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AIBU?

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Original poster

Naked boy in the supermarket...

130 replies

pookamoo · 31/05/2011 09:01

On the way in to our local supermarket, a mum was with her two DS and one of them was having a wee in the flower bed. No problem with this, DD often has to do this.

However, a little bit later I saw them come into the shop. The DS who was about 3 was naked from the waist down. His mum put him, and his brother, into the food basket part of a trolley, and her DP proceeded to push them round the shop. They didn't put any food in there, the mum was shopping with another trolley.

I am a bit Hmm about children in the trolley anyway but I know that is a whole other thread. But a bare bum and willy going around in the trolley? He wasn't sitting on anything, and he wasn't sitting still either.

I paid for my shopping and was waiting for DH and DD who had popped to the loo, and while I was there I was thinking "do I say something" and in the end I mentioned it to the checkout supervisor.

Was I being unreasonable to do so? I felt a bit bad, because after all, most DCs have accidents, but the supermarket does sell pants so if nothing else they could have got him a pair of pants to put on first...

OP posts:
maypole1 · 31/05/2011 11:30

AmazingBouncingFerretTue 31-May-11 11:21:55

Maybe she was tryign to get a freshly caught cube of poo?

not sure what this means ??????

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 31/05/2011 11:38

TheBride is right - there are different social norms for different places. I had a friend staying this weekend with her children - and yesterday they were running round in their knickers on the beach (we'd forgotten swimming trunks and were caught unawares by some good weather) - and that was entirely appropriate, imo. Equally, all were fully dressed when we sat down to eat.

A few years ago, another friend visited us with her two young dc. The younger of the two (who was about the same age as the child in the OP) spent most of sunday morning running round the house naked - which I didn't object to. However, when he refused to get dressed before sunday lunch, I put my foot down and said no clothes = no lunch. I did not think it was appropriate for anyone to sit down naked for a meal I had slaved over, and was not about to allow it, even though his mum was unworried by the concept (though she didn't mind my laying down the law, and getting her son to dress for lunch).

AmazingBouncingFerret · 31/05/2011 11:40

maypole I give you memorable poos in inappropriate places Have fun. Grin

KatieWatie · 31/05/2011 11:41

That is so weird, YADDNBU

I wouldn't want my fresh food all covered in urine leak, obviously there are no boundaries here.

presario · 31/05/2011 11:44

Maybe the wee boy had an accident and the pants had to go. Maybe she had travelled a long distance by bus therefor could not leave him in the car that she did not have. Maybe the supermarket did not sell clothes. Just maybe she had no choice, was mortified and trying to get in and out as quick as possible. Maybe she bought detol and cleaned the saet after she took her kid out. Maybe people should be a little less judgemental. I agree it's not the best situation but it's not like the woman took the kid out intentionally lome that. And just maybe she is reading this post in teArs as how little understanding other mums are for others struggles. If only we all lived in a world where we were never caught short

Hassled · 31/05/2011 11:47

I think in that situation I would have lurked with small naked boy in a bush somewhere while the DP did the shopping. Yes, it may have been the end point of a catalogue of poo/wee disasters, but it still doesn't warrant lobbing him in a trolley naked.

aliceliddell · 31/05/2011 11:54

Sorry, I hadn't read this properly, missed a page. Just asked my mate, she thinks it's a bit weird but we're both more bothered re the trolley than the bum. She's doing a psychology course, they've just been studying groups, who belongs or not. Thinks it may be how well you know the kid that affects reactions? StayingDTG - interesting use of 'dressing for dinner'. Is age 3 the cut off between baby (OK) person (not OK)?

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 31/05/2011 12:09

Alice - I personally don't find nudity at the dinner table acceptable at any age - though a baby in a nappy and vest/t-shirt would be fine by me. I only mentioned age 3 as that was the age given for the child in the OP and my friend's ds was a similar age - scene setting, rather than laying down any particular parameters.

SecretNutellaFix · 31/05/2011 12:11

it's about being appropriately dressed for the situation, regardless of age, surely?

I would find it a bitHmm at any age tbh. As others have said, beach or padding pool naked bum is fine at three years old, but not shopping.

OP, was the child wearing trousers when you first saw him by the bush?

alemci · 31/05/2011 12:12

It was weird and I would have never let it happen to my own children. I am quite prudish about nudity. I think on a beach it is different.

sherbetpips · 31/05/2011 12:17

I am guessing that the supermarket trip was part of a bad bad day at which point a naked boy in a trolley was the least of the problems.

