This is a summary of the responses given by English native speakers
concerning family vocabulary (Anders, Maggie, Aaliyah, Daniel, Stephen,
Kelly, Victoria, Dianna, and Felicia) [and compiled by Luz Helena
Hernandez A., 8/99].  The vocabulary refers mainly to babies and 
toddlers on the following topics:

-  Tips on where to find some vocabulary
-  Affectionate names
-  Urine
-  Bowel movements
-  Going to the bathroom
-  Private parts
-  Baby girl's hair
-  Bottle
-  Type of shoes
-  Mucus (? slimy things from the nose)
-  Pacifiers
-  Parts of the body
-  Underwear

FAMILY JARGON IN ENGLISH
Affectionate words moms/dads use or create to talk to their children

TIPS:  WHERE TO FIND SOME VOCABULARY

* What I find very helpful is an American mailing lists for mothers of
children of about the same age as our son. There's so much talking
(writing) going on and I've learned a lot through this community (plus
it's great fun).   They are very helpful and supportive and I can ask
any question as to certain vocabulary.   I joined two baby mailing lists
and found them both at onelist.com.  (Sabine, Germany)
* Visits sites like babycenter.com ,  family.com,  and parentsplace.com
(Luz Helena)

ADVICE & REMARKS
* All of these words are different depending on the family and the AREA
of the USA you live in. Especially considering many families are
originally from some where else (i.e., Italy, Ireland, Jamaica) many
terms and colloquialisms have remained the same or have been slightly
modified and passed down. (Aaliyah)
* I would encourage you to use what ever is most honest to your heart
for affectionate terms and use strict English vocabulary for formal
things. I don't think there exists a standard for toddler talk. 
(Aaliyah)

A. Affectionate names
This one is very hard because it is so personal between you and your
baby. Her/his personality will have a lot to do with the name you
choose.  See what falls from your mouth time and again even if it sounds
foreign, I think it will mean more than forcing something that seems odd
to you.  (Aaliyah)

Animal names:  Rabby for rabbit, lamb, cuddle-kitten

Food names: sweet, pea, sugar, muffin, dumpling, peach, sweetie pie,
pumpkin, honey, honey bunch, honey-pie, cupcake (not as common as
above), pudding (more British), sugar lump, cutsie-pie,

Made up sounds: boo, poppy, snugums

Short form of their name: rene' would be nay, tamika would be mika,
Talia could be te te,

Other: snuggles, fluffy, baby, princess, prince, Mr. Baby, sweetie,
darling, big boy, big girl, baby boy, baby girl

B. Urine

Nouns:  pee pee, wee wee, lulu, number 1, tinkle (some said this word is
common, others said it is outdated),

Verbs: 'to have a wee(-wee)', 'to tinkle', 'to have a tinkle', 'to pee',
'to have a pee', 'to have a slash' (which is maybe a bit rude in public
but perfectly o.k. at home)

Other: No. 1 and No. 2  (these are mostly used to distinguish between
whether the child needs to go pee pee or poo
poo)

Questions:  'Do you have to pee?',  'Do you have to make pee pee?',  'Do
you need to go number 1 or number 2?

C. Bowel movements

Nouns: poo-poo, number 2, poop, poopy, number 2, doodle, poops,

Verbs:  go________, make a _________, have a ________ (e.g. make a
poop). 'To have a poo-poo' (same construction as 'to have a wee-wee' -
then you stress the action more than the result).  To change the tense
add ed or ing (pooping, pooped).  'Poop' as a verb is common when
referring to babies -'he pooped in his diaper',

Questions: 'Do you need to go poo poo / make some poo poo?'

D. Use of the bathroom / general
'Do you have to go potty?', 'Do you need to go potty?', 'Do you have to
go potty?' (use the bathroom pee or poop), 'Do you need to go to the
bathroom?' (used for any age child or adult),

E. Genitalia / private parts
Girls:  fanny, cookie
Boys:
penis:  willy, todger
testicles:  balls

Expressions:  You have got a... fanny/ willy...

F. Baby girl's hair

Adornments
Barette(s):  the little "bar" like things that you clip in a little
girl's hair
Scrunchies: the things you use to pull back your hair in a pony tail
(it's pony tail when it's all behind and pig tails when there are 2, one
on each side)
Hair bobbles: these little cottony elastic things to make pig-tails.
Alice band: this rather big semi-circle to keep her fringe out of her
face is - at least in our family - called an 'Alice band,' probably due
to 'Alice in wonderland'! (Maggie)
Others:  clips, pins, bows, grips, ribbon, headband, elastic

Hairstyles: plaits, braids, pony tail, pigtail. In out household, we
also call a ponytail that sticks straight up from the top of the head "a
tower"

G. Bottle
Many people take their cue from the child. For instance when Miranda was
using one she would try to say bottle and it was more like bah bah so
that's what we called it about half the time and the other half we
called it a bottle to encourage her to speak. I've heard "buh buh"
"bobbly" "bahtee".  Any short baby sounding word could work. (Aaliyah)

When Dougie was having his bottle I rather referred to the contents -
I'd say "there's your tea, sweetie" or something like that.  (Maggie)

We call the powdered or pre-bought stuff that you give to babies rather
than milk simply "formula", but we're almost as likely to call it
"milk," esp. when talking to the baby himself/herself. (Stephen).

