S/O What do you call "girl parts"?

[womenswisdom]

My dd turned 2 in Dec. and we have been referring to all of her under-the-diaper area as her "bottom" or "butt" but I'm thinking we're going to need more specific terminology soon. With my son, we use penis but with girls, vagina is not really technically correct for the outer genitalia and for some reason vulva and labia aren't really comfortable (though neither was penis when I started!). What do you call the external "girl parts"?

[sapphire_chan]

Vulva, because it is.

Although, I do call her clitoris her "nubby bit" as in "ah, you're playing with your nubby bit, that's called a clitoris, you can play with that in private."

[Ellien C]

vagina, labia, clitoris, and "yoni" which I got from MDC. For some reason we never used vulva.

As a point, there is no single name encompassing penis, testicles and scrotum so I don't think there needs to be one for a girl. But for us, yoni covered it.

[GoBecGo]

vulva, vagina, clitoris (as of yesterday when she asked about her "little penis not growed out yet"), anus. I had forgotten about yoni, THANKyou for reminding me!

[Mama Mko]

Vulva. We don't have any girls yet though.

[*bejeweled*]

Vagina.

[Xerxella]

Pee-pee

For both boys and girls. For boys the pee-pee is on the outside, for girls the pee-pee is on the inside. The anus is "the little hole where the poo-poo comes out."

So far the private parts have only been used for tolieting and their sexual function hasn't come up.

[Llyra]

I told DD1 all the technically correct names of all her parts when she was about 3, and she's asked me to repeat them for her dozens of times. She's five now. Up until then, we talked about her "girl bits" or her "girl parts." If we're dealing with urination, we also say, "pee-pee place" sometimes. Even now at five, she knows all the correct names-- labia, clitoris, vagina, etc.-- but for common everyday situations she still says "girl bits," or just "bits."

DD2 is just turned three, and seems uninterested. She says "bits" too, and when the moment seems ripe I'll start telling her all the correct names.

DS calls his genitals his "pee-pee" although I have told him the correct names a few times. He also sometimes mentions his "boy bits."

[tabrizia]

Vulva is what we use. DD just started exploring hers.

[Ruthie's momma]

We use vulva, vagina, clitoris, anus and bottom around here. DD knows that Daddy has a penis.

[runnerbrit]

vulva.

[broodymama]

We use vulva here too. I wasn't exactly comfortable with it in the beginning, probably because I never even heard the term until I was in college! The kids are all comfortable with the anatomically correct terms, though. DD1 just came up and said "mommy, the chicken pox on my legs and on my vulva aren't itchy anymore!".

[fireweed]

Vulva, because that's what the outer genitalia is. I've never understood using 'cutesy' names for genitalia- i think it's kind of backwards and repressed.

[mntnmom]

We've always called it "vulva" with DD(6). As she got older we've gotten a little more detailed with different bits. It took me a little bit to get comfortable saying it, I grew up with "down there".

[Thalia]

Vulva. Because it's correct. But we just say "bum" for her butt and haven't really talked about her anus specifically.

At times we have talked about the fact that pee-pee comes out of your urethra, which is in your vulva. So far she has not been interested in talking about her vagina or clitoris.

[philomom]

The part you may see if you are changing clothes or diapers is the vulva or labia.. so we've always used those words.

No one sees your vagina except your midwife or your lover.. its hidden from view most of the time.

[sarahn4639]

vulva, the vagina is inside the body

[Starflower]

We use the scientific names for everything. Vulva for general area with vagina, urethra, labia, clitoris and anus. DD also knows the terms for male parts.

Our DD has always been very interesting in all things science and biology. Sometimes we do refer to "bum" or "butt" for the part she sits on, but we found that she was trying to use those terms for her vulva and we wanted to be sure she knew the difference. We want her to know what everything is so she can describe things if she has a problem with anything (or anyone trying to touch her).

We have a great book called "It's So Amazing" by Robie Harris. It's for 7 and up, but we got it for DD when she was 5 because she already knew a lot of the basic info. The author also has another book for younger kids called "It's Not the Stork."

We also have books about good touch/bad touch/secret touch. We like "It's My Body" and "A Very Touching Book."

Edited to add: Thalia makes a good point about being specific to the interest of the child. We let DD lead us with what info she wants. For instance, I didn't bring up clitoris with her, but it was mentioned in one of the books (she reads on her own now) and she asked me about it. So I gave her the information in an age appropriate manner.

I just noticed that the OP's child is still very young. I would keep things simple, but use anatomical terms. "It's My Body" might be a good book to start with.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

We call it her ladyhood.

When she's older and is interested in what exactly is down there, I will have no problem telling her the actual names of things. I just don't see the need right now. I call her toes, piggies, but don't think that will lead to any long-term confusion.

[AnnieNimIty]

Originally Posted by fireweed

Vulva, because that's what the outer genitalia is. I've never understood using 'cutesy' names for genitalia- i think it's kind of backwards and repressed.

I agree.

Originally Posted by Starflower

We use the scientific names for everything. Vulva for general area with vagina, urethra, labia, clitoris and anus. DD also knows the terms for male parts.

Our DD has always been very interesting in all things science and biology. Sometimes we do refer to "bum" or "butt" for the part she sits on, but we found that she was trying to use those terms for her vulva and we wanted to be sure she knew the difference. We want her to know what everything is so she can describe things if she has a problem with anything (or anyone trying to touch her).

We have a great book called "It's So Amazing" by Robie Harris. It's for 7 and up, but we got it for DD when she was 5 because she already knew a lot of the basic info. The author also has another book for younger kids called "It's Not the Stork."

We also have books about good touch/bad touch/secret touch. We like "It's My Body" and "A Very Touching Book."

Edited to add: Thalia makes a good point about being specific to the interest of the child. We let DD lead us with what info she wants. For instance, I didn't bring up clitoris with her, but it was mentioned in one of the books (she reads on her own now) and she asked me about it. So I gave her the information in an age appropriate manner.

I just noticed that the OP's child is still very young. I would keep things simple, but use anatomical terms. "It's My Body" might be a good book to start with.

I was going to say something very similar.

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

We call it her ladyhood.

When she's older and is interested in what exactly is down there, I will have no problem telling her the actual names of things. I just don't see the need right now. I call her toes, piggies, but don't think that will lead to any long-term confusion.

Ultimately the point isn't about confusion, but giving your child the ability to communicate accurately about their body, whether for instances of abuse or health.
They can't tell you what the problem is if they don't have the words.