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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:
seeker · 17/08/2011 22:11

It could just be as simple as saying "look dd/ds everyone else is wearing clothes because that is what you have to do when there are lots of people around that you dont know"

And when dd/ds says "why? Why does it matter if I know them or not?"

mrsshears · 17/08/2011 22:35

Do you think a child would actually question this that much? really?
As other posters have said children just know that this is what happens and that people in public wear clothes.
I also think that if a child is old/articulate enough to question it to that extent then surely they wouldnt be comfortable being naked in public anyway.I know my 5yr old dd wouldnt.

exoticfruits · 17/08/2011 22:39

Thank you seeker-I was out so couldn't reply.
I did indeed mean that a logical, sensible DC would say 'why do I have to keep my pants when I'm not at home?' because you answer makes no sense without further explanation. When you give it-I don't know how you would explain it-a typical 2 yr old is likely to say 'why' and carry on with 'why'.
The logical DC would wonder why on earth it matters if you know people or not.
I just wonder how you answer all the 'why' questions without resorting to 'because I say so'!

seeker · 17/08/2011 22:41

Always happy to step into the breach, exotic fruits!

exoticfruits · 17/08/2011 22:41

At 2 yrs old my DS had a very good vocabulary and would certainly have questioned a statement like 'we keep them on when we are not at home'-it isn't a statement that makes the least sense to a 2 yr old.

seeker · 17/08/2011 22:43

It would be a pretty unusual 2 year old who didn't. Question hapvinpg to wear pants when other children weren't.

mrsshears · 17/08/2011 22:46

I must say i dont know where all these naked toddlers actually are! because where i live and places i have been etc a naked toddler would be in the minority and it would be all the other dc that would be asking the questions.

exoticfruits · 17/08/2011 22:54

Other DCs don't ask the question!! They don't even notice-it is a complete non issue. The funniest thing was my friend's DS playing naked on the beach in France when aged 6with a French DC with short hair. They played well despite not sharing a language-the friend's DS was calling the DC 'he'-my friend pointed out it was a girl-he hadn't noticed! The only thing that a 2 yr old would question would be having to wear clothes when they wanted to strip off.
They ought to question more and then you wouldn't have the situation on the swimming pool thread where women are taking 10yr old boys into the ladies changing room-the 10yr old boy would do the sensible thing-say 'I'm a big boy now' and march off to the men' changing room.

mrsshears · 17/08/2011 23:02

perhaps i'm just going on what my own dd would do then because if we were in a situation such as in the op then my dd would question why the child had no clothes on,also i dont ever recall a situation ever where my dd has wanted to strip off,maybe some kids like to strip of and some dont depending on personality etc.

exoticfruits · 17/08/2011 23:06

If you insist on them wearing clothes and make it a big issue they would ask why others weren't wearing them. It was never something I made an issue about. I didn't let them stay naked for for long, but that is because they are fair skinned and I didn't want sun burn-easy to explain.

mrsshears · 17/08/2011 23:10

But dd has never even tried to strip of in public so i have never had to insist on her wearing clothes because she has never wanted or tried to do otherwise,like i said must be a some kids do some dont kind of thing i suppose.

PerryCombover · 18/08/2011 00:03

I think how nekkid the kid gets is directly proportional to how uptight the mum is about these things
except for my eldest who still sometimes comes down from the lavatory naked and covered in cream, talcum, perfume etc

RepressedBodyOfEeyore · 18/08/2011 11:38

MrsShears, me neither. In my town there is a lovely big fountain that usually has many young children running about in it, soaking wet. I have never seen a naked child there, only mums who have thought about the situation and brought a change of clothes with them.

seeker · 19/08/2011 07:43

And you would, I suppose, call social services if youbsaw a naked child? You can't be too careful you know . And presumably any 2 year old whose parent forgets a change of clothes is punished by not being allowed to play?

skybluepearl · 19/08/2011 07:51

I'd want my kids to wear pants in public BUT I'd not blink twice at anyone elses kids running around bare bottomed at the beach/in paddling pool at park.

exoticfruits · 19/08/2011 08:30

Although I can understand why people want their own DC covered up, I fail to understand why other people's naked DCs bother you.

TheMonster · 19/08/2011 10:00

Don't be ridiculous, Seeker.

SunRaysthruClouds · 19/08/2011 10:41

Late to this one but FFS it shows how ridiculous our society's paranoia is that this is even being discussed.

Seeing 2 y/o s play, in the buff or otherwise is a beautiful thing, and unless the catsbums actually watch and look for all the bits that might occasionally be on show (in which case they need help) then how can anyone say there is anything wrong with it

YANBU

insane to think otherwise. so there.

fanjobanjowanjo · 19/08/2011 11:16

I think it's disgusting that so many of you accuse people who don't wish to see naked children of being "weird" "insane" "prudish" etc etc.

Grow up, not everyone wants to see it or is comfortable with it and they have every right to feel that way, just as you have every right to adore seeing naked baby bums everywhere.

It doesn't make anyone weird, or insane for having their own opinion and feelings on something that you don't agree with.

I am in the "wear some knickers" camp, but I wouldn't accuse a "naked" camp person of being "insane" for their choice and views.

TheMonster · 19/08/2011 11:18
TwinkleTops · 19/08/2011 12:14

I wouldn't do it.

Sorry in advance for being really scary - but these days some perverts could have a hidden camera or even a long range camera just waiting for an opportunity to take a picture of a child.

At home, I have no problem with it, but I wouldn't allow my kids to do it in a park.

I don't think there are more perv's around these days - but I think there are a lot more prv's around than we realise - and with modern technology they could be taking pictures without you even knowing it.

porcamiseria · 19/08/2011 12:17

hmmm

ynabu to allow a small innocent child to play naked

BUT knowing that people will be funny about it, its better to have this occur in your garden, not saying people are right, but its too much of a weird grey area these days

so YABU

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 12:19

knowing people will be funny about it, its better to have this occur in your garden

I never worry about what other people think and I certainly don't care. If other people want to be funny about something perfectly natural that's their look out. I wouldn't adjust my behaviour to suit them.

mrsshears · 19/08/2011 13:25

but catgirl being naked in public is not perfectly natural

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 13:33

erm - yes it is mrsshears.....doesn't get much more natual?