Potty Words

Since I’m on my second round of potty training and have spoken with many moms who are potty training or have potty trained I noticed we all have different “potty” words. You know you’re in potty training mode when you find yourself asking adults if they need to use the potty or announcing that you, yourself, need to use the potty.Each family also has certain words to they use for “poop” and “pee”. Or, excuse me, if you’re more proper “bowel movements” and “urine”.

We’re not very  proper in this house. We just plain pee and poop.

Having been in the childcare field before I was a mom, I’ve heard a plethora of different potty language.

Do you poo? poop? poo poo? Make a stinky?  Or just plain have a BM?

Does your child tinkle? Pee? Pee Pee? Urinate? Or, a favorite of my mother in law’s, go pishkies?

Let’s not forget the other thing we do (not always in the bathroom!) that tends to be a favorite topic of young children. And grown men.

Passing gas.

Or as Madelyn says, giggling, “Pass the gas”. I hate the topic of breaking wind. Although I’m writing about it, I find it disgusting. I don’t think it’s funny. Or cute. Each household has different terminology for that gross, but necessary, bodily function.

Pass gas, fart, foat, toot, poot OR, the new one I’ve had the un-pleasure of learning recently- float an air biscuit. And if you’re in New England, which I am, you don’t fart you “faht”. Which sounds even more hideous, in my opinion. In our house we generally try to just pass gas. If I had to pick another one I’d go with “toot”. It has a less offensive ring to it than the word “fart” which hurts my ears anytime anyone says it.

And when you’re changing those cute little posteriors? Do you call them Behinds? Butts?  Bottoms? Rear ends? Fanny’s? Tushies? Or, yet another favorite term my mother in law has introduced me to, little biscuits?

Don’t get me started on what to call anatomy parts that differentiate boys and girls. That’s a whole ‘nuther can of worms. Do you call their parts by their actual names or do you make up cutesy terms? I’m for calling them by their actual names although I’ve yet to actually do that. I can’t seem to get the words to roll out of my mouth quite naturally just yet. But I”m sure when the time comes that I absolutely  have to, I will.

What potty words to you use in your house? Do share!!

But, keep in clean.

Please.

Comments

  • Laurie
    Okay this is too funny, reading all the comments has put a smile on my face. We always use the words pee and poop. For body parts we usually use the correct term but also use, bum bum, girl parts and va-jay-jay. :0) it is great how everyone has different words and so fun. For passing gas we also use the word fart and of course both of my kids do this a lot. Luckily in public they are too shy to say the word, which I am very thankful. :0)
  • mom
    How funny! Yes, I do still use the word "job". I like it and I'll probably always use it with my grandkids even though their parents will probably teach them something else. I also use the word "poop" when I'm talking about little babies.
  • While Brooklyn doesn't yet say the words herself yet, I plan on using just regular old "pee pee" and we always talk about "poopy" diapers so we'll probably just stick to poop. lol. Sounds funny saying that. As far as "passing gas" - you know my favorite word - FART! lol. I'll probably try to teach her a more discreet way to talk about it in public though, I do think it would be kind of embarrassing if my 4 year old went around saying " I just farted mommy!" lol. She would definitely be her mommy's daughter! As for the private parts...I have no idea. I've heard many interesting words used for those but usually the creative ones are for the little boys. I've never heard anything "cute" for girls. lol. Probably just go with "down there" haha.

    I do find it humorous that Lydia also grew up using the word "job". Mom still uses it when talking about Brooklyn's BMs. It's not my favorite just because it seems a little too "proper" for what we are discussing. lol. "I'm doing my job" like you get paid for it or something.