Other:  ba-ba (what babies usually say), bottle of milk,

Verbs:  drinking from a bottle.  If the baby is being breast-fed:  'to
nurse' or 'nursing'

Questions:  'Do you want your bottle?',  'Could you get the bottles
ready for the diaper bag?',  'Are
you ready for your milk?'

Expressions:  'He's drinking his milk', 'He's drinking his bottle', 
'I'm giving him his bottle",  'Has he had a bottle yet today?',   ' I'm
feeding the baby' (which could be milk from a bottle, nursing, or solid
foods).

The action for drinking milk from a bottle is sucking.  But, I'd just
say 'drink', or 'do you want to have some
more', something along these lines, never 'suck'!

H. Type of shoes
Booties / baby booties:  the little tiny shoes that kids wear before
they walk - they look like socks with long strings hanging from them. 
When they start to walk, and actually wear shoes meant for walking, you
can call them shoes or baby shoes. (Kelly, Stephen)

Sneakers:  tennis shoes

Slippers (American & British) / house shoes:  soft-animal-shaped shoes
they put on after getting out of bed / fuzzy house shoes with cloth
soles  / Pretty much anything soft that you only wear inside is
slippers.

Sandals  / mule:  used for both boys and girls, no distinction is made
between the two

Boots:  the rubber things for walking in the rain. 'Wellies' (that's
short for wellington boots - rain
boots! This is surely a very British word)

I. Mucus (? Slimy things from the nose)
Nouns:  snot (singular or plural), buger (pronounced booger), boogers. 
These are both kind of kid slang and wouldn't be said in front of other
adults - we would just say "you have dirt in your nose".

Expressions:  'My son/daughter has a "snotty" nose'.  'Please do not
wipe your "bugers" on the wall.'  'Don't pick your nose!',  'Don't do
that'

J. Pacifier
nuk, binky, fire, plug, passy, chuppa, chuppon, dummy (British)

K. Parts of the body
Buttocks:  Botty, one's behind, bottom, butt, bum
Naval:  belly buttons
Toes: tootsies

L. Underpants
knickers

English speakers who contributed to English vocabulary list part I:
* Anders.  
* Maggie in Berlin.
* Aaliyah. 
* Daniel Bacon.  
* Stephen Weatherford. 
* Kelly, American living in Germany. 
* Victoria Caplan.  
* Felicia in USA. 


From: "DIANNA INKSTER" (8/99)

Knickers in North America are known as  underpants or  panties 
or underwear or undies (Do you change your undies on Sundays?.  
a little joke.  Did you put on fresh undies for Sundays?) for 
girls, underwear for boys or underpants.


For some reason, "you have a snotty nose" is not as impolite as "Your nose
is full of snot".  Or maybe,a polite mother just says,"Go blow your nose,
please."  There is the expression when referring to a kid in his absence,
"That snotty-nosed brat!"  or you can talk of "snotty-nosed kids", but that
is when you are fed-up.




PART II
FAMILY TALK IN ENGLISH
Prepared by Luz Helena Hernandez

TIPS:  WHERE TO FIND VOCABULARY?

* I had the same problem of vocabulary when I was raising my children, but they attended a French language nursery school and elementary school so I listened to what native speakers said to their children. That helped a lot!  (Dianna)

I. Private parts
It is usually recommended by experts on sexuality that correct anatomical terms -such as a doctor (medical) would use- be used by parents at an early age (Dianna).

Boys: medical:  penis.  Parts of penis = glans, shaft, foreskin (if not circumcised), scrotum.  Jargon:  penis:  willy (willie), todger.  Testicles:  balls.  Males pick up male body parts from friends i.e. prick, cock , balls.

Girls:  medical: vagina , (clitoris is generally not mentioned), breasts.  Jargon:  fanny, cookie.  Children's friends use terms like boobs for breast, or boobies

Expressions:  You have got a... fanny/ willy...

J. Mucous ("slimy things" that come out when the child is picking his nose)
Nouns: The clinical word for it is snot (singular or plural). Other:  buger (pronounced booger), goobers (Canada).  A lot of kids will call it boogers.  These kind of kid slang and wouldn't be said in front of other adults - we would just say "you have dirt in your nose".  A doctor or polite, well-educated mother would say "mucous".  For some reason, "you have a snotty nose" is not as impolite as "Your nose is full of snot".  Or maybe,a polite mother just says: "Go blow your nose, please."

Expressions:  'My son/daughter has a "snotty" nose'.  'Please do not wipe your "bugers" on the wall.'  'Don't pick your nose!',  'Don't do that'. An insult to a child (or to a parent of a child) is to call him or her "a snot nosed brat".  There is the expression when referring to a kid in his absence, "That snotty-nosed brat!" or you can talk of "snotty-nosed kids", but that is when you are fed-up.  

