely to ask what is this because its so in your face. So from not needing to ever talk about ones vulva it maybe becomes more awkward should you randomly have to-an injury?!Hence parents being unsure what to actually call it...?

gg2

I studied early childhood studies and one of our lecturers told us one day to "never give a child a name for something that isn't its actual name" and how she felt it was "so ridicules to hear a child refer to a train as a choo choo". I personally think its ridicules, I had all sorts of crazy names for things when I was a child, it really didn't do me any harm. I don't believe this whole thing of if you choose to give your child a particular name for parts of their body its going to make them uncomfortable with them. I had names for different parts of my body I don't go round now saying "My bubballo (bum) looks big in these jeans".
Why don't you wait til she asks you what her vagina is called and ask her "what do you think its called?" and take it from there.

lounakin

Roselm wrote: »

I disagree re oversexualisation.But i agree parents are less likely to suggest a name for a girl's bits.But a penis is an obvious appendage with an obvious function-urination whereas vulva not so much-a girl cant particularly see where the pee comes from. I imagine a boy is more likely to ask what is this because its so in your face. So from not needing to ever talk about ones vulva it maybe becomes more awkward should you randomly have to-an injury?!Hence parents being unsure what to actually call it...?

How could you not agree? Just look at basically everything around you!
Women are so sexualised in our society that even breastfeeding in public is an issue, they sell g-strings for 8 year-olds so our little girls can walk around with a perfect looking bum in their tight jeans? Insane... a bit off topic
Anyway, I think girls are just as likely to ask even if it seems less prone to injury.

movingsucks

All the folks saying "Just call it a Vagina/vulva" - what do you get your kids to say instead of pee and poo? Urine and Faeces? what about Farts? Ha?

MrCreosote

movingsucks wrote: »

All the folks saying "Just call it a Vagina/vulva" - what do you get your kids to say instead of pee and poo? Urine and Faeces? what about Farts? Ha?

Pee, poo and farts- non-euphemistic terms used by all ages in private and public conversation. Not the same thing at all, at all.

mitosis

Call it what it is. Anything else suggests there is something to be ashamed of.

Oh, and I was taught, "boys have willies, girls have gees". I don't pass that on

Morag

Yoni.

Yoni is the Sanskrit word for the vagina and it's several thousand years old.
It's easy to say, soft sounding and with out most negative references.

Also really it should be penis and vulva if you want to go down that naming road.

wmpdd3

Right yesterday I taught my 2 year old Vulva and penis.

But I forgot I had already named my breasts boobies as I spent February and March trying to get her brother to latch!

So this morning I was told 'Dats your bra for your boobies, mammy'

So tomorrow, I ghave to convince her breasts is the new name.

She does call a train a choo choo!

McTigs

MrCreosote wrote: »

Pee, poo and farts- non-euphemistic terms used by all ages in private and public conversation. Not the same thing at all, at all.

It is the same thing. I still call my penis my willy and my gluteus maximus my arse and my wifes breasts her boobs.

And for goodness sake, there is certainly nothing wrong with a toddler calling a train a choo choo. Way to take the joy out of toddlerdom!

Call the penis a willy, call the vulva a foo foo and call the arse a bum bum, make a point of any the family walking around the house in the nip as perfectly normal, encourage questions and nobody will grow up to be insecure about anything. Done

Ms2011

Personally I think children are thrust into the adult world far too early these days. Children are children for such a short time so for me my son will have a willy & if he asks girls have a no willy but a front bum instead. He'll learn the 'correct' terms for these ( and other parts of the body ) as he gets older & approaches puberty & I will not shy away from any questions he might ask. For now though it's willy, front bum & boobies just like a dog is a doggie, a car is a mow mow & his soother is a doodie ;-)

Squiggler

I really hate the euphemism "front bum" - to me it sounds dirty and unpleasant in an unhygenic way, especially when contrastingly paired with willy.

A childhood friend of mine used to call it her bun. I've been wracking my brains but I don't ever remember having a name for the area. My brothers had "piddlers" and my sister and I didn't - I don't ever remember having a problem with this as it was my opinion that it was much nicer not having a piddler, neater and less messy.

