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AIBU?

to think enforced nudity in a sauna is unnecessary?

43 replies

ikeaismylocal · 12/06/2014 17:32

I'm English but I live in Sweden, mostly I love living in Sweden but there are some rules that I think are very silly.

Me and my ds have started to go swimming every week, the sauna has big notices on the outside saying you must be naked in the sauna. The problem with being naked is that ds still breastfeeds so when he sees my boobs he claps and says "boobie!! Bravo!" and then he wants to feed, I'm trying to limit him to one evening feed. The other problem is that ds wears a swim nappy is also not allowed so he's naked, I worry what would happen if he does a poo.

You also must shower naked before going in the pool, I understand that rule as they don't put much chlorine in the water so they rely on people being clean but I don't see how it effects anyone else if another person has a swimming costume on in the sauna, you have to sit on your own towel anyway.

It is seen as extremely unhygienic to go in the sauna with a swimming costume on, I just don't understand why, you shower after the sauna and wash your swimming costume after visiting the pool.

Aibu to think it is a daft rule?

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Virgolia · 12/06/2014 17:35

I'm not sure why it's a rule to be honest.

But I don't think your baby shouting for boob should be a reason to wear clothes though, you can't let your children affect other people's choices

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HobNails · 12/06/2014 17:37

You would take your breast fed infant into the sauna?

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PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 12/06/2014 17:37

Why do you need to go in the sauna at all if you're there to go swimming? I would never consider taking a baby/toddler in one either.

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LaurieFairyCake · 12/06/2014 17:38

I thought you didn't take very young children into a sauna?

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LaurieFairyCake · 12/06/2014 17:38

It's too hot for them right ?

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NoArmaniNoPunani · 12/06/2014 17:40

You can't take a baby into a sauna

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piercedinkedscarred · 12/06/2014 17:41

Infants can't regulate their body temperature like adults can so I would be very wary of taking him into the sauna.

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AuntieStella · 12/06/2014 17:42

Very small children should not be in saunas (or not for more than a token couple of minutes - which is probably more faff than it's worth).

He'll probably be both out of nappies and established on evening feeds (or totally weaned off you) by the time he can spend long enough in there for you to work up a sweat.

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Frontier · 12/06/2014 17:44

I don't understand the rule either but i understand less why youwould have such a young child in the sauna

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ikeaismylocal · 12/06/2014 17:58

They have a special childrens sauna which is cooler than the adult sauna, it's lovely!

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Kundry · 12/06/2014 17:59

I'm guessing that if you were Swedish and had been brought up on this you would be totally fine with this.

Swedish babies presumably shout 'boobie' or the Swedish equivalent and do poos when they don't have a nappie on. So either Swedes don't take babies into the sauna or they aren't phased by baby behaviour in the way a non-Swede would be.

I've been to a Danish swimming pool and EVERYBODY was staring at me for not being happy wandering around nude. Clearly being clothed was far more shocking than being naked.

It's just another culture, there are lots of rules we think are vital for health which whole other countries ignore quite happily Smile

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ikeaismylocal · 12/06/2014 18:02

I guess I need to except all the rules even if they seem illogical to me. I haven't been in saunas in the UK but if I wouldn't even be able to take ds in the sauna I guess the nudity or lack of nudity would be irrelevant.

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expatinscotland · 12/06/2014 18:10

It's daft to you, but obviously not to everyone there.

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Fideliney · 12/06/2014 18:27
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paxtecum · 12/06/2014 18:29

I just wouldn't go into a sauna naked.
Just don't want to.

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Velve · 12/06/2014 18:43

See, I'm the opposite. I'm a Finn living in the UK and I hate having to wear my swimming costume in the sauna. I want to fly free, damn it!

So YANBU, I share your irritation, just in the opposite way.

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ikeaismylocal · 12/06/2014 19:19

My dp feels the same as you velve

I do understand it's the cultural norm, I just don't see why it would negatively effect other people if someone is wearing a swimming costume.

I think the breastfeeding/poo/wee problems are not the only problem, if people are shy they wouldn't be able to use the sauna.

fideliney I can send ds over to clap and say bravo for you ;)

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SaltaKatten · 12/06/2014 19:20

You can wrap a towel around you in the sauna as long as you're naked underneath. That's what me and my friends always did (in Sweden) as shy teenagers.

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ForalltheSaints · 12/06/2014 19:26

I wish it was the rule here- sauna with anything on/around other than a towel is unpleasant. I don't like the idea of a baby in the sauna though.

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AreYouFeelingLucky · 12/06/2014 19:32

It just changes things.

Everyone has to be naked = everyone is naked, it's normal and fine, there are no expectations of clothes. If you don't want to be naked, you don't go in.

Most people are naked, someone is clothes = it's a bit weird. Nobody knows whether to be naked. Naked people are a bit more aware that they are naked, newcomers don't know whether to strip off or stay dressed. It's a bit weird all round, and nobody is entirely happy.

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DoJo · 12/06/2014 19:56

I suppose it's actually quite like the UK, only the other way round in that there is absolutely no point to wearing a swimming costume - any bodily secretions (sorry - vom face!) will still swirl around in the water, wee can and will seep out of swim nappies, nobody really feels as though they are covered and yet we all cling to the scrap of fabric because it's the difference between being 'not quite naked' and 'completely starkers' and therefore vital to us not feeling exposed. Who's got it right? I'd tend to say the Swedes (although you wouldn't catch me DEAD swimming naked Grin)!

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mousmous · 12/06/2014 20:00

yabu
sauna with clothes on is just yuck
and dc should only go if a bit older anyway

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ikeaismylocal · 12/06/2014 20:12

That's a good point areyoufeelinglucky it does change things if some people are clothed and some naked.

My dp's family say that even tiny babies can go in the sauna if they are low down and it's not too hot, I have read children can go in the sauna from 1 year, I waited until ds was almost 18 months and it's a very mild sauna, I have been hotter just walking around on a hot day when living in Australia.

I have seen other toddlers in the sauna, always naked but non have ever done a poo, maybe they know it's not a good idea!

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LizLimone · 12/06/2014 20:13

Had the same experience in Germany and got used to it after a while. Germans maintain it is more hygienic to be naked than to bring in artificial fibers that, no matter how clean they are, will harbour germs anyway. I never really got this argument because surely skin harbors the same germs as clothes?? Anyway I just adapted.

Now I am in the US and when I go to the gym sauna here I have to say I find it a little gross when people come in wearing their full swim costumes. Wearing a clean towel is one thing but swim gear is a bit ick to me now. One woman came in in her gym gear, sat on the bench and started rubbing some cream into her skin! Germans would have had a fit.

If there is a childrens sauna, how do local Swedes manage their bf babies? Do they just wait until they're older or not care if they bf in the sauna? I'd just follow whatever locals do... when in Rome etc etc...

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ikeaismylocal · 12/06/2014 20:19

The Swedes don't tend to breastfeed after 1 so maybe they have all stopped by the time they start going into saunas. It's not that I think the breastfeeding will offend others, I'm sure it wouldn't! I am trying to cut down ds's breastfeeds as I'm pregnant so it's more that I just don't want to be feeding him, it feels mean saying no to him when he can see my breasts, but the towel tip saltakattan was good :)

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