Naked children in courtyard cafés

[bibblybop]

Today DH and I took DS to a local beauty spot. Like a National Trust but not actually NT if you get me? Beautiful gardens, old mansion, gorgeous.

We were having a bite to eat in the courtyard cafe near a family with several young children running around. Fine. Except the youngest little girl (roughly 3yo) was running around completely naked.

I'm not a prude, and I'm very sympathetic to parents as I know from experience that kids can be unruly/unreasonable and sometimes decorum has to come second to a child's need (i'm thinking public wees in an emergency kind of scenarios here...)

But I feel like allowing your child to run around completely naked in an outdoor café is a bit much? People are there trying to enjoy their lunch while a little girl is romping around everyone's tables with no clothes on... I know it's hot but it's a cafe FGS

I'd love to know people's thoughts on this because I feel like I'm missing something 🙈😂 Surely they can't think that's acceptable? Or is it?!

@MapGirlExtraordinaire

I'd find it cute tbh. My two have been naked in public many times, they want to and I can't think of a good reason to say no. If it bothers someone else then that's their problem.

Noise and running so close as to cause people aggravation I would put a stop to, but a 3 yr old's little naked bum? Nah, fine in my book.

I don’t want to see anyone’s naked bum while I’m eating. It’s bloody rude. I don’t care how old they are

@takealettermsjones

I wouldn't even question it if it was a beach, but yeah a cafe is a bit much. I wouldn't say anything though - she's not doing any harm really.

Yes exactly. I was saying this to DH, at a beach it's completely fine, I wouldn't even bat an eyelid. It was the fact that it was a café and people are trying to enjoy their lunch.

It was really hot here today as well, but they could have stripped her off in the grounds to run around, not the café. This place has acres and acres of land.

No it’s not appropriate and to be honest it’s not at a beach either; my DD has been taught to be proud of her body but that her genitals are private amd not for everyone to see

I agree it's not appropriate and I would never let mine do it. But, how does it stop anyone enjoying their lunch?

I have lived in several countries with hot temperatures every summer, very different countries.
Naked dc have not been the norm in any of them.

The beach I wouldn't bother about but a cafe isn't ok.

'think British people are very prude. Toddler outside on a day when it's over 30 degrees? No problem.'

Not a prude at all just parents have responsibilities to safeguard their kids, letting them run around naked in public is not that.

A pair of pants is hardly going to make the slightest bit of difference comfort wise in 30⁰c heat, I've managed fine.

I went to a wedding a few years ago where the nephew of the couple getting married was wandering around with no clothes on at the reception. It was quite warm and he was about 3.
It was quite funny but a bit weird and inappropriate. Apparently he was always getting naked at home and his parents struggled to stop him.

Lolling at very prude. Can't exactly imagine even in Europe people would be loving small kids strolling around sans vêtements in cafés

Honestly wouldn’t care at all about this, nor be put off my lunch . A toddler/preschooler delighting in a naked sunshiney scamper is just normal, innit. I’d rather they did that than had a tantrum. Wouldn’t bat an eye. (Disclaimer: German.)

I'd be concerned about sunburn, much more chance of suncream being applied on a beach.

But, how does it stop anyone enjoying their lunch

You have to ask? I don't want to see naked butts when I eat my cous cous and slice of date and walnut?

Just no. And the fact she was allowed to run around the courtyard tells you enough.

'A toddler/preschooler delighting in a naked sunshiney scamper is just normal, innit. I’d rather they did that than had a tantrum. Wouldn’t bat an eye. (Disclaimer: German.)'

Why though? Would you be 'delighted# seeing a 7or 8yr olds naked? I'd hope not. They have the right to privacy from strangers.

I'm pretty chilled out but I'd agree it's not on - hygiene, sunburn, the list goes on...

I wouldn’t let me kids be naked in a cafe, especially not sitting on seats!

I would at a beach though or river swimming

A time and a place

Absolutely not right. YANBU.

Hygiene, pervs with camera phones, sunburn, not teaching respect for private parts, it’s all wrong.

Why though? Would you be 'delighted# seeing a 7or 8yr olds naked? I'd hope not.
I didn’t say I’d be delighted. I said the child was delighting in.

Ffs, it's not 1972.

This is no longer acceptable. Didn't the parents get the memo?

Children should not be running around in a cafe- safety issues and simply being a nuicance.

no i wouldnt find it acceptable , and all of the reasons why not have been listed by the other various posters above

For some reason I'd see it as unreasonable inside a cafe but in a courtyard I don't think it would particularly register with me. I would worry about sunburn but that doesn't have to be when they are naked, a boy in a pair of trunks I'd worry about them, A little girl in a swimming costume I'd worry about them.

I may be put off by a grown ups arse whilst eating. I'm struggling to see what's so offensive about a small child's bum

YANBU. Really inappropriate.

Shouldn't be running round people's tables clothed or not.
It's a hazard and a nuisance to people who don't want kids running around their table.

Sometimes kids have to be told no. There's plenty places to run around safely. Without hot drinks and food to scald or other people's lunch to ruin!