Body vocabulary

Body vocabulary: what are the options?

Parents usually land on one of these 3 approaches.

1. 1. Anatomical names from the start

   You use the correct names for body parts, including genitals, from the beginning.

2. 2. Family nicknames

   You use your family's own pet names.

3. 3. Avoidance

   You avoid naming or discussing those parts.

Body vocabulary: what does the evidence say?

Well established. Guidance and evidence agree. The real question is whether you'll follow it. (Settled in guidance)

AAP advises proper names for all body parts

Sources

• Contemporary Pediatrics

What else is worth knowing?

Using correct names for body parts is recommended by child-safety experts, because it helps children talk clearly about their bodies. Some families prefer pet names from habit or comfort. It also affects how later talks about bodies go.

Questions to ask each other

• What words did our families use, and how did that feel?
• Do we want to use the correct names, and why or why not?
• How will we explain private parts and body safety?

More in Health, body and toileting

• Childhood and teen vaccines (annual flu and COVID, HPV timing)
• Medication philosophy for common illness
• Complementary and alternative medicine
• Fluoride
• Dental care and thumb or pacifier weaning
• Toilet-training approach
• Toilet-training motivation and setbacks
• Night dryness and bedwetting
• Affection and consent
• Nudity and privacy at home
• Puberty talks
• Hygiene autonomy
• Sun exposure
• Elective procedures (orthodontic, cosmetic, ear piercing)