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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:
electra · 17/08/2011 10:02

Still a baby at 2 really. I'd have no qualms about letting my 2 year old do the same.

Taila · 17/08/2011 10:12

I personally would never let my 2yr DD run around anywhere completely starkers. In this day and age you never know who is taking pictures of something else that happens to catch your lo one in the background and then that picture is put up on things like facebook. Then just like that your child is on the internet in the buff for everyone to see.

While we mothers think 2yrs old is an innocent age, there are some really sick people on the internet or just in general walking around and I personally would not want that to happen to my children.

Ifancyashandy · 17/08/2011 10:20

But you can't police thought. People have been having inappropriate thoughts and feelings about children since time began. Someone, somewhere will have probably stored a mental image of me as a child on their brains hard drive. There is nothing anyone could have done to prevent this and it has had no effect on me (since I don't know about it). Allowing you toddler to run abuffo will not encourage this to happen.

AgainWhen · 17/08/2011 10:29

YANBU. Surely it's unhealthy to see pedos around every corner.

seeker · 17/08/2011 10:30

And how does the behaviour of a probably mythical pedophile actually impact on the 2 year old in question?

working9while5 · 17/08/2011 10:30

I would be worried about pee, poo and sore girly bits but have no issue with nude babies. They are not rudie nudies!

Melly20MummyToPoppy · 17/08/2011 10:42

So now what people are saying is that it's fine for pedos to stare at naked little kids aslong as the kids in question don't get harmed or affected. Thats the gist of what im getting Confused

RitaMorgan · 17/08/2011 10:45

No, it's not fine. But the behaviour of paedophiles is not the responsibility of parents/children. Children shouldn't have to modify their behaviour or attire in order to not inflame the desires of a paedophile.

JanMorrow · 17/08/2011 10:50

YANBU, it's perfectly fine, she's only two!

As for the paedo thing, god you can't go around with a huge sense of paranoia, she was standing next to her little girl for god's sake! We shouldn't change our lives (bar being sensible/careful with safety - ie not letting them wander off on their own etc) because of a few individuals.

Melly20MummyToPoppy · 17/08/2011 10:51

Ok, fair enough.

Ifancyashandy · 17/08/2011 10:52

My point is there is nothing you can do about it. Since pedophiles 'walk amongst us', it is - as we all know - impossible to identify them. A poster upthread said that 'single people sans kids stand out like a sore thumb' in parks etc but - again, as we all know - the 'bad man or woman' could just as easily be the person you're chatting to about your respective kids by the paddling pool. Since we can't tell, I for one, am not going to let the possibility that they may be looking at a 2yo make me insist on clothing.

Ifancyashandy · 17/08/2011 10:52

X post with everyone!

TheMonster · 17/08/2011 10:54

It's a public place and she shouldn't have been naked. I wouldn't have felt comfortable with it.

knobbysEx · 17/08/2011 10:55

I'd try to keep knickers on my lo but not worth ruining the day with a tantrum about it. YANBU. I know someone who would comment on the child's dignity, bu I tell her to shut up :o

SayItLoud · 17/08/2011 11:03

This is an interesting read, with such a range of opinions on it that I now understand why I often seem to get odd looks when my children are playing naked in the park. They both love to strip off (ages 3 and 18 months) whenever and wherever possible, and are almost always naked at home. I have never minded, and in fact enjoy their freedom and lack of self-consciousness, and have often wondered if I am misinterpreting other people's raised eyebrows - I see now that there are in fact people who disapprove of child nakedness, which I find really sad and quite disturbing.

TeacupTempest · 17/08/2011 11:06

This is such a sad and disturbing thread.

exoticfruits · 17/08/2011 11:24

I haven't read every post-enough to know that you have widely different responses. YANBU at all-just ignore those who think that you are.
You were happy, she was happy, no one can be offended by a naked DC that age and those worried about paedophiles are just plain nuts!

Quenelle · 17/08/2011 11:26

YANBU

If DS(2) were toilet trained I would let him go naked in the park. I like to see it.

peacemoon · 17/08/2011 11:27

I have no problems with my kids' nudity or any kid's for that matter.What bothers me is other people's attitudes!
I have 4 DC and 1 now a teenager with no "body issues" due to our openess about nudity.
Too many people equate nudity with sex.
We are far too uptight in this country.

PerryCombover · 17/08/2011 11:28

My girls don't know anything about private parts or privates...
They are constantly lying around in nighties legs akimbo and so they should be imo. They love to be naked and to get naked at any and all opportunites
They just act naturally and I'd rather that doesn't end anytime soon and especially not over the fear of a pervert

Ormirian · 17/08/2011 11:30

I don't have a problem with it.

mrsshears · 17/08/2011 12:10

Personally i would have kept her knickers on too.
Yes in an ideal world it would be lovely to allow a 2yr old to do this,however the reality is paedophilles and wierdos do exist and it isnt hysteria to point this out and these people do hang around in places like parks etc.
therefore i would not have allowed this myself but fwiw i would'nt have a problem with seeing a naked child in a park but i would be wondering what the parent was thinking.
It would be truly devastating if an image of your dd ended up online.

PerryCombover · 17/08/2011 12:27

Why would it be devastating if an image of your daughter playing innocently ended up online?
How would you know anyway?

MissPenteuth · 17/08/2011 12:31

I think it's lovely that little children aren't ashamed of their bodies, it's part of childhood innocence. Do we really want to teach them at such a young age (or any age) that their bodies are shameful?

mrsshears · 17/08/2011 12:44

perry imagine if an image of your daughter playing naked ended up online and/or was distributed between paedophiles.
yes you are right you probably would never find out but personally i would just not take take the chance of it happening full stop.

Its a very difficult topic really isnt it and all down to what you as a parent feel comfortable for your child,its just not something that i personally would allow my child to do.
I should add also that i have actual experience of paedophilles in parks which i'm not prepared to go into on here but i just wanted to add that to prove these "people" are a VERY REAL risk.

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