Naked toddler in swimming pool showers

[Noodella18]

I take my 2 year old swimming on Fridays. After the session we take a shower in the communal showers, next to the lockers and by the entrance to the pool. I didn't think twice about stripping off her swimming costume to wash her but the lifeguard told me today that she wasn't allowed to be nude 'because it's a public area' and she had to keep it on. Am I being naive in thinking that a naked two year old is really no big deal?

Yanbu - no harm in a naked 2 year old
Yabu - keep the cossie on

I shower mine in the changing room showers. I wouldn't have them naked in the pool but, just because there's no need.

Yanbu but if those are the rules then you'll have to keep her swimming costume on.

It's a safe guarding thing. People with camera's taking photos of their kids, to perverts looking for a thrill.

I worked at a pool once where a soap actor was arrested for touching little girls in the pool. Police hid under the pool watching through the portholes to catch him.

It's for your kids own safety as well as everyone else.

I wouldn’t care but it’s probably a safeguarding rule the swimming pool have.

Part of your responsibility as a parent to a child is to keep them safe, and it's questionable that you thought it was acceptable to remove her clothes in a public space when there is the potential for pedophiles to be watching, then question a rule put in place that's against this and since the event for it to not have occured to you that the rule was there for a reason. It's not a chance you should ever take to make your child vulnerable publicly. Pedophiles are likely to pick up on your lack of capacity and could target you and your child. This is one of the most ridiculous posts I have seen written by an adult

It's shit but I think if folk knew the amount of sickos out there they wouldn't be allowing their kids to be undressed in any public place.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

I voted YABU not because of a naked toddler being 'wrong' but more that there can be a fine line between acceptable and not acceptable age wise so it can be more straightforward to have an absolute rule.

This. ^ Sorry @Noodella18 but I do think YABU. There are (sadly) SO many predators and perverts who will go to places like swimming baths to look at young children, (and hope they can catch a glimpse of a naked child,) that you can't risk letting your child be naked in a public place... It's revolting to think about it, but it does happen.

It's a crazy rule for not even a wee toddler to be able to be naked in the changing rooms, but it's understandable. So I have to regrettably also say YABU. As the poster I quoted said, it's best to have a blanket rule......

You did nothing wrong though.

[quote Noodella18]@Ellarain The lifeguard was correct. Babies/toddlers young children should not be nude in public even if it is at a swimming pool shower.

What?! Even on the beach?![/quote]
Given digital imagery I wouldn't think it wise to have your child naked on the beach, no.

Is it because she was naked or because she was without a nappy?

Yanbu. I just hope those rules aren’t put in to place to pander to people and it’s more to protect your DD than to “protect” other people.

YouWouldNotBelieve - what a deeply unpleasant and unnecessary post. Because OP questioned the need for a toddler to be clothed in a shower, while she was in full attendance, you’re casting doubt on her whole ability to keep her child safe?!

There are creeps everywhere who would get off on seeing a naked child. Surely you realise that? Don’t let your child go naked in public.

At my 4yo swimming lesson, there’s always a mum who strips her daughter naked in front of all the other kids and grown ups in their swimming costumes. I always feel a little sorry for her, like she has no dignity and is the only naked person.

It’s not a choice I would make for my child

Fgs!!

It's so utterly shit, isn't it. To me there's nothing more lovely than letting your child just be comfortable in their own skin but at the same time there really are absolute fucking creeps out there.

Just thinking about places in Europe when being naked is much more common, how do they deal with the issue?

@MissChanandlerBong81

Unfortunately leisure centres attract perverts and have done for a long time. My local one had a serious problem with pervs drilling peep holes in the cubicle walls of the family changing rooms for a while. We used to have to stuff them with loo roll at every visit before getting changed.

So whilst I agree that there’s nothing wrong in and of itself with a two year old being naked, I can absolutely understand why that’s the centre’s policy.

WHAT?! Omg that's horrifying!

This thread is honestly putting me off taking the kids swimming

There's no need to be naked in a communal area at any age imo.Just wash all the chlorine off properly when you get home.

@Noodella18, of course even on a beach, it's a public place. Children need to be protected. There is no need for them to be naked. Children need to be taught from a young age that their body is private. Letting them run around naked is ignorant and quite frankly dangerous.

@Hmmmm2018 why would you be naked on the beach or in the garden? Its definitely not appropriate on a beach

Wouldn’t bother me personally of course but think you are being naive sorry. Sad that is the case but would save the nudity for inside your own 4 walls.

Given that it's important to teach kids bodily autonomy, especially with regard to their private parts, why would you let your child be naked in public?

The difference between nakedness in your own garden or a beach and a public pool is that the first two, it’s down to the parent to be responsible. In a public pool, there is another problem - to do with safeguarding or legal or insurance ramifications, possible bringing the pool itself into trouble.

[quote MintyGreenDream]@Hmmmm2018 why would you be naked on the beach or in the garden? Its definitely not appropriate on a beach[/quote]
With respect to toddlers: On a beach because they are getting changed and hot, in your garden because they are hot and don't want clothes on. Mine on a hot day (with sunscreen on!) Would strip off in garden as soon as you turned around in fact mine generally disliked clothes as a toddler. I think what is wrong here is the obsession with we can't let our children be naked because of weird people. That argument is the same as women shouldn't wear revealing clothes due to weird people. The problem is the weird people not the naked children, you aren't going to stop weird people by stopping little children doing something normal.