Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my 2 year old play naked.

249 replies

Pippinintherain · 16/08/2011 19:45

We were in the local park today. It has a new sand and water area which wasn't open last time we were there.
DD was happily playing in it, pumping the water tap affair and ended up with her jeans and top drenched. She stripped them off and carried on playing in just her knickers. She eventually got these soaked too and as she hates wet knickers, took them off.
I only had 1 clean pair and 1 clean dress with me so let her carry on in the buff as she was having fun.
There was a couple of women giving cat's bum mouths but I ignored, she's 2 FFS and I was right there with her. Not sure what was going to happen to her.

Anyway was telling DH tonight and he was really shocked I'd let her do this. I just think there's nothing more lovely and innocent than kids not giving a damn.

So Mumsnet jury, AIBU?

OP posts:
WilsonFrickett · 16/08/2011 23:34

Of course YANBU. She's 2!! Although maybe some of the catsbumfaces were worrying about peeing in the sandpit, I think that probably would have crossed my mind, but then my DS was a late toilet trainer Smile. Glad you're getting the weather to let it all hang out OP!

RitaMorgan · 16/08/2011 23:39

I find it very odd that anyone would worry they might see a toddler's vagina - I mean she's unlikely to be lying down in front of you legs akimbo is she? And even if you do glimpse toddler vagina, why would it be an unpleasant sight Confused

Maybe it's because I work in childcare and have seen many a baby bottom, but it's just another body part to me.

StonedRosie · 16/08/2011 23:39

It's unnecessary IMO. People wear clothes in public. End of.

TheSecondComing · 16/08/2011 23:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bananapirate · 16/08/2011 23:43

See, here's a really funny thing, everyone is different, didn't you know?!
And before this thread takes a turn into hysteria, I don't see anyone saying it's disgusting, just that they would rather not see it.

Rita, a poster mentioned that someone was arrested at a park, and then mentioned that some of the children happened to be naked. I have no idea what the link is.

winnybella · 16/08/2011 23:43

Hmm. If you say so.

Ifancyashandy · 16/08/2011 23:47

And if you read my earlier post Banana then you'll notice I made the same salient 'we all have different opinions' nary a moment prior to you.

But thanks for explaining your thoughts behind why you feel that way Hmm

TheSecondComing · 16/08/2011 23:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fraggletits · 16/08/2011 23:49

my 2 (3 and 5)are always naked in the garden, they are forever shedding their clothes - i'm happy with them getting their bums out on the beach as well - a big park with lots of green space wouldn't worry me either but I wouldn't let them in a playground, possibly because it doesn't feel as carefree and with gay abandon as a beach or a private garden or vast park. Adults are usually sitting about bored in a playground watching their kids play and judging others kids, so I would be painfully embarrassed if my 2 went running about with their 'bits' out :D

seeker · 16/08/2011 23:49

And in the very unlikely event of a pedophile watching, exactly whatvharm could come to the child with her mother beside her? Much less harm than teaching her at 2 that her body is dirty and disgusting and shameful and people must be protected from seeing it, that's for damned sure.

winnybella · 16/08/2011 23:53

Seems odd from evolutionary pov as well- I don't think people are meant to recoil from naked small children.

TheSecondComing · 16/08/2011 23:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StonedRosie · 16/08/2011 23:59

I'm not sure that keeping knickers on a child is teaching it that its body is "dirty and disgusting and shameful and people must be protected from seeing it".
I think it just teaches that child that it's socially acceptable to wear clothes in public.

bananapirate · 17/08/2011 00:02

What's the Hmm for?
I give up, I was just trying to ease the tension and say we all see things differently.
Op, you are not being unreasonable, it's nice that your children can be carefree and relaxed.
But obviously now you are aware that some people don't want to see nakedness for a number of reasons

TheSecondComing · 17/08/2011 00:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

A1980 · 17/08/2011 00:04

I did exactly the same as your 2 yo DD when I was 3. I remember my mum let me do it in a park with a water area. I had my vest and pants on and i was told not to sit down. Which I promptly did. So my undies were taken off

That's all i remember.

God almighty what's wrong with it. She's 2 not a provocative sex object to be ogled. As for perverts present: PARANOIA!!! Most likely other paretns present. Single people without children tend to stand out like a sore thumb.

ChippingIn · 17/08/2011 01:11

A1980 - not all single people in a park are perverts either you know Hmm

Ifancyashandy · 17/08/2011 04:18

The Hmm was because I don't feel you have explained why you find it unreasonable - I've said I was baffled at the suggestion it was somehow 'wrong' and could you tell me the reasons behind your feelings and you didn't. But again, .

sleepywombat · 17/08/2011 04:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TillyIpswitch · 17/08/2011 04:52

Started writing out a reply and actually, I can't be bothered!

Honestly - 'paedos' - do people actually use this word in real life?!

OP - YANBU.

Bubbaluv · 17/08/2011 04:53

Same here sleepywombat. I think that anyone who thinks there's something odd/innapropriate/shameful about a 2yo getting nude to play in water needs to get some professional help.
Childhood is meant to be about innocence and I think that imposing puritanical restrictions on children is where the shame should lie.

Iteotwawki · 17/08/2011 05:03

My one and only concern would be the sun - I'd probably have left a tshirt on even if it got soaked for some uv protection. Have no clue what the weather in the UK was like (is lovely and bright here!) but assume it was warm if she was stripping off.

Aside from that - much better to be running around in sand & water naked! You can shower her off at the end but wet sandy clothes gum up the washing machine :) kids here are rarely clothed on the beach (aside from the older ones in wetsuits).

bananapirate · 17/08/2011 05:08

See my post of 21.49. I have no idea why
I have never said its odd/inappropriate/shameful, I just don't really want to see it, that's all.
A couple of people have said 2 is just a baby, it has nothing to do with age, or anything to do with an age where children are sexualised.

Bubbaluv · 17/08/2011 06:11

BanannaPirate - I think you are reffering to my post? I wasn't addressing you specifically at all - it was just a general comment.
I do think your aversion to seeing naked children (naked anyone for that matter) is very strange though and I don't think you should restrict little children just because you have an unusually sensetive perspective on this matter. You don't sound like the sort of person who does go about being the nude police though, so if you're OK with your aversion and don't feel the need to change it then that's fine too.

Ivortheengine8 · 17/08/2011 06:28

YANBU This country seems to be less and less tolerant of this kind of thing. If you lived abroad in most places no one would bat an eyelid. I think its a shame we have got to this and it makes me angry. WTH it's a 2 year old FGS not a 15 year old!
Everyone seems to think that EVERY man is a paedo in this country and frankly I feel quite sorry for the innocent men who are automatically associated with it just because they happen to be in the same area as a child.
Yes, you have to be careful and keep your eyes open but mum was there watching her dd FGS.
I'm sorry but anyone who finds that shameful is a bit odd in my honest opinion and maybe has issues with themselves.