One name I thought was kinda nice for it that a friend used with her daughter was "Vee" (V for Vulva and because of the general shape of the area)

lounakin

Ms2011 wrote: »

Personally I think children are thrust into the adult world far too early these days. Children are children for such a short time so for me my son will have a willy & if he asks girls have a no willy but a front bum instead. He'll learn the 'correct' terms for these ( and other parts of the body ) as he gets older & approaches puberty & I will not shy away from any questions he might ask. For now though it's willy, front bum & boobies just like a dog is a doggie, a car is a mow mow & his soother is a doodie ;-)

I don't think words have anything to do with the adult world, but I'm not disagreeing with you on the fact that children and thrust into adulthood too early. I really don't see the point of calling a dog a doggie etc. Children are not aware that they are using baby words, it's not for their benefit since they have nothing to compare. Those euphemisms are for our benefit only and therefore, useless. Doggie on the other hand is more for the cute factor.

dublinlady

I think that more playful childlike workds should be used with children.... Doggie for example - is as ya said Lounakin - cuter - its a softer word and instils a more friendly vibe and attitude in my opinion.
I would use words like the bow wow, and choo choo train as they are decriptive words which encourage creativity and alliteration which I can only see as a positive thing for language development. Obviously i hate these words being used when a child is older as then they are able to understand better and dont need the aid of descriptive words to understand the meaning of items.
I agree that a child does not know what is a childs word and whats the real adult word - but i do feel the world is harsh and vulgar enough and if making words a little bit 'cuter'and child friendly can encourage interaction and interest then it cant be a bad thing.
I certainly will not be teaching my children the words penis and vagina as the first terms they use to describle their genitalia - as i think there are gentler, less intimidating words available. when they are 4/5 they can learn anatomy, until then they can remain babies.

lounakin

dublinlady wrote: »

I certainly will not be teaching my children the words penis and vagina as the first terms they use to describle their genitalia - as i think there are gentler, less intimidating words available. when they are 4/5 they can learn anatomy, until then they can remain babies.

How is the word 'penis' intimidating to a child? How does saying 'penis' make a small child grow up too soon? It is intimidating to the parent and the parent doesn't want to hear it because of a deep-rooted shame of naming private parts. That's got nothing to do with the child. We are not helping them in any way, they do not understand the concept of euphemisms.

dublinlady

lounakin wrote: »

How is the word 'penis' intimidating to a child? How does saying 'penis' make a small child grow up too soon? It is intimidating to the parent and the parent doesn't want to hear it because of a deep-rooted shame of naming private parts. That's got nothing to do with the child. We are not helping them in any way, they do not understand the concept of euphemisms.

Ive no deep-rooted shame with anything to do with private parts - hence two babies in 14 months
I understand the point your making - i just dont agree - as i said - the word penis is not descriptive or pleasant aurally or any way nice - id rather encourage a baby to use baby appropriate fun words - im not hindering her speech - mostly its just the use of alliteration with things like bow wow etc. for me its similar to making them live their life in grey black and white when you could introduce them to colour! I like to use words which encourage creativity and i realy feel the vagina is not one of them....

Parenting is all about each to their own - so i dont want to suggest i think your wrong - i dont - its just not right for me

Hannibal Smith

lounakin wrote: »

How is the word 'penis' intimidating to a child? How does saying 'penis' make a small child grow up too soon? It is intimidating to the parent and the parent doesn't want to hear it because of a deep-rooted shame of naming private parts. That's got nothing to do with the child. We are not helping them in any way, they do not understand the concept of euphemisms.

To be fair...you're assuming a lot...deep rooted shame...seriously? you're in the parenting forum where most women are proud of their private parts and the work they've done...just because they like to keep them private doesn't lend itself to shame

lounakin

dublinlady wrote: »

Ive no deep-rooted shame with anything to do with private parts - hence two babies in 14 months
I understand the point your making - i just dont agree - as i said - the word penis is not descriptive or pleasant aurally or any way nice - id rather encourage a baby to use baby appropriate fun words - im not hindering her speech - mostly its just the use of alliteration with things like bow wow etc. for me its similar to making them live their life in grey black and white when you could introduce them to colour! I like to use words which encourage creativity and i realy feel the vagina is not one of them....

Parenting is all about each to their own - so i dont want to suggest i think your wrong - i dont - its just not right for me

Of course, and I don't think you're wrong either. I just think in the absolute, the sound of the word 'penis' or 'vagina' only carries unpleasantness because of our projection on it, the child doesn't care, the child might think it sounds funny and appropriate. I also feel every word encourages creativity, not only alliterations. There are people who believe there is no need to use baby words (I'm not vouching for either side as I have little experience), one of my friends did that and her daughter is one of the most creative and literate child I know. That said, with my daughter I find it almost impossible not to use alliterations when I speak to her, it seems so natural...
So you see, I'm just playing devil's advocate for the sake of debating.
There is one word I love for both male and female genitalia, (it's french, I speak french to my baby) but it actually sounds too much like my child's name! I don't think I want to use them! lol

angelfire9

Aisling is almost 2 and she has a "front bum" and a "back bum" simply because they are easier for little people to say
She calls our cats Kitties
She calls dogs Doggies
She calls pigs Piggies
She calls her toes piggies too
Her stomach is her tummy
Her vocabulary is really good for her age
Loads of time for her to learn proper names she's still my baby

pickarooney

They're a penis and a vagina in the same way a skull is a cranium and a knee is a patella. There's nothing at all wrong or typically Irish about using colloquial names for body parts.

