What do you all call your private parts to your toddler?

Sierra - posted on 10/17/2009

I tell my son its a monkey : )..works good for me and i tell him his sissy's part is a flower.

Erin - posted on 10/17/2009

My son has known his penis to be just that since he could say the word! When he asked if I had a penis I told him no, girls have vulvas. I prefer to use this word because #1 it doesn't sound as dirty as vagina #2 men have notoriously called the vulva a vagina because that is the only part that they care about, since that is the part their penis goes in... Calling a womans part a vagina would be similar to calling the penis a shaft. You do not SEE the vagina when looking at it so WHY call it that? It is however a VULVA and that is what it will be known as in my house! I did think it was funny however, last week I was watching family feud and the bleeped PENIS twice!!! PENIS bleeped, I couldn't believe it! Since when was PENIS a bad word???

Adina - posted on 10/17/2009

well we use pee pee with my son right now cause thats what he can say lol. but once he starts saying more word we are gunna say the proper names too.

Kayla - posted on 10/16/2009

LOL I have to giggle. My daughter just calls them girlies and parts. Keeps it simple. My aunt taught my cousin all of the 'correct' terms and treated him a bit more grown up.... Well, his first grade art class they had to do self portraits and he drew himself naked and anatomically correct. He even named off all the parts to his class.... Proudly declaring that he has a penis.... That was the same size as his leg! :) I love kids!! LOL

Haley - posted on 10/16/2009

i totally agree with you, my daughter is two and she points out my breasts and points to hers, and i tell her what they are. no nicknames, i use the real names. she even noticed that my husband, her father when he goes to "potty" he stands up. so i explained it to her. and she understood which still blows me away! kids are so much smarter these days, and i think its best to be truthful from day one.

Kim - posted on 10/16/2009

I find it soo weird how some parents are like "oh no I never use the proper names" ummm why the H not? Penis. Vagina. Breasts. That's what they are called that's what they will learn when they go to school. Good gosh people! so if you cant tell I agree with using the proper names!

Shannon - posted on 10/16/2009

I'm also in the medical field and have always taught my kids the proper terms. My father in law commented that my now 9y/o daughter properly used the word bladder in a sentence at age 3 (I don't have to go potty, my bladder is empty). The funniest backfire that ever happened because of proper terminology is my 4y/o who has seen me change my son's diaper, but has never seen my husband naked told her preschool teacher that mommy, daddy, sister and her all had vaginas but brother had a penis. My poor husband.

Danielle - posted on 10/16/2009

Wow!! What a great concern! I never really thought about it that way...well I suppose it just came natural for me to teach my boys what we would be calling them and not really think about what anyone else might be using...but nevertheless very interesting! We call them man parts and woman parts for the time being. I have a 9 year old that will be learning very soon just exactly the proper terms and to be quite honest I AM FRIGHTENED!! Good luck!!

Stephanie - posted on 10/16/2009

i don't think there is anything wrong with calling them by their proper names - we do say mouse for my son's penis, but he knows it's a penis (he's 2). i think that by not allowing the real names for sexual parts is feeding into the shameful feelings associated to their sexual parts and causes issues into adulthood. start off early letting them know that there's nothing to be embarrassed about.

K. Erin - posted on 10/16/2009

i do call them by their proper names when at work(also in the medical field) or with ppl my age, but not with my children. My son made up the name for his which is wenus, I have no idea where he got it. With my daughter we called her vagina a poofer...I am not sure why. With breasts we just say ta-ta's or tators. I think it might shock some people if your son just came out and said 'my mom has a vagina!' when you code it, ppl are always scratching their heads, wondering what your little one may be talkin about.

Brandy - posted on 10/16/2009

I think the proper names should be used. That is what they are and the children need to know their bodies and be comfortable in them. I think that if you make their body parts taboo then they will have a harder time talking to you about it when they are older and need to ask questions for important reasons.

Nichole - posted on 10/16/2009

i call them both proper names and the names that have stuck with all the Philippine aunties ting ting for girl and toy toy for boy, ive been taught that's what they call penis and vagina in the Philippians but im not sure its true. but it has stuck.

Meghan - posted on 10/16/2009

in our house, we use the name PENIS and VAGINA as that is what they are, there is no other reason to teach them different names, and god forbid something happened to him, at least he can say the words.

Mandy - posted on 10/16/2009

We use private parts, boobies, and butt. It's not bad to use penis and vagina, but young children are likely to blurt stuff out, and I'd rather use words that aren't so inappropriate in public. Plus, I don't use those words myself.

Maria - posted on 10/16/2009

no my son has a bird and i dont know what we will call my daughters private part yet, she is still only 2 weeks old. my son also says boob boobs, its sounds so cute when he says it too.