Shakti · 31/05/2011 12:24

I LOVE seeing naked children. Love their skin, especially love chubby legs!

I would be concerned lest he got his penis caught in the trolley sides or had an uncomfortable bum. I would not worry about his bottom on a trolley when only wrapped goods (bloomin' packaging in supermarkets) go in there anyway.

paddypoopants · 31/05/2011 12:25

Hygiene wise - a kids shoes are going to have more nasty stuff on it than a bare bum - so the seat was probably manky anyway. I can't believe people are actually offended by a half naked kid in a trolley. If it offends you look away. Takes all sorts I suppose.
Maybe the parents were on a really tight budget and couldn't afford to buy more pants they didn't need.

BooyHoo · 31/05/2011 12:28

the naked child wouldn't have bothered me. teh fact that he could have been cold would. i think for his sake teh parents coudl have got him a pair of trousers or pants at least to keep him warm. it's still very cold even though it's june.

pongonperdy · 31/05/2011 12:59

Maybe they were going in to buy him some pants! Did he look upset, uncared for in any way? If not then they were probably just as embarresed as you. Very easy to judge but withour knowing the facts it can be unfair. Perhaps you should have made a friendly comment to them rather than alerting the checkout.

chloesmumtoo · 31/05/2011 13:08

I can't stand seeing kids sitting in the trolley, shoes all over where people are to put their half wrapped bakery products. As for bare bums..............I would not have been to impressed either. I have nothing against half nude kids, have kids of my own but do I put my food stuffs around/near where their bare bums have been - no and I dont expect to with other kids bums neither.

Numberfour · 31/05/2011 13:13

YADNBU - it is completely inappropriate for anyone of any age to go to a supermarket without clothing on. The fact that the child is about 3 is irrelevant.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 31/05/2011 13:15

Argh, think of the amount of scrutty people that dont wash their hands after going to the toilet.

They put their hands on the trolley handle. You put your hands on the same trolley handle.

Think how many people must sneeze into their bare hands while shopping. They put their hands back on the handle. You put your hands on that same handle.

Think how many sweaty blokes scratch their balls or pick their noses while wandering around the supermarket. They touch that handle.

You use your same hands to touch all your food as you pick it from the shelves. Far more germs from the handle than from some random little kid in the basket part that may or may not have shit on its shoes or indeed a bare naked arse.

Still I would of been a bit Hmm at the pantless kid though, would of just thought he had had an accident.

CornflowerB · 31/05/2011 13:18

God now I am completely paranoid about the hygiene of shoppping trolleys and it would never have crossed my mind before.
Poor kid though - supermarkets are cold and trolleys wirey...

AngryFeet · 31/05/2011 13:20

Who cares if trolleys are already covered in germs - how is that the point here? The point is if the child did a poo or wee in trousers or pants it would get caught/soaked up. Without it would go all over the trolley and floor. Trolleys do have holes in them you know Hmm

AmazingBouncingFerret · 31/05/2011 13:24

Trolleys? Have holes in them? Get out! Really? Well slap my face and call me David...

AngryFeet my little rant there was in response to the number of posters that commented that they hate to see children in trolleys because of hygiene issues. That was my point.

DirtyMartini · 31/05/2011 13:26

I'm with those who wouldn't have loved the idea, but would have been more troubled on the wee boy's behalf than on hygiene grounds. I reckon the whole world is a bit filthy anyway and that is why I am always secretly cleaning things with Dettol wipes

Poor little one, hope he wasn't cold.

I wouldn't have mentioned it to anyone; what would/could they do? Would have wanted to (but would probably not have) hand over a spare pair of pants from DS if I had any in my bag.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 31/05/2011 13:26
DirtyMartini · 31/05/2011 13:27

lol Amazing

This thread is funny, although the situation wasn't really.

WhataWitch · 31/05/2011 13:31

Perhaps the moral here is that Supermarkets are nasty dirty places and we should all have our shopping delivered as we are all obviously online one way or another, then we could disinfect the packages as they enter our premises thus removing the possible re-occurance of bare botty trolley issues which indeed have holes (through which poo crumbs, poo squares, winky dribbles, wee and any other botty related nastyness can fall through) and are wirey and uncomfortable in such circumstances, and spread diseases through the transfer of less desirable hygeine practices, aswell as removing the possibility of horrible nasty pervets coping an eyeful......
My god, I'm never going out the house again!
P.S. Sainsburys are not into barebottom trolley surfing, they said we had to get out. They seemed to grasp the Health and Safety issues aswell as the blatant unsightlyness...shame :(