How to Talk About Nappies in English

Don’t forget to download the printable poster pdf at the bottom of this post. You can stick it in your home where you change your child’s nappy and use it to prompt you to teach this vocabulary to your child while you are changing them.

Babies and toddlers who have not been potty-trained use nappies. After nappies, they use potties and then the toilet with a toilet seat usually.

Nappies are called diapers in American English. Bottoms can be called ‘bums’ (informal) in British English or sometimes tushies (informal) in American English.

If a child has done a ‘number 1’ we call it a wee or a wee wee in British English (pee pee in American English). If they do a ‘number 2’ we call it a poo in British English (poop in American English). The verbs are: to wee and to poo.

We use baby wipes to wipe our children’s bottoms. Some people use nappy cream (diaper cream in American English) to avoid nappy rash.

Nappies can leak. They come in different sizes. After nappies, your child may switch to nappy pants (also called pull ups). The place where we change nappies is called a changing mat. There are disposable nappies and reusable nappies.

Here are some examples of sentences you can say to your child:

“Do you need a wee/poo?” (noun)

“Do you need to wee/poo?” (verb)

“Have you done a poo?”

“Let’s change your nappy.”

“Your nappy has leaked.”

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Good luck with your English!

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