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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Naked children in the park - who is right?

497 replies

Oysterbabe · 08/05/2016 17:24

We're currently enjoying the sun in the park with DD 4 months (who is enjoying it by being asleep in the shade) It is packed with families as you'd expect. In the group next to us there are two little girls, I'm going to guess about 4 and 5, who are having a lovely time running around and playing completely in the buff. I was saying to DH that I wouldn't let our DD run around naked at that age in such a public place. There could be any number of dodgy characters watching on and getting off on it. He thinks it's fine, that they're still young enough to get away with it. Also in the unlikely event there is a lurking paedo, they're completely oblivious and it's not going to hurt them at all, you can't live in fear.
Who's right? Am I being too Daily Mail paedo round every corner or is it correct to be cautious about such things?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 08/05/2016 17:59

That's one of my favourite songs Iggi999 and tis very true. Grin

paxillin · 08/05/2016 18:01

I allowed mine until they no longer felt comfortable doing it (around 5 or 6 I believe).

carabos · 08/05/2016 18:01

I wouldn't have paedo concerns but I think, like others, that you are in danger of giving mixed messages about personal privacy. You are saying that you are happy for your child to be naked in close proximity to strangers. Either you are, or you aren't. A small child doesn't get the nuances.

I'm also with those who don't want to see strangers' genitals either, whatever their age. So it's a no from me.

LookJustCancelTheCheque · 08/05/2016 18:01

Am I being too Daily Mail paedo round every corner

Yes. YABU.

minifingerz · 08/05/2016 18:01

This thread is so British

We really are massive prudes.

Those of you who are saying 'it's just not necessary', well no, but have you ever experienced being completely naked in the sunshine?

It's gorgeous!

MyBreadIsEggy · 08/05/2016 18:01

If the parents are comfortable with it, then I think it's fine - I'm not bothered by naked toddlers or young primary school kids (4/5yo) running around naked in the sun.
We went to the beach today and took DD's (12mo) clothes off, as she insisted on playing in the sloppiest sand she could find.....I did however, leave a nappy on her, as she has a tendency to squat and poo wherever she wants the very second her little bottom is let free from the constraints of a nappy! If she wasn't a rogue pooper, I would have let her be naked on the beach without a second thought.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/05/2016 18:01

I think you're both right.

I don't think its a problem at all if children at that age are naked.

But if you arent comfortable with your own child doing it that's fine too.

You may feel differently If you have a child who strips off as soon as your back is turned.

SatsukiKusakabe · 08/05/2016 18:02

I would say the prevailing culture in this country is for children to be in at least partially clothed in public, from my own experience as a child, and from what I see now I have young children, nudity is the exception rather than the rule. I don't see why that makes people who adhere to that 'weirdos' any more than those that have a different outlook are. Lots of thing vary in other countries, you can't really compare and pronounce one lot or the other weirdos because of that difference.

BennyTheBall · 08/05/2016 18:03

When mine were that age, we couldn't keep clothes on them - they were always running around naked.

I would attempt to keep them clothed in very public places though.

Sparklingbrook · 08/05/2016 18:03

This thread is not 'British' at all. I wondered when everyone would be accused of being prudes. Hmm

Marmalady75 · 08/05/2016 18:03

I'm not a big fan of it in public places - it makes me feel a bit awkward and I feel like I have to be very careful where I look. I have no problem with people doing it in their own house and garden - the children have a good time and nobody feels awkward.

SoleBizzz · 08/05/2016 18:04

I went to a child's Birthday party years ago. There wee naked children running about in the front garden. I had never seen it before. I was a bit judge but after a while it didn't bother me.

LouBlue1507 · 08/05/2016 18:04

It's none of your business tbh, Too many people are too quick to judge other parents on what they deem to be 'wrong'.

Just look away and don't let it bother you!

Narp · 08/05/2016 18:05

It's unsurprising that this British thread from predominately British people on British website is ... British

Grin
Youarenotkiddingme · 08/05/2016 18:05

I'm with your dh on the peads on every corner thing.

However I totally agree with posters who say genatalia should be covered at least due to us telling children the parts in their underwear are private etc. There is just no need to be naked.

Babettescat · 08/05/2016 18:05

I'm with you on this I'm afraid. Also, coming from a tropical country in conservative Asia, I've found its possible to have lots of fun as a kid without being naked on the beach!

SoleBizzz · 08/05/2016 18:06

Yes I too didn't know where to look and the children ranged from two to eight years old. There were so many of them I didn't censor where I looked in the end. Was strange. the Mother was very posh and her New York business colleagues were there so I thought so this is how posh people party

Sparklingbrook · 08/05/2016 18:06

One bit of sunshine and Britain goes naked. Grin

Lemonblast · 08/05/2016 18:06

It's totally unnessecary and flies totally in the face of the message that we teach our children about what's under underwear is private and no one else should be touching.

Have managed to successfully raise a number of children without ever having as skiddy bottom perch on a swing or slide down a slide. And surprisingly all of them have very healthy body attitudes and attitudes to nudity and respecting each other's privacy.
And I do judge people who strip their kids off in public. To me it's a ' I's such a cool momma and you're all sooooo repressed' kind of statement.

BoatyMcBoat · 08/05/2016 18:07

We used to let dd run around on the beach in the buff. If we took her friends, they would too. It was completely normal when I was a child and it never occurred to me that it was a problem. Until Boots held back some photos, and asked me why my child was naked in every shot Blush

Idliketobeabutterfly · 08/05/2016 18:07

You are right IMO.

Sparklingbrook · 08/05/2016 18:08

This is the campaign i was thinking of

www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/underwear-rule/

Muskateersmummy · 08/05/2016 18:09

Dh and I both agree on this and we wouldn't let our dd do it. I don't believe she would come to any harm but the thought of someone watching her running about naked makes me uncomfortable. Plus she's crazy fair so would look like a mini lobster in approximately 2 minutes even with a liberal dose of sun cream!

Helmetbymidnight · 08/05/2016 18:09

Beach or outdoor pool, maybe, not at the park.

But naked children would not put me off my picnic.

SoleBizzz · 08/05/2016 18:10

What's under underwear...lol . Having a severely disabled, blind and none verbal DS I haven't had to teach him about those things. I have been quite paranoid about others respecting his dignity when his pad his changed etc. That day made me think things can't be that bad and made me relax a bit about DS's safety.