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AIBU?

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Willies on the beach

137 replies

YoureNotTheOnlyCuddlyToy · 27/08/2025 18:44

Today it was a group of mum friends and kids on the beach. My DS age 5 took off his shorts and underwear to put on his swim shorts and was (as usual) in no particular rush, and a mum friend said “ooh Billy put on your shorts quickly”. I didn’t think much of it.

Later, at home time, her own son who is 10 was changing and got distracted so was talking to the other kids whilst naked. She said rather sternly something along the lines of “Tommy no, you’re a big boy, you can’t be doing that, you need to get your pants on”.
I hadn’t thought anything of it but she clearly had an issue.

My DS 5 is my eldest, so this is a new territory for me, and I was wondering at what age it becomes ‘wrong’ (inappropriate?) for being nudey on the beach? I thought it was fine and innocent today and she was being a bit weird, but thinking about it I suppose there must be cut off point or we’d have all the blokes peacocking around with their peacocks out.

I’ll do a poll but I’m more curious than opinionated about the matter.

YABU - a ten year old should not have his bits out and should change quickly
YANBU - it’s all fine, he’s a kid and didn’t have it out all day

OP posts:
Meredusoleil · 27/08/2025 18:54

5 is OK but not 10 imho.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/08/2025 18:54

5 is fine. Anyone who objects is IMO a prude.
By 10 TBH I’d have thought most kids who don’t have SN wouldn’t want to be flashing their bits anyway.

BBQthisweekend · 27/08/2025 18:53

I imagine it’s quite a personal thing, but I’ve taught DS from the start we don’t get naked in front of other people - I’ve never changed him in public and if he needs to pop into swim shorts etc I’ll take him to the loos on our way to the beach. No panicking about accidental slips/shorts falling down etc, it’s just something we avoid. I don’t think I even changed him as a baby in public!

LardyDee · 27/08/2025 18:50

Both fine

InMyOpenOnion · 27/08/2025 18:50

Most tend to just make the transition naturally but I would say around age 7 max.

MeridaBrave · 27/08/2025 18:49

10 is getting a bit big to have willy out. It’s ok at 5.

Taztoy · 27/08/2025 18:48

Age 5, just about ok but at the upper range. Age 10 definitely not ok.

ilparadodosdoltos · 27/08/2025 18:48

This is a bit of a vague answer but with these type of things it tends to become obvious and sort of work itself out naturally or the child doesn’t want to. I think 5 is fine, personally, but there’s no one answer. Helpful? 😁

DeborahKerr · 27/08/2025 18:48

You are on MN.

Some poster accused a little boy to be a dangerous sex predator because he was showing his batman pants to a girl. Some posters on here have serious issues!

RedNine · 27/08/2025 18:47
Confused
modgepodge · 27/08/2025 18:47

Age 5, just about ok but my 5 year old would probably have wanted to be covered ASAP - they do the pants talk in reception of not before. Age 10, not really ok to be honest.

Octavia64 · 27/08/2025 18:47

Ten year old should definitely be changing from trunks to covering genitals quickly. Don‘T really care about rest of body - so into shorts or similar would be fine.

5 year old, meh.

I’m English.