We use "chee chee"s for nipples and "weewee" for his pee pee. What words do you use to refer to your LO's private parts?
-
I call all girly parts (adult and baby) who-ha's. And we just say she has baby boobies.
-
i heard that you should use the real name for private parts so that it's less confusing for kids. it's often the discomfort of the parent in using words like penis and vagina. i admit that i'm guilty of it -- charlie calls it his pee pee!
-
@Mrsbee: I would also think it would be uncomfortable for other adults (teachers, daycare providers) to hear as well - the word vagina coming out of a little girls mouth would be uncomfortable (and a little funny) to hear. As they get older hopefully you can explain it's not polite to discuss these "parts" with others.
-
I think it's only uncomfortable because we as adults sexualize those words. We wouldn't feel uncomfortable hearing a little kid say "heart" or "lung" or "liver," right?
I plan on teaching our kids to say penis and vagina (I'm choosing vagina over vulva since that's what most adults call it), but letting them know that it's still a private area that we'll discuss at home. But if our LO gets all "Kindergarten Cop" and decides to inform adults that boys have a penis and girls have a vagina, I'm OK with that, too.
-
Interesting. I never thought about using the proper words for things to avoid confusion. I use "doggy" for "dog" and "kitty" for "kitten" and "boo boo" for "injury". Does that also cause confusion or is this strictly related to private parts only?
-
@habesbabe: I agree, I'm just saying the discomfort level is with all adults. I think it feels more innocent when it's given a "cutesy" name. When really, it is what it is. We haven't discussed what we will call the private areas - so not sure which route we will go.
-
Funny story... when i was working in a daycare, I had this 2.5 year old just blurt out of nowhere and say, "My daddy has a big penis!!" I just about died laughing. I never told her parents, lol.
On topic, I am planning on using the scientific terminology with my kids, but I used "chee-chees" and "who-ha" for my nieces the other day.
-
@abbydabbydoodlebug: How funny! I"m sure my husband would love for my LO to blurt that one out!
-
We call her private parts "Boej" and her boobs "Juts"
Hahaha. Shortened and somewhat americanized version of what it's called in Korean.
-
@abbydabbydoodlebug: puhahaha hilarious!
@banana: i think it's different with private parts than words like doggy because we're going to have to talk to them about inappropriate touching at a very early age, so i think it's best to use the real words. that's what i plan on doing even though i have been calling it "pee pee" so far!
-
@chopsuey119: HAHAHAHA! If we had a girl, we'd probably call her private parts "boej" and "juts" too. That's what my husband calls my parts. Of course he gets "jaj" for his private parts.
-
I've also heard that it is better to use the real names. I guess I will try that but I haven't said any of those words to her yet.
-
We'll be using real words, and teaching them that these are private parts and private words that we don't talk about in public.
-
@banana: HAHAAH! we call DH's parts "kkoch" and the "gohngs" lol
man. it'll be weird if we have a little boy! -
We haven't discussed what we'd use, but I think it's interesting to say that I child might become confused if you use a different name. For anyone who grew up calling it something else, were you ever confused? I personally don't remember being confused by it.
We grew up (and still use for current LOs in the family) calling the girl parts "peck peck" and the boy parts "birdie". I *think* they're Filipino slang for those parts since DH's family calls them that, too, but I'm not entirely sure.
-
@chopsuey119: OMG I totally laughed out loud at work at the "gohngs" part. So hilarious! We don't use the korean term for DH's gohngs. We just call them balls. Jaj and balls.
For some reason, I can't call my LO's juts as juts. Boy's ones feel more like "chee chee"s, no? lol
-
@joyjoy: I'm kind of confused, too. To gain some perspective, because obviously I'm clueless, what would make the kids confused about calling their private parts something other than the proper term?
-
I don't know about confusion, but I think it's always a good think to call things what they are. It makes things more straight-forward and less "cutesy". I had friends in college that still weren't comfortable referring to their body parts by proper anatomical names and that always made me nervous. I observed that those girls that were unable to talk about their bodies in adult terms were more likely to be engaging in unsafe behavior because they were uncomfortable talking about sexual matters to doctors, friends, or other trusted people. I don't want my child to feel his/her body is shrouded in mystery or shame. But to each their own.
-
I'm in trouble then cause I still call my vagina my vajayjay! lol
-
My mom always called them "privates/private parts." We were told other terms when we were old enough not to use those terms in public.
-
I've never thought about this topic! I do like Mrs. Bee's term pikachu tho!
-
Weiners/willy and hoo hoos. My kids will know the correct names but I prefer my names.
That's what I've always called them except when I have to teach Biology, yup I teach college biology and still call them weiners and hoo hoos (not in class).
I also call remote controls, doodles and toes, tootsies and about 100 other weird names for random objects. I don't think nicknames scar anyone.
-
@banana: HA! I'll say vagine, vajayjay and boej when I refer to mine.
and yeah. boys don't have juts.
although.. i call DH's chest juts sometimes. hA. he's got nice ones -
@banana & @joyjoy: I don't know about children being "confused," per se, but I have heard that it's especially important that children use the proper terminology in the event of abuse/inappropriate touching. There may be ambiguity if children try to explain to a teacher/authority figure that they are being touched somewhere inappropriate, but they're using "made up" words for it. I read on a different parenting forum that it can especially be an issue from a legal standpoint, although I've never heard of an actual court case that was held up by calling your vagina your pikachu or whatever.
-
When I taught a 3 year old preschool class, a little girl sat on my lap, pointed, and said "do you have a vagina like my mommy and me?" Hahaha It caught me so off guard!! Its just hard when they start saying it in front of other kids because some parents don't want their kids to be saying penis and vagina.
Hahaha. Shortened and somewhat americanized version of what it's called in Korean.
although.. i call DH's chest juts sometimes. hA. he's got nice ones Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
25 comments