I never got around to teaching my daughter an English word for her 'zézette'; I simply didn't know what the common, acceptable terms were for toddlers and thought it would sounds weird her using words from a higher register. I don't think it really matters at this stage but I did often ask myself the question.

Gee_G

Ms2011 wrote: »

Personally I think children are thrust into the adult world far too early these days. Children are children for such a short time so for me my son will have a willy & if he asks girls have a no willy but a front bum instead. He'll learn the 'correct' terms for these ( and other parts of the body ) as he gets older & approaches puberty & I will not shy away from any questions he might ask. For now though it's willy, front bum & boobies just like a dog is a doggie, a car is a mow mow & his soother is a doodie ;-)

Totally agree with your post!
I would much rather hear a small child refer to their private parts as willy and front bum(aNd that is no underlying insecurity about my body parts)And I will be teaching my son such names!

lounakin

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

To be fair...you're assuming a lot...deep rooted shame...seriously? you're in the parenting forum where most women are proud of their private parts and the work they've done...just because they like to keep them private doesn't lend itself to shame

I wasn't telling her she has deep-rooted shame, I was more referring to society in general. I think the use of euphemisms for private parts started as a way to avoid adults being confronted to their own shame. I think it's not the same as using baby vocab. We all know the damaged caused by religion and it's not hard to imagine that we are still suffering the effects. We teach our baby words like 'doggie' but we are not shocked to hear a toddler say 'dog'. A lot of people would be shocked to hear a child say 'penis' or 'vagina' (I wouldn't and not saying people on this thread would either), this is proof that the euphemism is originally not implemented as a way to 'cutify' but as a way to soften the blow on the parent. If we hadn't gone (by we I'm not actually including myself as I don't come from a country where religion is so omnipresent) through years of stigma about private parts, nobody would blush at the mention of penis and vagina and so it wouldn't be such a problem for a parent to pick a name.
I realise it's a blunt statement about religion, I'm just being general here. I have heard that children didn't get sexual education here until quite recently, it is not something people feel so free to discuss.

Neyite

Squiggler wrote: »

I really hate the euphemism "front bum" - to me it sounds dirty and unpleasant in an unhygenic way, especially when contrastingly paired with willy.

I don't like the term front-bum either, and couldn't pin-point why until I read your post. That's exactly why I don't like it. I think when we were little we called a vagina a genie. I think I was about 10 when I realised willy was a euphemism and had to ask my mother what the correct word was.

I think willy and vee is fine when they are very small.

Charlie Quinn

Personally I think that any names young children are comfortable with for anything would suffice. When they reach about aged 6 or 7 though, (the age of reason) then they should be introduced to proper titles and names for things, including their body parts..

Hannibal Smith

lounakin wrote: »

I wasn't telling her she has deep-rooted shame, I was more referring to society in general. I think the use of euphemisms for private parts started as a way to avoid adults being confronted to their own shame. I think it's not the same as using baby vocab. We all know the damaged caused by religion and it's not hard to imagine that we are still suffering the effects. We teach our baby words like 'doggie' but we are not shocked to hear a toddler say 'dog'. A lot of people would be shocked to hear a child say 'penis' or 'vagina' (I wouldn't and not saying people on this thread would either), this is proof that the euphemism is originally not implemented as a way to 'cutify' but as a way to soften the blow on the parent. If we hadn't gone (by we I'm not actually including myself as I don't come from a country where religion is so omnipresent) through years of stigma about private parts, nobody would blush at the mention of penis and vagina and so it wouldn't be such a problem for a parent to pick a name.
I realise it's a blunt statement about religion, I'm just being general here. I have heard that children didn't get sexual education here until quite recently, it is not something people feel so free to discuss.

I know...I get you now...our last 2 posts crossed

lounakin

I distinctly remember having a conversation in kindergarten with my friends, asking them what they called their private parts. We all had different names for it, and we thought it was hilarious. My family called it the 'behind' and when both bum and front was mentioned in the one sentence it was ridiculous: 'make sure you wipe the behind behind and your front behind'. I remember being very confused.