2.10yo DS and Nudity

[NCforanOddProblem]

2.10yo DS loves having showers and baths with me or DH, and loves cuddling us naked, skin-to-skin. OK-ish, for now.

A few times now, though, he's asked to have a bath with me, ripped his clothes off, and stared fixedly at me when I've been taking my clothes off, then started patting my boobs, while fiddling with his willy before I've even got my clothes off, saying, 'I love you mummy! You're cute! I love you!' (cuddles my leg) then...'I have a long willy!', showing me his erection.

Is this behaviour...um...to be expected? Do I need to stop disrobing in front of DS or having baths with him? It feels rather awkward for me, and he's nearing an age where he might remember it...

Honestly relax. DS is 7 and I get changed in front of him and he wanders around naked quite happily without feeling self-conscious. You have years and years before that would be weird in any way.

All I've ever told my DC is that what's under underwear is private and just for them, and if they want to touch themselves there they can do it in private.

He's way too tiny for his behaviour to be anything other than a little boy who loves his mum :)

He does try to pull my clothes off at other times as well so he can pat my skin and especially my boobs (but then he was BFed 18 months, so I'm sure there's some throwback comfort memory there). I figured going naked would be OK until he told me otherwise. It's just the deliberate desire to be skin-to-skin, active stroking then a toddler woodie that I find disarmingly Oedipal...

My toddler gets an erection whilst doing a poo! I asked dh if that's what happens & he basically said ds will not have any control over it.

Just do what you do, I think it's much better to grow up in a family where nakedness isn't hidden behind closed doors. Although I had to stop ds1 showing my dad my new c-section scar yesterday!

It will be a few years yet before erections have anything thing to do with sexual feelings.

DS, who is the same age, gets erections having a poo too! He also seems to think he needs to be stark naked to use the loo I think reasonable family nakedness is fine, DD is 4.10 and she wanders around in the nude too. DS is very unimpressed by my 70s lady-fro though, he points at me, sticks out his tongue and says "Ugh, dirty!".

Another one who's 4yo ds gets an erection when having a poo! He also still occasionally puts his hands down my top for warmth and comfort (though i stop him when we're out in public ). Certainly at 2 there's nothing sexual in it, he just loves the comfy feeling of your skin. At some point in the future he'll probably also tell you he wants to marry you! They get overwhelmed by their feelings of love for you, which is lovely. I still bath with ds and think that if they don't get to see children their own age regularly naked then parental nudity is an excellent way to teach them about anatomy. When they're around 4, and their curiosity leads to touching, is also a good age to gently teach them about inappropriate touching and 'private parts' etc.

Well the erection when having a poo is, I think, because of the poo putting pressure on the prostate. I'm not concerned by the erection in itself - I know that's pretty much out of his control. It was more the lead-up and context that was a little discomforting!

That all makes sense though, LittleLion.

Thanks all

I think if it feels awkward for you (and it would for me too) then it is ok to reduce the amount of naked contact. You get to have feelings too! Just try to avoid the same thing happening again - you don't need to say anything to him.

I agree if you are not comfortable, then you don't have to let it continue.