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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:
tinkerbel72 · 27/05/2012 15:06

Mine always wore loose t shirts and pants when small, because frankly its more comfy and cool, and helps prevent sand getting into delicate places.

realhousewifeofdevoncounty · 27/05/2012 15:08

Yanbu. Unless of course they had no cream on!

realhousewifeofdevoncounty · 27/05/2012 15:14

Mchappypants - do you have children? If so do you change their nappies with your eyes closed? I have been brought up to believe nakedness is nothing more significant than just not having clothes on. My parents never made any special effort to cover up in front of us as kids. And I happily ran around naked until the age I started to get embarrassed.

MrsCampbellBlack · 27/05/2012 15:20

I wouldn't let mine be naked on the beach but don't care if other children are.

Running around is fine but when they're bending over etc - well I just don't particularly want to see that really and it does make me uncomfortable. But that's probably down to my upbringing and being told to be ladylike etc Hmm

willyoustillloveme · 27/05/2012 15:26

I have been wondering the same thing about my 3 year old in the garden as we are over looked but its to hot to try and battle with her so naked she is. Smile

nannyof3 · 27/05/2012 18:57

Some people are just to rude!!!!

Each to ur own but i wouldnt let my kids or any in my care run around naked!!!!!!

Stupid stupid !!!!!!

McHappyPants2012 · 27/05/2012 19:03

Yes I have 2 children, I have changed nappies but always in private.

They can play out in there pants and dd is in nappies. Only because they are small doesn't mean children don't deserve a bit of dignity.

exoticfruits · 27/05/2012 19:08

Small children are not remotely interested in dignity! I do think people should separate their own feeling from their DCs.

exoticfruits · 27/05/2012 19:09

You don't know who's looking & what their thinking..

That is their problem-not mine.

eastendywendy · 27/05/2012 19:12

I'm quite glad to see so many people are ok with this.

I had dd and ds at the beach yday, they are 20m and 5yrs old. They had tshirts and shorts on but got soaking in the sea so I stripped them to change them and the woman beside me very loudly said 'for goodness sake there's no need'. They were naked for maybe 1 minute each. I felt quite shit and also shocked that things like that actually ahppened and people didn't just make it up for MN

cantspel · 27/05/2012 19:14

Mine have never been naked on a beach and i dont have any problems with nudity. Mine are now teenagers and they still see me getting dressed ect so no hang ups what so ever.

Even with sun screen on i dont think they are properly protected from the sun. Bums and willies barely see day light let alone intense sun so will burn very quickly. Most people dont use suncream properly as they dont put enough on or long enough before actually going out in the sun. You get much better protection with a tight weave cotton or a proper rash vest or uva suit and you will be cooler than if you are naked.

kid · 27/05/2012 19:15

When DD was 3, I'd have let her run around on the beach in her knickers. I wouldn't have a problem with other children running around naked, its got nothing to do with me and 3 is just a baby so no need for them to cover up really.

StarlightMcKenzie · 27/05/2012 19:18

Oh I LOVE naked kids!

Saw an 8 year old girl in and our of the sea the other day. Lightly tanned.

It was a beautiful and innocent sight.

I can't stand bikini tops on kids either.

Ds has to wear bottoms though because of his willy habit.

exoticfruits · 27/05/2012 19:19

Mine have fair skins so I would keep them clothed for that reason but they don't have to hide behind towels to change until they get to the age where they want privacy. Other people's naked DCs don't bother me at all and I think it terrifically sad that you have to worry about what others might be thinking.

Sabriel · 27/05/2012 19:25

My DD has spent the last couple of days playing in a public square in their water features (notices everywhere say they aren't paddling pools Grin ). Yesterday we didn't have anything with us (not intending to go there) & my mum was desperate to strip DD off to her knickers. I'm not a great sun worshipper and for that reason I like to keep my children covered up. Mum & Dh had a little power struggle and the dress stayed on Grin. Today DD had a swimming costume.

There were a large number of children totally naked & some in underwear. I really don't like it. Aside from the sun thing, which does bother me, I don't know why I don't like it - somehow feels unhygenic, but that isn't all of it. It just doesn't seem appropriate. The beach is different, but again I'd rather see young skin covered.

Empusa · 27/05/2012 19:28

DS is too young to worry about this yet, but I don't see the problem. My parents have got photos of me, my brother and all my cousins running around a beach naked. We were perfectly happy like that.

exoticfruits · 27/05/2012 19:31

It is a sad sign of the times-it never used to be an issue.

skybluepearl · 27/05/2012 19:38

I wouldn't care less about she was wearing but would hate her to get burnt.

Sunnywithachanceofshowers · 27/05/2012 19:39

YANBU. Little ones are so cute running around!

skybluepearl · 27/05/2012 19:40

Posted too early. Happy for other kids to be naked but would make sure mine were wearing pants or a costume.

watermargin · 27/05/2012 19:43

I wouldn't, I'm sorry but I really, really wouldn't. I am not of the "paedophiles lurking around every corner" mindset but I do know from my work just how many men haunt beaches on hot days because they know there is a good chance there will be naked children there. I am surprised some people say this wouldn't bother them: it would bother me.

StarlightMcKenzie · 27/05/2012 19:48

It does bother me, but I suppose you have to weigh up the biggest 'harm'

I do not relish the though of someone having inappropriate thoughts about my children, but nor am I prepared to stifle their innocence for something that doesn't actually harm them.

JumpJockey · 27/05/2012 20:03

I would love to let my dds run around naked in our garden but given how quickly dd1 burned last summer on a not-very-hot day, we insist on t-shirts at least - they're 3/4 scottish and very very fair-skinned indeed.

In all honesty I find small girls in bikinis more disturbing than naked ones - somehow it's suggesting that small children's nipples should be hidden away, which is just offensive. A swimsuit is practical, a bikini just makes me wonder why. It's not as if small children are going to be showing off their tanned midriffs at primary school. (I hope...)

nannyof3 · 27/05/2012 20:45

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realhousewifeofdevoncounty · 27/05/2012 20:53

It has just occured to me that dd was running around starkers after her bath in my mum's garden today and we happened to be filming with the camcorder as we had already been filming her lots playing throughout the day as we haven't taken any footage for ages. Is that considered ok? It wouldn't have even occured to me that it wasn't, there are plenty of naked pics of me and my bro on the beach etc when we were young. But it is a serious question, is that acceptable nowadays? This thread has made me wonder! After all it will only ever be seen by us and the boyfriend she brings home when she is 18 Grin