to make DD (4) wear shorts under her nightdress?

[StarlingBirdsong]

So DD has just discovered it is possible to sleep in a dress (a birthday gift) and is now point blank refusing to wear her usual pjs (shorts and t-shirt). Not a problem, she needed new nightwear so i'm buying her a couple more.

However I was planning on getting some cycling short/cut off leggings for her to wear underneath. DH doesnt understand why and thinks its a waste of money and not needed. My thoughts are that she is only 4, so she comes downstairs in the morning and is turning cartwheels etc and generally mucking about with her brothers and i dont think its necessary to have bare bottoms waving about, or sat on my sofa.

Whilst i'm not a prude, i am conscious that she has an older brother and i think its important to set some ground rules for acceptable nudity - getting changed for bed etc is one thing but surely its not right for her privates to be on display while she's playing?

So what are your thoughts - shorts underneath? or perhaps just a pair of pants? to be worn all night or should i get her to put her pants on when she gets up? (also thinking of 'breathability' as it were if she's in something close fitting all night?)

(if its relevant i also generally encourage her to wear short leggings under her skirts and dresses, again due to age and her love of being upside down and climbing things - seems more practical than bare legs climbing a gate/on a slide etc)

Nope everyone doesn't wear the day's underwear all night long! SOunds like a recipe for yeast infections. Much better to sleep with nothing/loose clothing.

I'm with OP's DP on this one.

DS2's older brother tells him to put pants on when he gets up and starts skipping about with his willy waving all over the place.

Kids tend to work out their own modesty rules.

My 17 yo doesn't like seeing me naked. DS2 doesn't mind, though in a couple of years he will choose not to see my naked as well, and also decide to cover up his own bum. It's just part of growing up, no need to over think IMO.

If you think there's overt nudity going on then just guide them to put some undies on. Bare bottoms are fine, but not everyone wants to see them!

nb I am talking about a family setting, there are obv different rules in other situations.

My dd wears nothing in bed and ds wears just bottom half pj's. Me and dh sleep naked too

I thought you were supposed to leave your bits to air at night - that's what my DM told me! So my DDs have never worn pants under either PJs or nighties. DS favours a pair of loose PJ bottoms and DH and I prefer to sleep in the buff!

Another one here who thinks you're thinking too hard about this. Just put clean knickers on her if you'd rather she covered up. FWIW, DSis and I never wore anything under our nighties as little girls and DSis was a terror for climbing up bookcases and turning cartwheels at every opportunity. Our slightly older DB - who was frequently jumped on and attacked by the DSis of the bare bottom - seems to have got over the sight of her bits and moved on with his life without issue!

SiT nicely??
I would make dd put pants on outside the house but in her own home she can do what shewants within reason! When her older brother starts getting embarrassed I'm sure he'll tell her!

pants on in the morning should be fine.

I'd go underwear for round the house, going out in a dress i would go with the shorts if she likes to be upside down a lot. I wear shorts under my dresses incase of a gust of wind, nobody wants to see my pants!

Perhaps because I live near the beach I really don't see the problem with it, loads of young kids run around naked still and DD will spend most of the summer on the beach in 'bikini' knickers and a rash vest, she will probably do cart wheels - I'm not sticking shorts on over her for that so what's the difference between that and pants?

I feel I have woken up in 1910 with some of the comments on here

I agree, all this covering up sounds like a yeast infection's dream habitat.

In fact, if we have an impromptu visit to the beach she strips down to just her pants ...in public

Unless you sleep naked on top of the bed, I do wonder how much "airing" is achieved by being pantless.

You lost me at "delicate scratches" op

lavendar and OP: the White Company do lovely 100% cotton nightwear for kids. I tend to pick some up for DD in the sales as they are expensive. They wash really well though.

I agree with pants at night. My DD sometimes wears leggings under a skirt/dress for warmth, and I agree if tree-climbing, cycling or going to a park is on the cards, it's practical.

You all seem quite yeasty i wear pants at night never gives me problems

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3544959/Why-wearing-underwear-bed-nightmare-health-Tight-pants-affect-body-s-ability-regular-temperature-leading-problems-including-irritation-infection.html

You all seem quite yeasty

I was just thinking that! Feel terribly sorry for people who get thrush just from wearing knickers!

Go the whole hog and get her a burka

Knickers on in the morning if you must but really, who cares about a four year old showing their bum at home? And modesty shorts? Why not just put a burka on her and have done with it.

Knickers wouldn't be a problems, not sure about all the non-natural cycling shorts and leggings though.

You can't get 100% cotton nighties because of fire safety regulations I believe.

As a kid I would bath at night, nightie on, into bed.

But then when periods started it became a habit to sleep in pants.

Then as a teen/adult, would shower in the morning & sleep in pants & a tshirt.

Never had any infections-maybe it's the luck of the draw?

Oh just seen the White Company sell them, not sure where I got that from then sorry. As you were...

Cotton would be less flammable than polycotton wouldn't it?