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.

[differentnameforthis]

Ever heard of factor 50? Or shade?

My girls wear the highest factor possible & they still tan. So the sun still gets through...their skin goes a lovely golden brown, but this just means their skin has been damaged by the sun.

And have you dug a hole in a shade tent?

[exoticfruits]

I would keep mine covered most of the time-but that is because of the sun issue and them being fair skinned-I am not going to waste time or energy on the beach thinking about paedophiles.

[TheHumanCatapult]

I would not even notice 5 and 6 they are still babys ds3 often runs round in the nude .And sinc ehave 4 dc If bum wa sin my face they be told just to put it away

[seeker]

A rule of thumb. Never take seriously anything said by anyone who uses the word "paedo" in a non ironic manner. Particularly if the spell it "peado' or "peedo"

[CheerfulYank]

I would keep my DS in trunks, most likely, but wouldn't care if others were running amok buck.

[PadmeHum]

Arrggghhh... this thread has me cranky - I can't believe that the majority of posters are concerned about modesty/lack thereof.

In my opinion it is negligent to allow young skin to be exposed to the sun.

Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide

One of the most successful health campaigns in Australia?s history was launched by Cancer Council Australia in 1981. Sid the seagull, wearing board shorts, t-shirt and a hat, tap-danced his way across our TV screens singing a catchy jingle to remind us of three easy ways of protecting against skin cancer.

Slip, Slop, Slap!
It sounds like a breeze when you say it like that
Slip, Slop, Slap!
In the sun we always say "Slip Slop Slap!"
Slip, Slop, Slap!
Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat,
Slip, Slop, Slap!
You can stop skin cancer - say: "Slip, Slop, Slap!"



The Slip Slop Slap slogan has become institutionalised as the core message of The Cancer Council?s SunSmart program. The campaign is widely credited as playing a key role in the dramatic shift in sun protection attitudes and behaviour over the past two decades.

In 2007, the slogan was updated to Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide to reflect the importance of seeking shade and sliding on wrap around sunglasses to prevent sun damage.

[manicinsomniac]

I agree completely with PadmeHum

No way would I let my children run around on a beach naked. I couldn't care less about their modesty or potential paedophiles with their hidden cameras or whatever. It's about basic sun safety.

At school they're not even allowed out to play when it's hot unless they've got their hats and suncream on. I think that's a little paranoid but it's a better message to give them than no sun warning at all and I'm not going to confuse the 'be safe in the sun' message they've absorbed so well by saying it doesn't count at home and they can run round on the beach without any clothes on at all. Suncream can't provide the protection that clothing can. I'm not ridiculous about it by my youngest (4) wears a suit with those little short sleeves and legs and a hat with a neck cover. My oldest (8) wears a normal suit but will still (just about!) accept the more covering hat.

I don't know why I bother so much really because both girls are half hispanic and quite dark skinned but yeah, call me paranoid.

I'm a teacher and we had an inset on the effects of long term exposure to the sun. Some of the stories and photos were quite frightening. Not of children obviously but of adults who started spending long hours exposed to the sun as young children.

Having said all that, that woman was totaly unreasonable to say anything to you. They are your children and you made your own choice. Your children weren't harming her.

[janey68]

The comment about paedophiles is daft, as it implies that there are paedophiles lurking on every corner.

HOWEVER I am not a big fan of allowing children to run around naked on the beach for the following reasons:

• potential sun damage to delicate skin. The areas usually covered up are the most delicate
  
• sand is really abrasive and can cause nasty chafing- even if the child isn't aware while happily running round, they may find bath time later very uncomfortable if they have sand in vulnerable crevices!
  
• while the sight of naked children from a distance isn't remotely offensive, no one wants a childs upturned arse a couple of feet from their picnic. Children are carefree and uninhibited- they wont realise that digging a hole may reveal more than they realise; also children aren't always the best at wiping their bum. I would rather let my children enjoy playing without needing to stop them from inflicting their genitalia on other beach users
  

-while this is probably the lowest concern, it's worth remembering that some pedophiles DO photograph children in public places and these photos will end up on the internet, and naked children, or those dressed in adult style inappropriate bikinis are more at risk.

For all the above reasons (comfort being the highest one) I always dressed mine in baggy t shirt , sun hat and pants on the beach.

Some parents have this obsession with allowing their children to dictate when/where they wear clothing, and seem to feel its some infringement of their rights to dress them!

[pigletmania]

I agree with some people who say that the eldest two should be covered. It's a modesty issue really, ok for little ones, but not primary school/middle school kids.