Kia - posted on 10/16/2009

i have 2 boys and for us its peepees and vajayjays. i heard that word on greys anatomy and thought it was cute. to me, the words we use are close enough to the real thing, that transition to penis and vagina shouldnt be too difficult

Shannon - posted on 10/16/2009

a who ha for a vagina we say around here LOL

Lin - posted on 10/16/2009

i'm a nurse, my 3 year old son calls it his little penis. It's so cute when he says it.

Kirsty - posted on 10/16/2009

My two year old daughter calls them " a lady " and a " man " ; this is what i was brought up with so i just followed it on, but its been on the news that their going to start teaching primary one's sex eduction so i guess he'll know soon the proper names anyway.

Delina - posted on 10/16/2009

I have a one and a half year old who I'm trying to potty train and I call her private parts a vagina. My husband is also in the medical field so we see nothing wrong with it...I don't see anything wrong with making up nick names for them either. I guess its just what people decide for their own. :)

Sherry - posted on 10/16/2009

We call it her peepee. Not sure how it started or why, but that is what we call it. I have no problem using proper terms, but she just turned 2 in June - kids grow up so fast as it is - I don't mind if she doesn't learn the term vagina until next year. It has nothing to do with my comfort level. My son is 4 months old and she watches us change him. Maybe when she asks the inevitable question(s) about why his is different I will have that conversation with her.

Melissa - posted on 10/16/2009

It is very important to call/teach your children the correct names for there privates. The best example why: suppose someone is molesting /sexually abusing your child, should your case ever go before a judge, and your child says “so and so touched my pee pee”, the case would be dismissed. I have chosen to teach my children (boy & girl) the correct names, my daughter still calls her vagina a "who ha" but when you ask her what that is she says vagina. Don’t ever let your child continue to be an easy target for sexual abuse. TEACH THEM THE PARTS THEY HAVE! Research this topic and you can see for yourself those children who do not know the correct terms for there private areas are targeted by perpetrators! They are easily kept quite. Not teaching your child the corrects names, makes them feel like there body is yucky and will not be as open about these important private conversations!

Holly - posted on 10/16/2009

Hi Tori ~ I am also in the medical field! I think it is totally appropriate to teach your son the proper names for the bottom area. We did this with our daughter. HOWEVER, I think it is a good idea to have him learn a sudanom (sp?) for them as well. I really don't think you would want your child to say penis and vagina in the grocery store or a restaurant!! We use tooshie a lot. Also bottom. Breasts are boobies. She thinks that word is funny!! LOL!! My daughter used to have BAD diaper rashes, and she knew the word vagina and would say 'my vagina hurts' at all the wrong times. We came up with a nickname for her vagina - she decided on princess. So, anyway, I think it's good to teach your son the correct words, so there's no shame, confusion, or embarrasment when he gets older. But for social purposes, nicknames would also be good!! Hope this helps!! :-))

Kendra - posted on 10/16/2009

I have always taught my daughter and now my son to call them what they are a vagina and a penis, if you don't laugh when they are saying it it doesn't become a game and it is just another body part like and arm or leg. I would much rather my children tell me if someone ever touched them inaproprietly that they were touched on their vagina or penis, if you have cute little names for them it can get confusing.

Annika - posted on 10/16/2009

We say girls have bits and boys have bits and bobs i dont think they need to know the proper terms until they are older and understand what they are talking about

Penny - posted on 10/16/2009

We use correct terminology, no point them laughing their heads off at the correct wording for their genitals later on. They should be perfectly comfortable with their own bodies in my opinion including the words for them.

Vanessa - posted on 10/15/2009

My husband and I are both in the medical field so proper names don't bother me. When I talk to my 2 y/o daughter I call her Vagina her Gina (for short) and her butt her butt, she knows where her "boobies" are. To me I don't see anything wrong with calling it what it is. Not sure how my parent- in laws feel about it tho ( they are pastors.... lol)

Megan - posted on 10/15/2009

Quoting Lisa:

I had two boys on my own and I never had a problem telling them they have a penis and a butt. and yes they pee and poop in the toilet. They asked if I had a penis and I said no. Girls don't have them. I didn't elaborate on what I do have until recently (they are now 7 and 8).
I recently told them that I have my baby through what is called the birthing canal or vagina and it is located between my legs. I said this in the dr's office for my u/s. good timing huh? lol

my new husband and father to my two year old worked in the medical field but is more of a prude than I am, and doesn't want our daughter to know vagina. so we call her vulva her "crotch" and her butt her butt. Though my husband refers to it as a bum, and pooh, not poop.
but I thought calling a body part "pee pee" and then going "pee pee" in the toilet was too confusing, which is why we don't use that name.

I have a book called "Human Sexuality" that I got from my psych sex class and I thought it was awesome. I have kept it and I have already shown my boys the pictures of grown up mens' penises because they asked me what they would look like grown up....and I plan on using that book more as they get older--here is your body and this is what it does. Here is a girl, here's what STD's are....I don't know but I'm guessing i'm pretty open compared to a lot of people.

