to let our kids not wear anything on the beach??

[loopymummy77]

We're lucky enough to live quite near the coast, so day-trips to the beach are quite common for us.

Today we were on one of our usual beaches, which was a bit busier than usual I think due to the warm weather. DS1 (age 6), DS2 (age 5) and DD (nearly 3) were all happily playing in their birthday suits - we usually let them decide whether or not they want swimming trunks/cossies on but quite often they opt for the nudist approach (they're the same with the paddling pool in the garden) and we've never made a big deal of it.

Anyways, after we'd been there a while, this woman comes up to DH and me and tells us we should make our kids put some clothes on. When I asked why, she said that it was because there might be paedophiles who could see them and that it was irresponsible of us to let them run around with nothing on. Her remarks made us feel so uncomfortable, we got the kids dressed and went somewhere else for the rest of the day.

Looking back, I'm now quite angry about the whole thing. I wouldn't dream of telling a parent what their kids should/shouldn't wear and how dare she call us irresponsible!! What annoys me even more is the fact we felt we had to leave as a result, as if it was us at fault! .

Am I being unreasonable? We've always kept a close eye out for our kids as I think any responsible parent should do.

[BimboNo5]

I if I find something offensive as do most others.... like the woman who 'flop' a boob out to breastfeed (something that is always seen by certain mumsnetters too) if it offends you dont look! Its natural, its not harming you so move your picnic out of peoples arse!

[snicker]

Why would you take your kids to the beach and make them sit under a parasol?

[BeeBread]

She's a GP, so she had a look and told him that it wasn't inflamed. All very sensible and matter of fact.

Meanwhile I was doing a lot of spluttering/looking into the distance/thinking OMG...

[superjobeespecs]

funnily enough best friend and i were on the phone earlier and her neighbour had her 4 kids out playing youngest is about 2 and was butt naked in the front garden we were both saying how it wouldnt be us letting our wee ains run naked. even at the beach DD is always in swimmy/pants and t-shirt.

everyones different but i know i dont like seeing other ppls kids running nude it makes me feel uncomfortable and as far as im concerned only time a kid should have its bits out is changeing nappies/bath time.

[HooverTheHamaBeads]

"I also think running about is ok but digging a whole with arse in air 3 feet from someone elses picnic isn't."

I completely agree.

And I also think 6 and 5 yo are too old to be running around naked.

[HelloKlitty]

Why should anyone move their picnic because some 6 year old is flashing their anus around the beach? What? We should all cow tow to the nudist family?

Nah. They should go somewhere more private.

[BimboNo5]

What happens when kids hit 5/6 then? Do their bodies become shameful, unsightly and unatural then?

[HelloKlitty]

No Bimbo but they're not toddlers anymore...they're bigger....and more active.

[worraliberty]

Serious Bimbo? You 'boak' when you find something offensive?

That's quite odd

Being offended is one thing...feeling sick and therefore 'boaking' (the noise one makes while being sick) is quite another.

Still, each to their own aye...

[BimboNo5]

Another pompous overeacter...sigh no nudity were British! A naked CHILD hardly constitutes a 'nudist family' does it? Do you feel the same about topless women? Breastfeeding mothers?

[hellymelly]

Mine are 4 and 6 and they are usually in swimsuits on the beach,partly as they are very fair,partly as they like to wear them but I wouldn't be bothered by them or any other small child naked. I don't understand why anyone would feel sick at the sight of little children in the altogether? Surely they are all lovely,like puppies or lambs? Why is a naked baby ok but a five year old not? They are all infants.So no YANBU,poor you. Most old ladies I meet seem to love a little child running around naked, they are so beautiful !

[HelloKlitty]

Anyway...an anus is an anus....I don't want to see ANYONE'S thanks. No matter what the age....not whilst sitting on the beach...having lunch or chilling out.

[MillyR]

I wonder why some people have more of an issue with nudity than others? Is it upbringing?

[thisisyesterday]

snicker, i can't tell whether you're being deliberately obtuse or whether you are actually stupid

either way i'll explain. a parasol can be used to create shade. the children can then play in the shade (if you're so worried about them not getting sun on them, in which case you probably wouldn't be at the beach anyway)
there is, as far as I am aware, no law that says people may only sit under a parasol and not move.

you asked how a beach would have shade. i have suggested a way.

[HelloKlitty]

Sigh.

Bimbo a woman feeding a baby is very different. Topless women...not the same as breastfeeding and I dont want to see a bunch of tits on the beach.

[seeker]

So children should never be naked unless in the bath? What a bizarre way to think!

Incidentally, there seems to be a correlation between the use of the hideous, demeaning term "bits" and an objection to children being naked in public. Not sure what that means - something about shame or thinking that nudity is disgusting?

[Pagwatch]

Flashing their anus?

What the Jeff do your kids do on the beach?

Dd spends most if the morning naked and occasionally thinks it is sensible to do a bit of pre school gym (ffs) and I am rarely subjected to her flashing anus.

[HelloKlitty]

Milly For me its personal space...parts of your body are private...fine in front of close faamily...but not in front of strangers.

[faverolles]

BeeBread - that's the sort of thing my ds would do. And that's the reason he wears trunks at the beach!

I'm not bothered if there are naked children about, but mine are kept more covered up because they burn easily, and covered up looks better than red raw and peeling.

[HelloKlitty]

No Seeker as I said....there's a time and a place though. In the garden fine. Not on a crowded beach.

[BimboNo5]

Why is a woman feeding a baby different to an innocent child being naked on the beach?

[hellymelly]

I didn't grow up in a nudey household,and I tend to cover up,but I am completely unbothered by others' nudity as long as its not sexual iyswim,so I don't know if it is upbringing.I was an art student,lots of life-drawing,maybe that is why? I still don't see why children naked would bother anyone though, there is no sexual component to their nakedness anyway.

[HelloKlitty]

What I find odd is how many people are offended by the fact that some people don't feel comfortable around nudity. It's not a slur against the innocence of kids...it's just something people FEEL. I am entitled to feel uncofortable about it.

[snicker]

Partly obtuse and partly pissed off at Bimbo putting words in my mouth with her wild misquoting. Sorry about that.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Yeah you could make them sit in the shade or cover them with what would amount to an entire bottle of factor 50. Not much fun though is it? But carry on being sarky if it makes you feel clever.

Or you could just get your head out of your arse and chill the fuck out.