Naked in front of your child

[weirdas]

What age Is it appropriate to stop being naked in front of your children (if any) and does gender matter? Ie dad and daughter or mum and son?

My ds became uncomfortable with me being naked when he was about 8. So I covered up.

There was a certain point with my mum I remember feeling awquard, and would only let her see me in underwear as a teenager and young adult. Then I had my first daughter and that all went out the window 🤣 the 2nd daughter she literally watched the poo come out of me giving birth, I'm due in August with 3rd, I don't think anything of it anymore 🤣

My DS is 7 and starting to occasionally seek privacy from people outside the immediate family when changing, but other times happily wanders around naked. He's totally fine with me and his dad being naked. I'll take my cues from him and if he starts to seem uncomfortable in any way I'll stop. Same with DD (currently in the nuddy at every and all opportunity stage of toddler hood).

My parents never stopped being naked in front of me and it never bothered me.

My boys are 11 & they aren’t awkward with me or themselves in the slightest. Everyone chatting in the shower/ on the toilet etc.
I think we’ve got another year or two yet

Whenever they get uncomfortable. I’ve never minded DD asking questions about my body (eg. Why do I have body hair, why do I have boobs, what’s a sanitary pad for) and think it’s good to talk about these things naturally throughout their childhood so they feel comfortable with their own bodies and puberty

Of course I don't mind mine seeing me naked but I I'm aware my nakedness could cause them embarrassment.

I warn them if I'm running darting somewhere undressed. I say I don't mind them seeing me at all but they may not want too.

I think it's hugely important that they seem real bodies but I'm proud of mine inspite of being over weight etc.

However what about grandparent? One dd said grandma was naked 🙄

My DD is 12 and we are both perfectly happy to be naked around one another. TBH it never crossed my mind that there was anything wrong with it. Might be different if I'd had a male child but I can't see the problem with nudity in front of your children. Find it a bit odd that people would cover up.

When they feel uncomfortable, different for every child and family.

DH has been known to go talk to his DM while she’s in the bath. I admit I was a bit 🤯 the first time this happened. DSs (11 and 7) have no shame in the home (I seem to spend a fair bit of time saying ‘put pants on before wandering around, nobody actively wants you naked here.’). I do knock before I go into bedrooms and bathrooms (usually because they’ve forgotten their towel) and as and when they get awkward will be more careful about shutting to door if I’m in the bath or shower.

My DDad was horrified at the idea of ever seeing his DDs naked past about 9. I remember being very grumpy that he’d still dry my six year old DSis after her bath but not me. Different families…

I was raised in a house with just my sister and mum, we had no qualms getting changed in front of eachother etc. (still don’t)

Swimsuit?

My son (4) has never seen me naked. Is this something I should have been doing?!

I (personally) think that’s strange.

I don’t hide away from my kids when I’m nude but then I don’t roam around the house naked either. They sometimes ask questions but they don’t notice I’ve got no clothes on most of the time. They’re only 5 so nakedness is their preferred state 😂 when I was a kid, my parents never used to hide away when naked either I'm pretty laid back about it. I agree with what pp said about boys seeing their mums naked - it’s good for them to see what real bodies look like. I also think it enables positive and organic conversations about boundaries, bodily autonomy and prepares them for when they eventually go through puberty.

I think that's very unusual. Did you ever see your parents undressed?

I agree - I had a c section too, and my mum did not see anything under my pyjamas - in fact, nobody saw me naked at any point - even during my first post section shower.

That being said, I’m generally comfortable about nudity. I wasn’t brought up this way - I haven’t seen my mum or dad in anything less than swimwear ever. But both my kids (a boy and a girl) still see both parents naked. I was in the bath earlier and they were both in the bathroom (against my will, may I add) - my eldest is nearly 8 and now prefers to get changed herself in privacy, but does not believe her parents need any privacy and will happily stand and chat while we get changed/washed/whatever.

I was wondering this, I have a 2 year old who loves coming for a shower with me but as he starts talking more I was wondering how long this will last. I love how he has absolutely no awareness right now that I’m ‘naked’ and just sees it as completely normal but like others have said I don’t want him having an image in his mind forever or shouting out in public something embarrassing he’s seen when I’ve been naked 😂 I kind of thought probably when they start school (for them to see me anyway) but it seems a lot of people on here are much later than that. I hate getting changed infront of literally everyone though so it probably depends what type of person you are!

@Oigetoffmylawn not fully and never my dad, that I remember. I don't feel I missed out! I didn't realise I was the exception to the rule until I saw this. Best start flashing!

I find this post sad. I don't want my kids to feel shame about bodies. I respect their privacy of course but within reason I am naked in my room and bathroom. And yes they go urghhh mum, but this is my home and I think it's ok.

Mine haven't grown up with any issues from not seeing me naked so I wouldn't worry too much.

It's not strange or unusual it's just different to others, which is fine.

@highlandspooce :-)

Opposite sex parent never in our house. Same sex parent (me) still fine in front of pre-teens - will stop if they become uncomfortable but I think it’s good for DDs to see what a normal middle-aged woman’s body looks like!

This is the same as us.

I've got a DD and DS, both aged 13 and both have SEN so it's a bit different I guess.

DS doesn't care about nudity at all, and runs around most of the time wearing a nappy and nothing else.

DD covers up in front of her dad, but not in front of me. I regularly offer to give her privacy but she's not fussed. She does close the door if she's using the toilet (thank god haha!), but that's it. Although she doesn't get changed in front of her dad now, she doesn't care about her dad getting naked. He quite often strips off downstairs - because that's where the laundry basket is - before going upstairs and having a shower.

Both DD and DS still need me in the bathroom to help them with showering/washing. DS needs more actual physical assistance, DD just gets anxious and needs help with washing her hair (sensory issues).

Neither DD nor DS seem to feel the need to give me any privacy and quite happily barge in if I'm in the shower, or having a wee. In fairness, I'm extremely open about my body and have made a real effort to promote body confidence. I am really overweight and need to lose a few stone, but I never talk about being fat or hating wobbly bits - I talk about needing to get fitter and being healthy.

I think it's healthy to be comfortable with nudity - naturists lead a totally nude lifestyle with both sexes mixing and there's nothing salacious about it. While I'm definitely not a naturist, I think there's a lot to be said for not making a big deal about nudity. I come from a very private and closed-off family while DP's family all undress in front of each other, talk to each other in the bath etc - it was quite mind-blowing when I first met him but I soon realised what a positive mindset it was. People in his family are all shapes and sizes but no one seems to have any real hang ups. I find it refreshing.

If either of the DC wanted more privacy, that would be absolutely fine and I regularly check in with them about this - usually when it's time for a shower/bath. But I think being comfortable with bodies is very much ingrained in our family habits so I don't anticipate any huge changes. Naked conversations are commonplace and tbh, no one even really notices!

One of mine walked in on me at about 6 or 7 while I was inserting a tampon . That led to some interesting questions…
Both of mine probably saw me naked up to about 10 or 11 - after that they would have been horrified, I think. But at least they saw what a normal woman’s body looks like and they’ve seen me in underwear well into their teens.

Both my DD's happily change in front of me, they are adults, since I moved in with dd they cover up a bit around the house but both they and dsd walk downstairs in bra and pants