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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
IfNotNowThenWhen · 12/05/2013 13:20

Er..does anyone actually beleive that paedophiles can be rehabilitated??
They MAY have the self control not to act on their impulses, but actually Lijk, what you said about cunning/plotting behaviour, well, yes, that is a big part of what many peadophiles do.
In order to get access to children, they can be extraordinarily organised and predatory.
Also, and I have heard this from police who work in this field, unfortunately places like kids water parks and play parks ARE staked out by perverts. They don't need white vans with recording equipment. They just need their phones.
It is a horrible fact, but anywhere where children congregate, especially without clothes is a attaction to perverts.
And the police are well aware of this.

This wouldn't make me get ds to cover up-after all, it's not his fault, and I wouldn't want it to affect what he does, but to decry the fact that parks etc are an attraction to peadophiles as "hysteria" is just wishful thinking.

SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 12/05/2013 17:32

Making a big deal about clothes is as bad as making a big deal about no clothes. Just because my babies were dressed in public (due to cultural norms) does not mean that it was a "YOU MUST COVER UP AND BE MODEST!" deal, for them I'm sure it was no different whatsoever than "let's get you dressed so we can go to the supermarket", my kids I'm sure just accepted that when we go out we are dressed regardless of the venue.

NannyPlumIsMyMum · 12/05/2013 19:35

Professionally I know that paedophiles cannot be rehabilitated - for a start they are not ill.

Secondly anybody that thinks it is hysterical to suggest that paedophiles hang out at parks is quite frankly deluded.

They do. A lot.

I have had the misfortune to work with many of them for the last twenty years so I know that they are never very far away - which is why I would rather protect my DC from getting filmed in a public place nude - the content of which may or may not end up on the Internet.

JustinBiebermakesmevom · 12/05/2013 19:42

That honestly makes my blood run cold Nanny

I was in town with a friend some years ago (before having dcs) and a woman lifted her daughter's skirt and took down her pants to do a pee in the street (this was a busy shopping street in Glasgow). The way she was holding the wee girl meant that everything was in full view of anyone passing buy. I felt physically sick at the thought of who could be looking on.....And I know when a wee one has to go they really have to go but I would have at least taken him/her somewhere a bit more secluded if I couldn't find a public toilet.

seeker · 12/05/2013 20:13

"Professionally I know that paedophiles cannot be rehabilitated - for a start they are not ill"

Professionally? Do tell.

Prissypumpkin · 12/05/2013 20:39

Lots of people have mentioned taking photos of their naked children. Have a look at this blog from a barristerswife. It's a real eye opener..

abarristerswife.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/exhibit-a-the-child-pornographer/

JustinBiebermakesmevom · 12/05/2013 21:28

Prissy - that is just ridiculous isn't it. I must admit we snap happy with DS1 and there are loads of pics of him in the bath with me and his Dad completely starkers.

sparkle12mar08 · 12/05/2013 21:55

I must admit that whenever we take pictures of our children I make sure they're never naked. Even in the bath there's always a strategic toy or some bubbles.

Gubbins · 12/05/2013 22:56

I'm sorry, but that makes me think of some saucy WI calendar, with the carefully positioned plate of scones. :)

sparkle12mar08 · 13/05/2013 11:39

"We're going to need considerably bigger buns!" One of my favourite lines!

Prissypumpkin · 13/05/2013 21:57

JustinBiebermakesmevom yes it is abit OTT, but I have heard that Boots and the like will report any snaps of naked children these days. Perhaps one for the "urban legends" thread!

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