Should kids be naked on a public beach

[YabaJaba]

If so, at what age should they put a cossie on?

This subject comes up every single year and the trills jump on with glee.
Why bother teaching children the NSPCC Pants rule (OP was watching 5 and 6 year olds) if you disregard it at the beach?
Would it be acceptable for them to do PE at school like it? Would you sign a consent letter for naked PE?
But it's OK on a beach in front of the general public then? Cos there's sand and water there and that makes a difference.
Why would any parent ask strangers on a public forum if it's ok? Very peculiar.

Never under any circumstances, it was considered ok in the 60s, 70s and 80s but only by some. Apart from anything else, if you are adequately sunscreening your child then what you are having to do in public to maintain this is embarrassing fir other people

Madness indeed. Irresponsible would be a better description.

No. I've always thought it's disrespectful to the children, whether on the beach or elsewhere. I dislike the presumption of adults who declare that covering up children is old hat or stuffy or not like those other countries, therefore wrong. I don't want to expose children to being stared at or presumed to be public property and that it doesn't matter.

Ah Mumsnet. Where every man is a potential rapist but on the other hand you're a prude for wanting to cover your children up.

Well if you think those of us that don’t wish to see topless women on a family friendly beach are prudes, I’d say those of you that like to do it are exhibitionists!

yes why not ?

Because although you might not be embarrassed, other people might well be. Therefore it's selfish imo.

Not wanting to see random strangers' breasts when out and about does not equal prudery.

@sixtyten Oh give over. If someone is embarrassed by boobs that's on them. Why on earth are men's chests acceptable but women's aren't? Plenty of women are sexually attracted to a man with a nice chest. We don't make them cover up. Should have told the African tribeswoman we saw on safari to cover up because it was embarrassing me? That they're selfish for having different cultural ideas? Or does that only apply to other Europeans who you feel should conform to your ideals?

Respecting people's norms goes both ways.

You don't tell a remote tribe in Peru to put a T-shirt on because you're offended.

You don't go to the UAE and topless sunbathe.

In England, topless sunbathing at public spaces is not the norm, so you adhere to wearing a bikini etc. and go somewhere that allows it.

@MrsGarrison It is actually, by law, allowed for a woman to be just a topless as a man in the UK. Woman who choose not to wear a top are not breaking any laws.

Fine up until about age 4 or 5. (But we live in Sweden)

Well, cultural norms do play a part, no point pretending they don't.

But FWIW I don't like it when men wander around shirtless either.

I know, it's still not the cultural norm. You can, you won't be thrown in jail - the rest of my post still applies exactly the same.

It’s not very classy though is it? Most people wouldn’t feel comfortable beside a woman with her boobs on show. As a pp explained, it’s not the norm here at all.

I have never ever seen a woman wandering about on a hot sunny day with a bare chest. Yes men do it but they don’t have the same sexual connotations as breasts do.

Again, you do you but if I seen a topless woman on a beach full of families I would find it classless and inappropriate

It was fairly common about 40 years ago. But society has got more prudish.

I agree entirely OP

Completely naked up to about 2/3. With just bottoms for girls up to about 5/6.

Also common about 40 years ago:

• bottom-pinching and other general groping;
• sexual assaults being minimised and women asked where their sense of humour was;
• rape being trivialised;
• child victims of sexual assault not being believed.

Are we all prudes for no longer accepting those things, too?

Honestly we had no choice when dc we’re little- they both hated wet swimming pants so would just strip off.

think it’s fine.

They both grew out of it aged about 4/5. But it wasn’t a battle worth fighting

I used to think yes, but then I started working with sex offenders. Sadly they quite like sitting in the beach photographing little ones running around naked.
I used to allow mine to, now I wouldn't.

Children should be able to be naked and it not matter, but knowing how vile some people are and how easy it is to snap quick pictures there’s no way I’d allow a child to be naked in public. Not at any age. They could very easily end up on some dark web cess pit for peadophiles.

About 80. Im a naturist

This reminded me of when my ds used to strip off at the swimming pool and run around naked, ignoring me yelling at him to put his trunks back on. It was so embarrassing because the attendants wouldn’t allow it and everyone else at the pool was outraged but ds used to take every opportunity to be in his birthday suit. He was probably around 4 at the time. He’s an adult now and always wears multiple layers even when it’s hot and he’s sweating 🙃

No problem with naked babies & toddlers on the beach. Some dun exposure is healthy, judt take udual care.
The concerns about photos, my goodness! There are bad people out there, just as there are bad drivers. Better not cross the road, might get run over. Don't travel in a car, nor a plane.....
It's all about risk perception, something that we're not all that good at, really.
The only answer is to go with what feels ok to you. This isn't a right or wrong scenario. Letting your kids play on the railway tracks, that's always wrong. Naked on the beach, use your own judgement & as always, be vigilant.

Some people on this thread presumably haven't RTFT or I suspect they wouldn't be preaching that child nudity in public is the most naturalandbeautifulandharmless thing in the world. Or rather, I'd hope they wouldn't, given some of the experiences pps have shared.