[loopymummy77]

Thanks for all your kind and helpful comments, everyone. .

Like others here have said, one of our main concerns when on the beach is keeping the kids skin protected from the sun. This usually involves generous amounts of SPF50 as well as either making them put t-shirts on and/or keeping them in the shade when the sun is at it's height.

[naughtymummy]

I always feel sorry for children dressed from neck to ankle on the beach. I think there is quite complying evidence that children in the uk are more at risk of rickets (vitamin d deficiency) than skin cancer. (I accept that it is different in Australia). Skin which is sensibly exposed to the sun eg; small amount every day is better protected than skin which is always covered up. I love being naked and would never stop my dcs from running about on a beach in the all together for a bit. But we don't spend hours and hours on the beach in the hottest part of the day. We all have wear t-shirts at meal times. I came from a family of nudies tho :)

[FreudianSlipper]

i love seeing young children running around clothes free no inhibitions its a lovely way to be and it will not last for long

i would have told her that i am not going to curb my child/childrens little freedom that they do have now out of fear the media has created

[BulletWithAName]

I wouldn't. Not bothered about what other people do and nude children don't offend me, but I just wouldn't do it.

[floosiemcwoosie]

OMG Worra I will never look at a jammy dodger in the same way again - hilarious

[Bunbaker]

"Ever heard of factor 50? Or shade?"

Factor 50 is not as effective as covering up. One of my friends is a dermatologist and deals with skin cancer all the time and she told me this.

I don't have a problem with little children running around with no clothes on. In our case DD has very fair skin that is prone to eczema. Covering up is a far better option for her as most suncreams tend to aggravate her skin. She also finds sand very abrasive and this caused problems when we were on holiday recently.

naughtymummy is correct about vitamin D deficiency. I read an interesting article in a magazine last week and it stated that most people are deficient in this vitamin because we cover up in the sun. It said that going out in the midday sun without any sunscreen for a few minutes would remedy this, but to cover up or go inside before the skin starts to go red.

[missmiss]

Don't most children start to become self-conscious about being naked at the age of 7 or so? I know I wouldn't have run around naked in public beyond that age. If a NT child is young enough to be unaware of his own nudity, he shouldn't be considered offensive.

[deliciousdevilwoman]

I never let my DTS's (now 23) run around naked on a beach as toddlers/infants and neither will I allow DD (6 months)to do so. Wearing pants/knickers/swimsuit-whatever, did not, and will not curtail fun. I wouldn't say anything to a parent (not my place) who did otherwise, but I would silently disapprove and it makes me feel uncomfortable. I taught my boys growing up, that our bodies are nothing to be ashamed of, but are essentially private. For example aged 2 or so, if they had been running around in our garden in the buff, and someone called round-be it neighbour or work man, I would pop a pair of shorts/pants on them. It's just what I deemed to be appropriate, but everyone's different.

As a younger social worker, I visited houses where the toddlers/infants were stark naked and would jump straight on my lap! It made me very uncomfortable. I would have to extricate myself promptly and discreetly. Rarely, would the parent(s)dress the kids or ask them to get dressed. There was little sense of appropriate boundaries.

[seeker]

:Also what about the toilet issue? I hate seeing small children naked, what if they wee or poo on the beach "

Taking their clothes off doesn't mesn that they forget how to use the loo!

[Bunbaker]

seeker I think she was referring to children who would normally wear a nappy.

[bottleofbeer]

If you can't get nekkid on the beach when you're three, when can you?

I always think it's cute, little chubby bums

[5inthebed]

I had this last year when I let my 18 month old DS3 runa round the beach/water naked. A few people felt the need to comment.

I ignored and let him be the free soirit he is. He loved it. DS1+2 were in their underpants. They were all covered in factor 50 head to toe.

[pigletmania]

Not so cute at 5, 6 or older. Really if people want the freedom to go nude on a beach go to a nudist one.

[EricNorthmansMistress]

I don't like seeing other peoples' childrens' genitalia. Children have no awareness and will sit legs splayed, or bend over displaying anuses, and I'd rather not see that. Perhaps that makes me prudish...but I just don't want to catch an eyeful of another child's intimate genital area. I'm ok with nudity in toddlers because they often can't be negotiated with (though I'd keep shorts or pants on my DS when in public, he can be naked in my garden) but once they reach 4ish they should be wearing swimming costumes. Nothing to do with peedo hysteria, just what is socially acceptable in this country.