I think you are absolutely on the right track to raising children who are well equipped with knowledge and will probably be just as open in talking with you about their development and temptations as they get older as you are with talking to them.  You're setting up healthy lines of communication!

Megan - posted on 10/15/2009

Quoting Ebony:

I see your delima my 3yr old calls them by their proper names but he also knows that a guy has an outty peepee and a girl has an inny peepee so he calls them an outty and an inny. lol

We don't give cuttie nick names to our nose or arms, and we shouldn't to any other body part.  I agree with many here that most parents use nick names because they themselves are uncomfortable with the proper names.  Its fine to teach your children they have parts of themselves that are private - like their vagina or penis.  Using proper names now will only make the 'hard' discussions later a little less uncomfortable.

But - the inny and outty concepts is just too cute!  And, technically, physically correct, lol!  I think this could be a very age-appropriate definition for what a penis or vagina is if a child should ask.....

Amanda - posted on 10/15/2009

Quoting Tori: 

What do you all call your private parts to your toddler?

My two year old son likes to ask if everyone has a weiner and it is so funny because it is all the time I guess it is his age plus we are potty training. Well one night he asked me if I had one and I told him no I have a vagina, I would much rather have him call the private parts the proper names instead of private, weiner and all those cute names they have for them, but I am also in the medical field so it does not bother me to call them their proper names. I was just wondering if anyone else calls them by their proper names?

Hey Tori-

I have a three year old little girl who has alot of questions all the time and this has come up a time or two. for boys we say who haus and for girls are monkeys. dont know why just heard it from some one else. hope it helps

Rhiannon - posted on 10/15/2009

i believe it is best to use the correct words as it will reduce awkwardness on the childs behalf when they grow a little older and they wish to discuss issues they have or even just questions about their bodies. It wont have the silliness attached to it, it is empowering to know about your body and being educated is a good start even if begins with using the right words from the start.

Stephanie - posted on 10/15/2009

We do the same as well I think it's the best thing to do they are called what they and we never where ones to baby talk to our son so why start now !

Roberta - posted on 10/15/2009

We simply call our private parts "pee pee" and "bum". She knows daddy has a pee pee, it just looks different, and so does mommy's. She's taken baths or showers with us, and we name our bodyparts, so she understands we all have arms and toes and elbows etc... and pee pee's are just another body part!

Bridget - posted on 10/15/2009

I taught my daughter "Who Who" & "Ding Ding".

Dawn - posted on 10/15/2009

Quoting Kimisha:

I think it's important to use their proper names and to make your child feel comfortable with using those words as well. There's nothing wrong with the word penis nor with the word vagina. Why it sticks to the roof of everybody's mouth is beyond me. And I also think it's important for their safety. God forbid someone hurts them. How confusing would it be for someone trying to get the story when the child is saying things such as "He touched my 'cookie' " or "She asked to look at 'frankie' ". So I just encourage you to encourage your child or children to be proud and most importantly, comfortable, with their bodies.

I work with a nurse that does rape/ molestation cases. She sited this exact reason to teach the proper name. A guy got off because the little girl was taught to call her vagina "cupcake", so when she said he touched her "cupcake"- the jury couldn't find the guy guilty. Even when the family knew he was. Why take the risk. No one wants to think anything would happen to their child- but taking a look at the sexual preditor list will remind you that it does happen. A lot.

Any why confuse the child. They have to learn it eventually- why learn it as 2 different things?

Elaine - posted on 10/15/2009

I believe children should be taught the proper terminology for their private parts! My son has always been taught that he has a penis and daddy has a penis and mommy has a vagina. I find that if you remove the little "nick names" from something that is normal and natural it removes the feeling that what they have is wrong.

I was raised with nick names for the privates and always laughed and felt embaressed to call my vagina a vagina and a penis a penis.

Also when I was in ECE in college we were told that children should learn and use the proper names so in the future if one of them happened to be sexually abused they could use and properly explain in a court of law what happened to them.

Christie - posted on 10/15/2009

Our son is very familiar with his penis... our girls know their parts as "gina" or "cooter"... There is more to her private area than just the vagina, so I didn't want her necessarily referring to her privates as that... When "it" hurts or itches, it isn't the vagina that is the problem!

