Friday, January 20, 2006

You know, down there

Just curious--what have all you parents out there taught your little ones to call their private little parts? I have a friend who has taught her daughter to call it her D.T., for "down there." I had my 7-1/2 year old call it her 'gina based on the advice of a midwife friend of mine. I thought it was a good name--not too cute, not too difficult, and not too far off the mark either. Anyone else out there got any winners? I'd be very curious about boys, too, since I may end up having one next. Just chime right in, everyone!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did Dawn's post get you thinking about this? Me too... I am uneasy referring to the girls' parts by their proper names (they are more complex than boys' parts anyway). Right now we just call it "the front of your butt." Totally not inspiring or accurate. I guess it works for me because we're usually referring to that area with respect to bodily functions (i.e., urination).

VenturaMom from said...

My 2.5yo daughter calls it her "bottom" for now. So if she says her bottom hurts, I ask "The front of your bottom or the back?" We have used proper terminology with her before but she just seems to use bottom. I like the 'gina name. I just don't want her to ever be embarrassed by the words vagina or penis. Maybe next year…

Sugarmama said...

As a matter of fact, Nancy, that's exactly what made me start thinking about it. I don't know if you saw the comment I made on Dawn's post, but my older daughter hasn't asked any questions since her first question about where babies come from at age 4. This morning, I was considering bringing it up again myself. She and her friends are definitely at the age where they're beginning to talk about that sort of stuff, and I'd rather she hear the facts from me rather than some crazy speculation from kids her age. I just need to figure out if now is really the time and if I have the nerve...!

Dani said...

Well, for our son, we just use the standard term.

As for my daughter, we alternate between between the standard term and "honey pot." It was a term I learned from a gay film and have used it since.

As for the backside, we always refer to it as "bootie." Why? 'Cuz it just sounds funny to hear a toddler talk about their bootie.

Anonymous said...

I have tried to tell my daughter that it is called her vagina, just so she is aware of the term... but she is so not into it. Unfortunately, my mother in law started early calling it her (get ready for this) "coo" and it has stuck. Add another reason why my MIL drives me totally insane. I am going to try to transition to 'gina! Can you imagine, coo?

cubmommy said...

We use the word penis but my son calls it his pee pee. I guess because pee pee comes out of it.

He has asked me about my breast because I did breastfeed. I used the term breast.

I don't want the boys to be ashamed about themselves and these are the terms used in health class.

Erin said...

We have had it kind of difficult because my daughter has chronic with holding issues. So once every three months, a GI Doc has to put his fingers where they should not go (butt).

So, I had 'the talk' with my daughter early, to differentiate between the doctor feeling her to check for 'boo boos' and other people touching her inappropriately.

So, she has a 'pee pee hole', a special hole that only girls have, and a hole in her bottom. She is also aware that her little brother and daddy have penises.

As far as breasts go, we refer to them as boobies, which was easiest for her when her brother was born and I began nursing him. However, she does know that they are also called breasts.

I try to be as honest as possible and although it can be a little uncomfortable, tell her the proper terms. Another thing, she know that most babies come out of their mommy's 'special holes', but that she and her brother came out of my tummy instead (via c-section).

Hope that helps!!

Mama D said...

Of course since Audrey is only 4 months she doesn't have any words for her body yet. I agree with queen beth though and I plan to call her body parts by their proper names. Of course I don't see a problem with 'gina either because that seems a sensible, more simple version of the real thing. I will try to be a cool cucumber when dealing with these issues in the future.

Mama D said...

Of course since Audrey is only 4 months she doesn't have any words for her body yet. I agree with queen beth though and I plan to call her body parts by their proper names. Of course I don't see a problem with 'gina either because that seems a sensible, more simple version of the real thing. I will try to be a cool cucumber when dealing with these issues in the future.

MQ said...

My husband and I introduced the medical terms as soon as our son asked. When I had my second, he was asking a lot more questions of course. I danced around the "where do babies come from" and "how do they come out" by asking him what he thought and telling him the doctor took it out, but just last month he straight up asked me how they get in the tummy - and I straight up told him. He thought it was weird, but then just moved on to another subject. (He's seven btw.) I don't want him to be embarrassed or give the wrong name to something so we tell the truth, but we first always asks what he thinks. Sometimes the conversation just ends there.

Dawn said...

I'm a little slow on the uptake here...

We call Emily's Labia, her Labia. Because it isn't a vagina - that's the internal part. We call her bum, a bum. Cause it makes me giggle.

For a boy - Always Penis.

Maybe it's my hardcore ECE training, plus my mom was a nurse, so we had no nicknames for anything.

Anonymous said...

If i ever have a child i will absolutly right from the start call all body parts by their actual name. Just get that out of the way. No shame. There's always time later for funny names and shame as well (hopefully not)
When i was a teenager, my friends and i would create our own fun names....that is best i think. leave the creativity to them. I don't want to provide any more cofusion or unessasary embarrasment out there for them.
I would totally be the kid who makes fun of the kid who talks about their coo!
I had a boyfriend in high school who like to call my vagina yoni.
It's japanese. I thought that was pretty.