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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:
TheMonster · 19/08/2011 13:36

Catgirl, do you go out naked?

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 13:37

On the beach yes. To the shops no. But also - I am not two years old.

TheMonster · 19/08/2011 13:39

On any beach, or just on nudist ones?

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 13:43

European beaches where it is fine. I am not sure how relevant this is though as I am an adult and we are talking about children.

I am Shock at people thinking there is something unnatural about a child being naked.

SunRaysthruClouds · 19/08/2011 13:50

BodyofEeyore I reckon the reason why most people don't go on beaches naked is that either there are rules against it or they are too self conscious to parade their flabby / floppy bits that come with age.

Neither of those apply to 2 year olds and it would be a sad day if they ever did, and rules had to be imposed because some sniffy types thought it was wrong for a young child to have no clothes on in a park.

mrsshears · 19/08/2011 13:51

Ok so you think its natural and i myself do not so we will have to agree to disagree on that,so where would you draw the line then at what age?
I really dont see why a child needs to be naked in public either,can they not have the same amount of fun in pants/swimsuit etc Confused

mrsshears · 19/08/2011 13:55

I should add i dont find it at all offensive to see a naked child i just dont think its necessary.Also I would hate to think i had put my dd in a position where someone unsavory could see her naked.

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 13:59

I don't think it's natural. It is natural. We are all naked in our natural state. Wearing clothes is unnatural. I am not advocating we all go around naked (it's too bloody cold for one thing) but you cannot argue that wearing clothes is natural. Normal - yes. A legal requirement of adults in the UK - yes. Natural - well no of course not. We don't live very natural lives though so......

I actually find people who are uncomfortable around a naked child pretty sinister. (Not saying that is you MrsShears)

I expect I would generally draw the line wherever the child became aware of the fact they were naked and was uncomfortable with this. 2 years old certainly isn't at that line.

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 14:00

I don't think it is necessary either MrsS, but I don't think there is anything wrong with it.

mrsshears · 19/08/2011 14:03

what if you got a child who had gone through puperty but was still very comfortable being naked in public?say a child with SN for example?
My point is really we all have to follow the "rules" of what is socially acceptable,as i said earlier would it really impact a childs enjoyment so much if they kept their pants/swimsuit on?

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 14:09

I said "generally" as there are obvious expections such as the one you mention.

However, it is socially acceptable for very small children to be naked as they have not reached puberty nor do they have much awareness of their bodies. It would be a sad day if it became unacceptable as would seem as if there was some shame or sexualisation attached which would be very very wrong and sad.

mrsshears · 19/08/2011 14:24

I see what you are saying,however it is the sexualisation that these wierdos will and do attach to it that makes me think children should not be naked in public.

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 14:29

I just won't pander to this hysteria over paedophillia. It's living in fear and it is wrong. It also teaches children at a very young age that they should be ashamed of their bodies. Paedophiles thankfully are a minority in society and I do not believe we should run around in a panic covering up children in case they are seen by one.

Of course you keep children safe, you keep them in your sight and you protect them but it is along the lines of not allowing school plays to be filmed in case a paedophile gets hold of the tape etc. Total over reaction and living in fear.

TheMonster · 19/08/2011 14:33

So now I'm sinister Shock

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 14:38

I find people who say the sight of a naked child makes them feel "uncomfortable" a bit sinister yes. Sorry. That's just how I feel.

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 14:40

I'm not calling you sinister - I just find the concept of people feeling "uncomfortable" around naked children sinister. I guess context could change that but overall I find it an odd way to be made to feel.

TheMonster · 19/08/2011 14:40

Sinister makes me think of scary, evil people. Not being comfortable with nakedness doesn't make a person like that, surely.

mrsshears · 19/08/2011 14:41

You cant compare the filming of a school play to a child being filmed naked in public.Its not about being ashamed either a child would accept from a young age that this was the "done" thing in a public place especially if they didnt know any different.
I have personal experience of paedophilles in parks which i dont want to go into on here but i can tell you they are a very real threat and i really find it worrying that people brush it under the carpet and make it out to be "hysteria".
Why put our children at unnecessary risk?

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 14:43

I didn't mention anyone filming a child naked in public?!?

But I do compare people not filming school plays and people not letting very small children be naked in public as I think they are both ott reactions.

I do not advocate putting children at risk but do not see how letting a 2 year old play fully supervised in the park without her clothes on does that.

mrsshears · 19/08/2011 14:45

because you are putting them at risk of being filmed naked in public.

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 14:47

and what additional risk does that put them at?

TheMonster · 19/08/2011 14:48

I just would worry too much, catgirl. When I was little, I suffered a traumatic experience at the hands of man in a park. My mum and her friend were less than 10m away on a bench, chatting, and my brother and his friends were a couple of metres away, playing in a bush (like boys do!). I was, as far as everyone was concerned, fully supervised. It was all over in a matter of seconds.

catgirl1976 · 19/08/2011 14:51

Well I can understand an experience like that would make yo umuch more cautious. I just think it is very sad people feel so threatened and so afraid.

mrsshears · 19/08/2011 14:52

Well i certainly wouldnt want a naked image of my dd floating around between god knows who!
Yes as other posters have said you probably would never know, even so i would never put my dd at risk of that happening ,the knowledge that i had put my dd in that vulnerable position would be bad enough.

TheMonster · 19/08/2011 14:54

My mum has never forgiven herself for it, even though I in no way blame her. There are bad people around - in parks, shopping centres, playgrounds. YOu can't live your life in fear of them, but you need to do what you can to minimise the risks.

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