MAYTE - posted on 10/15/2009

OK I HAVE 3 BOYS AND THE 2 OLDEST KNOW THE PROPER NAME FOR THEM BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE CUTE NAMES...IN SPANISH WE CALL IT GURUMINA ITS A LITTLE BIRD...I HAD TO TEACH MY OLDEST SON WHO IS 6 BECASUE WHEN HE WAS 2 HE SAW THAT MY SIS IN LAW WAS BATHING MY NIECE AND HE WAS SO SURPRISED THAT SHE DIDNT HAVE WHAT HE HAD SO THATS WHEN I DECIDED TO EXPLAIN...BUT YEAH THEY SHOULD KNOW THE PROPER WORD AND THE CUTE WORD AND SPECIALY TELL THEM THAT NO ONE IS SOUPOSE TO TUCH THEM THERE NO MATTER HOW LITTLE THEY ARE

Jacqueline - posted on 10/15/2009

We haven't introduced the proper names to things because she is an only child. We do answer her with the appropriate name to things when she asks. But we also constantly remind her that Society isn't open to hearing those particular names. So in public we call the areas privates and at home use the proper names that way she knows what is appropriate.

Linda - posted on 10/15/2009

i gues useing the proper names is okay but here at home we have girls and we say whoo whoo but when my boys where younger we called the penis pepe so to each there own there is no right or wrong just ideas

Jade - posted on 10/15/2009

We use the proper names for everything. My daughter is two and a half and since she started potty training she loves to go around telling people that they are girls with a vagina or boys with a penis lol. It doesnt usually offend most people especially if they have kids of their own. They all just laugh and say shes right. lol

A.J. - posted on 10/15/2009

Yes, we say penis and vagina. I think it is important to use the proper names. They shouldn't be ashamed of their little bodies. And parents don't need to be embarrassed to use the real words. Although, it is fun to use words like tushie :) Buttocks is just a strange word, don't you think? :)

Lisa - posted on 10/15/2009

I had two boys on my own and I never had a problem telling them they have a penis and a butt. and yes they pee and poop in the toilet. They asked if I had a penis and I said no. Girls don't have them. I didn't elaborate on what I do have until recently (they are now 7 and 8).
I recently told them that I have my baby through what is called the birthing canal or vagina and it is located between my legs. I said this in the dr's office for my u/s. good timing huh? lol

my new husband and father to my two year old worked in the medical field but is more of a prude than I am, and doesn't want our daughter to know vagina. so we call her vulva her "crotch" and her butt her butt. Though my husband refers to it as a bum, and pooh, not poop.
but I thought calling a body part "pee pee" and then going "pee pee" in the toilet was too confusing, which is why we don't use that name.

I have a book called "Human Sexuality" that I got from my psych sex class and I thought it was awesome. I have kept it and I have already shown my boys the pictures of grown up mens' penises because they asked me what they would look like grown up....and I plan on using that book more as they get older--here is your body and this is what it does. Here is a girl, here's what STD's are....I don't know but I'm guessing i'm pretty open compared to a lot of people.

Sharon - posted on 10/15/2009

My 21 month old daughter can't say vagina - when she gets older, that's what we'll call it but for now we call them her butt and her po-po. Things she can say that differentiate between the two. For my 6 yr & 12 yr old sons, we say penis. And for my 10 yr old daughter, we use the proper names for all the different parts.

Ebony - posted on 10/15/2009

I see your delima my 3yr old calls them by their proper names but he also knows that a guy has an outty peepee and a girl has an inny peepee so he calls them an outty and an inny. lol

Jennifer - posted on 10/15/2009

I once taught a 16 year old boy who did not know where his penis is. I'm sure that influenced my decision, but yes, I teach my son the proper name. He's 19 months old, and he doesn't run around saying it in public.

Bianca - posted on 10/15/2009

I've heard that you should refer to those parts by their actual name and not make up cutesy words for them but I just can't. My daughter is 3 years old and we call her vagina her 'private'. She does use the term but, booty, and boobs (which I don't like) but oh well. That's just the terms we use in my home. I'd feel too weird having her call her private a vagina.

Kristine - posted on 10/15/2009

At my house we do proper names, but be sure to tell them not to talk about it outside to house though. We started telling my 2 1/2 yr old( now 3yrs) the proper names for her private parts well one day we were in the store, shopping for toilet paper when my daughter thought it would be funny to run screaming VAGINA though the whole store with me trying to carry the TP. It was the most embrassing moment in my life, but that day we sat down and I told her that word is for the house NOT for the public.

Christine - posted on 10/15/2009

I call my sons private part his" goodness"
My daughters private parts I call her "poo-poo" I have older children and they find out what they are eventually.
I think its a goodthing calling them by there proper names. Every child is different

Julie - posted on 10/15/2009

I heard a story where a young girl was being molested by her Uncle. She went to her principle and told him about her Uncle touching her "cookie" which is the name that her parents had told her for her vagina. The principle told her it was okay to share sometimes, so it wasn't discovered until much later. I don't know if that story is true or not, but based on that I tell my daughter what the proper names of hers, mine and her daddy's privates are. I would hate for someone to being taking advantage of her and for her to go seek help but be misunderstood.