    Great post! Funny reading everyone else's replies!
  • SimplyMel
    Heather,the toddler is such a cutie! I like "toot" too ;o)

    Trish, I completely forgot the word "bum bum" b/c that's what we call it too! lol

    Jessica, thank you so much! We're around a lot of relaxed people and most of our friends have children so we don't worry too much about what they say at this point as long as it's not *about* somebody or their appearance. That can get embarrassing...lol

    Shelley, yes, I've heard all of those terms too. I still prefer the correct body names. I don't think there's anything to be ashamed of! for Pete's sake, it's what they're called! lol
  • Shelley
    We also say "Cut the cheese" when they pass gas.
  • Shelley
    For the boys' parts we also call it "water hose". I've also heard it called "noodle".
  • This is so funny. I'm laughing my head off about at all the comments. My husband and I grew up with two different approaches (mine conservative and proper, his relaxed) and I think we tend to the relaxed side ourselves though I'm trying to be careful since the kids are around my family alot. Lol. We say potty, pee, and poo. It's rear end or hiney (my husband sometimes says butt although I can't quite get comfortable with that=) and we "pass gas". Up til now we just say "privates" but I'm sure they will get called by their proper names when the time comes. Mel, you are so refreshing and honest and original. i love reading your blog!
  • Trish
    Lainey and Keith say potty and poopy. Our rears are "bum bums" As far as privates. Keith calls his a wee wee and Lainey calls hers "this part of my bum" I've told her the correct words but she thinks they sound funny (she's almost 6)
    I gave up on potty training with Lainey. I did everything by the book and she didn't train til 3&1/2 when I finally left her alone about it. Keith trained himself. All I did was put him on the potty when he asked. I never made a big deal about it. No prizes. I just told him no more diapers and pull ups when he turned 3. After he turned 3 I put him in underwear and he's never had an accedient since.
  • And while I was reading about all the words for passing gas, the toddler did so! ROFL

    We are not shy in discussing bodily functions in this house. It'll be fun teaching the toddler not to discuss such matters in public.

    Anyway. We say "toot" for passing gas. It's a *little* more lady-like for the little one. And pee or pee-pee. and poop.

    And there, she tooted again. What a kid.
  • Christina
    LOL, this is hysterical. Even though we don't have kids, having a poor hubby that suffers from intestinal disorders, we're pretty immune to the various descriptions. I prefer "spoof" or "break wind" for gaseous emissions. :)
  • In our house we usually say pee or potty and poop. Keith always says fart and I try to say pass gas because I know some people would be offended to hear a 4 year old say fart. haha When I was growing up, my parents always called poop "job". I seriously thought people called poop that for the longest time. My mom said she didn't want us kids hollaring "I need to poop!" in public when we were little, so she started calling it job. I haven't ever called it that to my kids though. I think both parents would have to use the same term if you want your child to use it and I can't see Keith doing that. lol As for privates, we haven't called them anything yet, but I plan on calling them by their real names whenever that point comes up.
  • SimplyMel
    Haha! I had forgotten but we grew up calling poop 'job' too! That must have come from grandma. In fact, every time we saw the book of Job in the Bible we would giggle b/c we associated that w/ going to the bathroom. I've never heard anyone else use the word 'job' either.
  • Shelley
    When I was potty training my boys we always said potty for (pee) and stinky for (poop) still do. For parts my boys will say "your private". Sometimes, which I don't like, I have heard " Nuts" for boys.
    When I was growing up we always said "Number 1 and number 2. Sometimes we said "Dee" for poop. Not my favorite to say that.
  • SimplyMel
    Dee?? Very interesting Shelly! I'm loving these comments.
  • Alicia M
    We say pee and poop here, but as a child care provider, I find myself feeling too sheepish to say that to the parents when giving a report on their child. So usually on the daily note that I sent home, I end up saying the baby had a "messy" diaper or that the child had a BM(pee doesn't seem to bother me as much) The word we use for "pass the gas" (So cute Madelyn) is "froggy". I think it came from my mother-in-law and it is a regularly used word at our house, especially since Landon came along. I don't think much of it until I say it to someone else, then I crack up. Like I will say "Landon, did you froggy?" (I very seldom have to ask that; he loves to announce it..) I'm not a big fan of talking about it either; in fact, I've already told Kayla and Jenna when they move out, they are taking me with them so I'm not stuck in "manland".
    I'm not real opiniated on what to call private parts. But I do have a friend who used to ask her girls after a bath if they remembered to wash "Mr. Nasty". That would make me so mad!! It's neither a "Mr." or "Nasty"!! So wow, I guess I am kind of opiniated!
  • SimplyMel
    That is so funny that you call passing gassy froggy! I'd never heard of that. Very unique. And Mr. Nasty?? That is hysterical but I agree with your take on it. It isn't a Mr or nasty!
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