Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what is normal regarding nudity and babies/smallchildren in the UK?

161 replies

honeytea · 11/05/2013 09:44

I am English but I live in my dp's home country (Sweden.)

We have a baby (4.5 months) it has been really lovely and hot the last couple of weeks so I have been taking ds down to the beach or to the park and letting him lie naked in the shade (on a few old towels to catch wee) this seems fairly normal here, I didn't even really think about it. The kids swim in the lakes and some are naked whilst swimming up to 5/6+ here.

I mentioned to a friend who lives in the USA how it was lovely for babyhoney to get fresh air on his bum and she said you would never do that in the USA, she said at baby groups the mums covered their babies genitals with a cloth so the other mums (and babies?)didn't see. At the baby massage group we go to all the babies are naked and I have never seen anyone trying to hide their babies genatals.

We are coming to the UK for a month in July and hopefully it will be warm. What is normal levals of baby nudity? I am from Devon so we will be having days on the beach as well as visiting parks.

thanks!

OP posts:
FarBetterNow · 11/05/2013 10:44

I do remember seeing a nude little girl playing in the rock pools and being worried about her slipping, landing on her bum and getting her 'bits' grazed by the rough rocks.
Luckily she was fine!

DewDr0p · 11/05/2013 10:52

I've always tended to cover mine up in UV suits as they are very fair (redheaded) and hate having suncream applied. But we're not at all worried about nudity and they all happily strip off on the beach to change, dc1 is nearly 9 and it's only very recently that he's been remotely worried about that.

Wouldn't bat an eyelid at a 2-3 yo running round naked. I guess by 6ish I might expect them to be a little more covered up. Agree with comments about nappies on babies too!

mikkii · 11/05/2013 10:56

In the garden, my DCs can wear swimmies, pants or go naked. In fact last week the 2 yo started off with shorts on, but stripped off after she spilt her drink.

My older ones (8 and 6) would prefer pants on the beach if no costumes available, but would then happily go home commando (pants free). They will strip off to change and aren't worried about covering up.

My DD1 (6) will wear bikini bottoms on holiday without the top, but at the swimming pool (indoor) I would give her a one piece or tankini.

Gubbins · 11/05/2013 11:49

"cover the modesty" of an 18 month old? "girls don't need to cover their tops until they're 5 or 6"?

weeps

My daughters had a fantastic time naked on a busy bank holiday beach when they were about 3 and 5. I didn't notice any cats bums, but then I was too busy watching them enjoy themselves. Eldest is now 8, nearly 9, and does now prefer to keep her bottom covered in public, but will happily run about in her pants on a beach or at the waterpark. The nearly seven year old is still happily naked anywhere.

There are some girls in her ballet class who take themselves off to the loo in private to get changed, which I think is quite sad. Children of that age don't become self concious without external influence.

exoticfruits · 11/05/2013 11:55

It would appear from MN, in the summer, that there are two distinct opinions. I would go with personal preference.

sparkle12mar08 · 11/05/2013 11:56

I wouldn't expect to see any child, that can walk independently, completely naked in a public place. I don't want to see anybody's private parts floating on the breeze thank you very much, regardless of age. Put some bloody pants on for god's sake!

exoticfruits · 11/05/2013 11:58

That is the problem OP -lots of us are not worried two hoots about naked, small children in public places-I think it sad that you would. Therefore do whatever you think-you will be wrong whatever you do! When the DC is old enough to be bothered they cover up-simple.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 11/05/2013 11:59

I wouldn't cover DS if he didn't want to be, he's 19 months.

I think it's pretty sad when people get het up about babies not having clothes on.

Branleuse · 11/05/2013 12:05

my ds2 and dd were naked on the beach last summer at 4 and 5. If they want to do the same this summer I wont see a problem. I always put swimclothes on them but ds2 in particular always removes his given half a chance. Ds1 still tried to at about age 10 but I told him he was too old.

Chocoflump · 11/05/2013 12:06

Ok I'm clearly in the minority here.

Baby lying in the shade- I don't see a problem being naked, letting the fresh air around its bum.

However once a child is walking around I really don't see any need to be naked. Why not wear swimming pants/trunks? Surely if its hot just wearing a pair of pants won't make them overheat ConfusedConfusedConfused

And I would be really shocked to see a 7 year old or older running around naked in a public place.

Gubbins · 11/05/2013 12:09

My daughter was walking independently at 9 months. It wouldnt have ever crossed my mind in a million years that someone might get upset about seeing a 9 month old's bum and crotch.

Branleuse · 11/05/2013 12:10

what difference does it make though. Its only kids.

Primrose123 · 11/05/2013 12:10

Americans are very shy about naked babies. Years ago when DD was a toddler we went to a water park in Florida. DD wore a swim nappy, and as I was changing and dressing her, she toddled naked around my chair for about 2 minutes. One of the staff came up and asked me to cover her up!

Jan49 · 11/05/2013 12:12

I think children should be wearing pants or a nappy at least. I'd be worried about sun protection if they're outdoors, getting sand in crevices or getting hurt or doing a poo or wee when naked. You wouldn't let your toddler run around naked on a beach in November, so it's likely to be Spring/Summer and they need to be covered up in the sun with a t-shirt and shorts. I wouldn't allow a child to be outdoors with their top half bare, even if they're going in the sea. OP, aren't there problems with babies weeing and pooing at the baby massage group?

Apart from all the above, I just don't really want to see someone else's naked child unless it's for changing a nappy or changing clothing or in the bath.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 11/05/2013 12:15

"Apart from all the above, I just don't really want to see someone else's naked child unless it's for changing a nappy or changing clothing or in the bath."

We're talking about a baby though, surely a naked baby isn't offensive.

exoticfruits · 11/05/2013 12:17

I am quite happy to see someone's naked child-why ever not?

Answers with pan out at 50/50, so do whatever you like.

Gubbins · 11/05/2013 12:17

I really don't understand, Chocoflump. I can understand why people might want to keep their own children covered up (although wouldn't necessarily agree with them); but what is it that you find shocking about a pre-pubertal child being naked. And for those who set an age limit, what is the difference between a three year old's bum and a six year old's? Or a 7 year old girl's chest and a 4 year old's ( or, indeed a seven year old boy's)?

exoticfruits · 11/05/2013 12:17

I can't think of much that we need to copy from the Americans!

EauRouge · 11/05/2013 12:18

Covering up a baby's genitals at a baby massage class?! Shock That's a really fucked up, unhealthy attitude, how sad :(

i would happily let my DDs run around in the buff on the beach, they are 4.7yo and 2yo.

exoticfruits · 11/05/2013 12:18

I tended to keep mine covered up-but only because they are fair skinned.

LEMisdisappointed · 11/05/2013 12:18

Jan49 you are very odd!! You just don't really want to see someone else's nake child?? Hmm Really???

A nappy or pants are not going to stop sand in bits

There is an issue with sun but thats what sunscreen is for - ouchie at the thought of a burnt willy though, its about common sense isn't it - a short frolick in the sea is fine, hours naked with no sun protection, not fine.

MoreSnowPlease · 11/05/2013 12:19

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

Oldraver · 11/05/2013 12:19

I would say until the child felt they wanted to cover up. DS is 7 and has now started to want to cover up.

I realise here in the UK that would be frowned upon

Nagoo · 11/05/2013 12:19

I put mine in a swim nappy because of the wee/poo factor. No one wants to be treading in that do they?

DS was potty trained by 2 and I was a bit shocked when someone asked me to put clothes on him at a beach. He was 2 FFS.

SneakyNuts · 11/05/2013 12:20

People take offence at babies being naked on a beach?! Shock Hmm