Child nudity in public

[GlowWurm]

Apologies if this has been discussed at length, I didn’t want to do a search for ‘child nudity’.

I was at the local pool and a woman was showering off her little boy, who was stood there facing forward completely naked. This was in a very public area of the changing rooms, it’s just a line of shower heads on a wall in front of the entrance to the pools (this is a mixed sex changing room). Little boy was approximately 2? I’m not good with children’s ages, the age when they are tottering about but not overly stable. I noticed some women walked in and they saw and looked at each other with a bit of a worried look, so I don’t think it’s just me?

There are also private showering cubicles available.

Phones are not banned although presumably there are rules around not taking photos, but of course anyone could if they wanted. I do realise not all
men are predators so I’m not trying to tar everyone like that.

My question is…is this acceptable behaviour and I’m just being overly concerned?

I really can’t see the problem.

Of course it’s acceptable, he’s 2 (or 3, whatever). You’ll get loads of people saying it’s not because people are scared of the world, but really, it’s fine.

We used to go the beach and play around in the nude til about four or so. I mean he's two! I'd have no problem.

What is it that concerns you ?

This isn't an issue at all. Why do you have a problem with it?

Not a problem at all

Nakedness, at all ages, is much common in many other European countries. Folk in the UK are conditioned to be quite reserved. I suppose the worry could be what 'unsavoury types' might witness the naked child?

I wouldn't have done it with my own child but I do think it's sad that it'a something we even have to consider

Just worried about someone who is a danger to children seeing and potentially videoing / photographing as it’s an open area. Apologies if I’m being over concerned.

You are being overly concerned.

Can’t see a problem

A total non-issue in my opinion.

i love seeing little kids on the beach running around playing free as birds. Makes me smile! And reminds me of when my own kids were tiny. Ah happy summer sunshiney days

Hmm, I wouldn't have my child standing around naked in one of those big mixed-sex changing areas in view of the whole pool, no. Mostly because I don't know why I would. It's only cubicles for changing in ours and the shower area is clearly visible from the pool, so no one is ever getting naked in it. You shower in your swim stuff and get changed in the cubicle. But I'm not sure I'd notice or think anything sinister if someone else was. I just wouldn't do it myself as I don't think it's necessary.

At the other pool we go to, it's a women-only changing room we use and it's bench changing so that feels like a different environment, plus the showers are enclosed and not visible from the pool.

I know people will scoff but I do think there's something to be said for giving a child dignity, like we readily take for ourselves, and not just saying that because they are X age it's fine for them to be naked in public whether it's necessary or not.

Yes, you hit on some good points. At our pool I’ve never seen anyone without their swim kit on, from adults to small children. This was a first and maybe a combination of surprise and then concern as it’s an open area and as you say, viewable from the pool as well.

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There were about 4 or 5 women who walked in as a group and gave each other that concerned look when they saw, so there could also have been some additional nuance to the situation that I’m not properly conveying. Or maybe me and these other ladies are just the worrying types!

A 2 year old? Why is it a problem?

Completely normal. Nothing to see here. Move along.

I wouldn't do that. I never had my child naked in public. Don't see it's necessary and why take the risk of people looking at them In that way. There are so many perverts out there. We need to protect them. They can't do it themselves

I agree. Its awful that something so innocent is something to feel worried about

I'm actually quite surprised by the amount of people (presumably mothers) that don't see what the risk is on these comments. It's worrying.

Me neither, it's a toddler.

I don’t think it’s necessarily a major issue but I also don’t let my kids go naked in public - just because I feel it contradicts the messaging about what’s under pants being private. And in time that leads to chats about consent, ownership of your own body etc.

Because you don't know who's around it's nothing to do with the child being naked and finding it offensive it's all obout the people around at that time

Don't see a problem. It's a toddler?