K. Parts of the body
Stomach:  tum-tum, tummy, belly
Naval:  belly-button 
Buttocks:  botty, one's behind, bottom, butt, bum, rear-end, ass (this last one is vulgar, I wouldn't really
recommend teaching it, Victoria)
Toes: tootsies

L. Underwear
Knickers in North America are known as:
Girls:  underpants, panties, underwear, undies
Boys: underwear, underpants
Expressions:  Do you change your undies on Sundays?.  a little joke. Did you put on fresh undies for Sundays?

M. Socks
Socks with rubber patterns on the bottom: socks, or "the socks with rubber"

N. Tickling
What you say to the baby while you are tickling him/her:  coochy-coochy-coo.  I don't say any real words, just make inarticulate tickling noises like "Geee-geeee-geee" or "ooooaaayyy" (Victoria)

O. The child is naughty or funny
Expressions to use when the baby has done something naughty or funny 

Funny
Silly-billy!
If they've done something kind of funny and horrible like the time my 14 month old flooded the bathroom floor (my fault, I left the door open and him unsupervised for over 5 minutes) I usually say something like "Oh, no" or "Uh-oh". If I do something stupid like putting both of a child's leg into the same trouser-leg when getting them dressed, I'll say "Uh-oh, mom was so silly" (Victoria)

Naughty
Don't be stupid! Cut it out! Stop! Don't do that again!
When they've done something naughty (like grabbed a toy, hit their sibling, etc.), I say "No, you don't [hit/grab/bite/pull hair....]" (Victoria).

P. Exercising verbs
Difference between jump, skip, leap, and hop (while the child is exercising or playing games) 

JUMP
- A big leap with both feet side by side (broad jump).
- Jump is when 2 feet are up in the air at the same time.
Use:  A kid might jump up and down in place if they are impatient, or jump off of something (a couch, a chair, etc.) or jump into something (a swimming pool, a puddle).  Jump a fence (go over any obstacle without touching the obstacle. Jump the line, when you go in front of people.
Expressions:  Jump ahead a year; skip over a year of schooling.

HOP
- Probably a hop is a less powerful jump. Therefore, a little child does a bunny hop. An athlete in the Olympics does a broad jump (Dianna).
- A hop is a small jump or leap.
Bunny hop:  little hop that a toddler would make. Frogs hop (or they can jump).  Hop scotch:  it is a game girls play where they hop on one foot from one square to the next.  Another description of Hopscotch:  It is a game usually played by little girls where they draw a grid of boxes and throw a stone in it and hop from box to box, having to pick up the stone on the "return."   Expressions:  Hop along. If you have a sore leg or a crippled leg, you might hop along. 

LEAP
- A leap is an unexpected jump, I think.  The Great Leap Forward in Red China of the '60's. Play leap-frog:  a kid's game where you jump over your friend who is crouched down. Frogs leap when they take a long high hop or jump. "Leaping tall buildings at a single bound" = Superman (The guy in the red boots and blue tight fitting suit and cape with a big S on his front. Alias Clark Kent) (Dianna).
- When I think of leaping, I think it covers more ground than a jump (for example, leaping across a stream) and I would tend to use it more if you start off on a single foot.  But really, "leap" and "jump" are almost interchangeable (Victoria)
Expressions:  For daylight savings time, when we turn our clocks forward an hour, we leap ahead in spring and fall back in fall. 

SKIP
- Skipping along series of little jumps, rhythmical with one foot going after the other one.  Little girls do it (Dianna).
- A skip is more of a form of walking or dancing. You move briskly (as though walking) and give a little hop as you go.  However, sometimes kids will "skip rope" and other times they will "jump rope" and it is the same activity (Victoria).
Pebbles skip over the water, they bounce across the water.  Skip to my lou my darling! Little girls skip around a circle made up of little kids. 

Q. Eye secretion (The white things you find in the corners of your eyes when you wake up)
Sleep (British).
Expressions:  "You've got some sleep in your eyes",  "Stop wriggling, I want to get some sleep out of your eye"

R. Saliva
Spit (verb and noun), spittle (noun but "spit" is more common)
Expressions:  "Stop spitting this minute" , "I don't like having to wipe up spit" (not very frequently used as a noun)

S. Farts
Nouns:  fart, trump (it sounds a bit nicer than fart).
Expressions:  to break wind, to trump, to fart - to trump/fart/break wind loudly. To have a bad case of wind/the farts/the trumps.

Newborn's sounds:  cries, whimpers, produces cooing noises
6 months:  cries, gurgles, babbles

English speakers who helped with English vocabulary list II:
* Dianna K. Goneau Inkster, Kingston, Ontario. Canadian English.  
* Anders, living in Holland.  
* Victoria Caplan.  Tory in Hong Kong (but raised in the USA, Massachusetts). 
* Amanda, British living in Germany.