Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to allow 3 year old DD to be naked on the beach?

140 replies

FredQuimby · 26/05/2012 23:17

We were on a beach in the SW yesterday and it was, of course, a scorcher! DD wanted to run around naked and I said ok. After a while I noticed she was the only naked person on the beach. All the other children had swimsuits on etc.

Was IBU to allow her to be naked? Is this something that's frowned upon these days? I did notice on man (a dad) looking a bit confused, but that could have just been his natural expression! :)

OP posts:
2shoes · 26/05/2012 23:52

i always though you put clothes on them to
protect from the sun
and to protect them from the sand

MamaMaiasaura · 26/05/2012 23:54

YaNbu ds2 4.5 doesn't much of the day tearing around garden starkers. I love seeing them feign so free and full of life and squishy little bottoms

5madthings · 26/05/2012 23:54

yanbu at all, she is little, let her enjoy being able to be naked and not care about it, my concerns would be sunburn but you protected against that and sand in places its not meant to go but am sure she would tell you if she was uncomfortable and she can have a shower, plus even when they have trunks, costumes on etc sand gets in them anyway!

VickityBoo · 26/05/2012 23:55

I love it! It is freedom, the only time in our lives, for most of us at least, when it's acceptable and not an issue.

It's beautifully innocent.

I find it such a shame that some adults and the culture make it something we question and people frown upon.

Having said that, where sand is concerned I prefer dd to be in a swimming cossie or at least knickers. I just think sand can be scratchy where you don't want it to be making for an uncomy trip home!

confusedpixie · 26/05/2012 23:55

YADNBU. It's perfectly natural for little kids to run around the beach in the nude! Though I've always been given dodgy looks for making that opinion known in the past Hmm I'm glad that there are people who feel the same!

Ghoulwithadragontattoo · 26/05/2012 23:55

YANBU.

MamaMaiasaura · 26/05/2012 23:59

Running not Feign ..silly phone

WorraLiberty · 27/05/2012 00:01

Kids naked on beach = best parenting decision

Kids naked on beach = meh whatever

Just do your own thing...what suits your kids and makes them happy is what's best.

But to describe it as the 'best parenting decision' is a bit strange.

Who really cares what other people's kids wear on the beach? Confused

1950sHousewife · 27/05/2012 00:09

Sigh.
I just meant, Worra, that if you feel that it's right for your kids, then its the best parenting decision.
I promise, I'm not some weirdo who goes round yanking bathing suits off.

And people do care. I had someone once tell me that I shouldn't be letting my toddler splash around in the surf naked. I asked her why, and she said - paedophiles. We were miles away from most things, except nosey cows.

WorraLiberty · 27/05/2012 00:15

I promise, I'm not some weirdo who goes round yanking bathing suits off

I wish I could promise the same but there was that 18-30's in Magaluf some years back.... Blush

You're right, some people do care but honestly from reading the many threads that come up on this subject, I can't help thinking no-one cares as much as the naked child's parents who (imo) often misread every look thrown their way.

1950sHousewife · 27/05/2012 00:21

Fair enough.
And yes, you're right, there was that Full Moon party back in 2000 where there was some bathing suit yanking going on ... happy days.

I think people do get paranoid because there is quite a bit of cats bumming going on. I let my DS run around naked in some squirty fountains (meant for this) on a very hot day last year. It was a pretty quiet area. I was amazed at how scowly people (mainly older women) were about it.
It was only another young mum who smiled as she went by and said "I wish I could let mine do that..." as if there was the naked police hiding behind a bush!

WorraLiberty · 27/05/2012 00:24

Ok..."Naked police hiding behind a bush" has thrown up all manner of images unintended by your post Grin

Duckypoohs · 27/05/2012 00:43

YANBU we don't go to the beach often, but at the local public paddling pools there are always a few butt naked kids running about, especially on unexpectedly hot days, or those with bulging Maggie Simpson nappies Grin.

Nothing wrong with it, it disturbs me that people would think it is somehow wrong, a bit like the blurring out of tiny baby genitals on birth programmes Hmm.

1950sHousewife · 27/05/2012 00:45

Oh no!
I'm imagining Sweeny-type mustache men with moobs and slightly russety nipple hair, ready to pop out from behind the leilandii.

I shall have nightmares from this. Shock

threeleftfeet · 27/05/2012 00:50

YADNBU!

nannyof3 · 27/05/2012 00:52

Sorry to say, but there are peodos out there and they do take random photos of children , especially naked children... For me, its always knickers, pants for that aspect and light tshirt for protecting there shoulders and back from the sun!!!!
I think kids should be able to be naked but i think its a risk

Krumbum · 27/05/2012 01:23

I think it's fine, I loved a little naked run when I was little. Slightly off topic but it's so weird when you think about it that most people put little girls in bikini tops/swimsuits because they have no boobs, it's like pretending they do lol. Girls and boys could both just wear bottoms.

my2centsis · 27/05/2012 09:43

Sorry I personally think it's inappropriate. Am actually quite suppressed I'm the only one. But that being said both you and ur dd were happy with this decision so who cares what anyone else thinks :)

MamaMaiasaura · 27/05/2012 10:14

Why "inappropriate" 2cents Confused

NiceViper · 27/05/2012 10:18

I don't see there's anything wrong with it, but I did put mine in trunks/bottoms, because of the sand in crevices issue (if it's affected one of your DCs once, you won't do it again, trust me).

hiveofbees · 27/05/2012 10:22

I wouldnt do this, because I would rather use a swimsuit to protect them partially from the sun, in addition to SPF, rather than trying to cover entirely in factor 50 and then wondering if some had washed off.

It will get funny looks from people, and I think that a lot of people will be really surprised to see a naked 3 year old running about, but that isnt necessarily a reason for you to change what you do.

Moshlingmummy · 27/05/2012 10:25

On European beaches a lot less children wear clothes...boys and girls tend to just wear pants if anything. Certainly the only kids you will see in uv suits are British. I make mine cover up in the hottest part of the day but early morning / late afternoon I just stick them in pants mine are 7 and 4 .

my2centsis · 27/05/2012 10:26

I am not judging the op for this or anyone else who chooses to let their kids do this.

I just personally wouldn't let either of my dc do this as I think it's inappropriate for them to be rung around a beach full if strangers naked. Who knows what type of people are around.

At the beach a few years ago there were some naked wee kids and there was a group of teens to my left and a man to my right who were staring at these kids for ages and it made me uncomfortable.

Growing up we were never naked apart from the bath maybe Thas why I am the way I am. Dd plays in the pool naked at home and loves it. I have no problem with this but if any one other then dh and I are home then she will have togs on.

threeleftfeet · 27/05/2012 11:40

"Sorry to say, but there are peodos out there and they do take random photos of children , especially naked children.."

Well yes there are. But I'm damned if I'm going to stop my DC doing something they enjoy - running around naked in the sun, when I am there to supervise them - because I'm imagining paedos in the bushes!

There could be paedos anywhere. They could be having inappropriate thoughts / taking pictures of our DCs as they walk down the street. But I'm not going to stop my DCs going out! You can't stop what someone else thinks, nor does it actually affect you as long as it stays in their head, no matter how nasty.

But if we don't let our DCs do something they enjoy because we're worried about the thoughts of people who are probably not even there, then it's the DCs who lose out, and I refuse to let an imagined danger spoil our fun!

VickityBoo · 27/05/2012 12:05

The other thing is, we have had a couple of beach visits where we had only expected to go for a walk around but it turned out warmer than expected. So we have stripped dd down to bare minimum and let her play.