~~~~ I let my kids run about naked a lot and my mother says it's wrong- am i wrong?~~~~

[LadyOfThePoinsettias]

ds1 is 16m and loves having his bum out. since switching to cloth nappies- which he easily undoes, he spends a lot of time without a nappy on. i know when he needs to go so can ususally intervene in time- no probs there.
a sofa is being delivered today and i will of course make sure he has a nappy on then. if a plumber has to come round etc he is always covered up.
ds2 is 2months and he has a nappy on most of the time but i do 'air' his bum at least twice a day as i find if they dont get 'aired' their little winkies etc can get sore- mums of boys will know what i mean.
anyhoo, my mother tells me i should not let him be naked/nappiless as much as i do as i will have probs with him when he starts school?!? that is like 5 years away. wont he be dry and wearing pants by then?
am i wrong? i dont want to make him wierd or anything!

[izzybiz]

My Dd is 2.6 and loves being naked!

As soon as we get in from wherever we have been that day, she takes her coat and shoes off, then comes socks then trousers and pants then her top.

I have just been in hospital and she came to visit and decided to remove her trousers in the middle of the ward!
We did make her put them back on!

I tend to think that people who have a problem with nakedness are a little odd to be honest.

[venusinfurs]

Izzybiz, I probably am, but isn't there a hygiene element at all to this? Toddler's bums are adorable, but they are still the place where poo comes from! I can't believe I am the only person who thinks this! I don't think badly of anyone with a different view, but I'm just curious.

[GooseyLoosey]

As long as they are warm who cares. Mine like (2 and 3) like to rip their clothes off at any opportunity. I have at least one friend who this makes slightly uncomfortable and have thought about getting them redressed for her but then I thought why should I pass on to them her prejudices. They may reach an age where I think it is not appropriate, but we are no where near it yet.

[pack]

Yup-ignore your mum. My two angels (3 & 18mts) LOVE running around in the all together- and theres nothing I LOVE more than chasing a peachy little bottom around to grab a squeeze and hearing the squeals of delight!

[florenceuk]

actually Venus I agree with you - esp as DS(5) is not so good at wiping his bum, and skid marks are pretty common. Pants on as far I am concerned for hygiene reasons (outside a different matter, if they want to run around under the sprinkler or whatever). I think it is my upbringing (no nakedness ever and preferably a vest and knickers on at all times - I've never seen my parents naked or even in their underwear).

[venusinfurs]

Yes, it might be upbringing too, Florence. My parents were quite repressed about these things.
Honestly though, it's just the thought of skidmarks or threadworm eggs on my sofa . EWWWWWWWW.

[venusinfurs]

Just as a matter of interest, do any of the 'naked bums on the sofa' people also have 'cats on the kitchen surfaces'? Wondered whether there was any crossover, because this is another thing that horrifies some but others thing is just being an anal twit.

[saltire]

At least you don't have the problem my mate has - although it is a problem of her own making. Her DDs change their clothes at least 4 times a day. I went round last night and found the youngest wearing a bikini and shorts and the oldest one wearing a beautiful party dress, which her mum had bought for chrismtas day, but she had 2 made a fuss" so got to wear it last night. They both had been in jeans on the way to nursery and later in the afternoon i noticed them in something different again. Whilst i was there, the bikini got covered in chocolate, so her youngest went and changed again, then the party dress got choclate on it, so she went upstairs and changed into yet another party dress.
so i wouldn't worry, as long they are warm, it's saving you doing too much washing

[MarsLady]

My DTs are forever nekkid and they are 2.9yrs. I don't bother covering them up if people arrive cos they just strip right off again. They have so little time to run round nekkid.... (unless they become naturists) so I think.... hey.. so what!

[RosieMac]

LOTP your Mum is not alone in her opinions. My Granny was disgusted before to see her 12 month old great granddaughter have "nudie-kicks" in front of the fire (fireguard up) and when I responded that babies love being naked grunted "and how do you know, did she tell you ?" !

[Bozza]

Well her little kicking legs probably gave quite a heavy clue, didn't they rosie?

Yes to naked children, no to cats on work tops, chez bozza. I really can't bring myself to worry that much about hygiene and at least I have leather furniture.

[expatinscotland]

It's way, way too cold in this flat to let them run about nudie.

Although there's nothing cuter than DD2's chubby baby body!

DD1 is so skinny she gets goose pimples just waiting for the bath to be drawn, especially now as she's just getting her appetite back after being so ill.

[becaroo]

My ds is 3.5 and loves to be in the nudie. Takes his trousers off at every possible opportunity when at home -"I'm too hot mummy"- (Try to discourage this when we are out and about!) Doesnt really bother me. Should it?

[hulababy]

It's fine. DD always enjoyed running around naked at home in the house. Still does at times - in the house, at home, when it is just us or close family. I have known her and her friends to be stripped down to just underwear at times. She's 4y7m and now at school. She knows that in certain circumstances clothes are necessary, including school and playdates. She always wore clothes at nursery no issues either.

[BaileysMilkshake]

There's nothing wrong with nudie. My DD(3) loves to get nude and if she gets cold she finds her fleecy blanket and wraps herself up in it - she just likes top be nudie....

And to be honest so do, but that's not really accepted in todays society

[Rantum]

DS (22 mths)loves to be naked - and I let him run around outside in the duff in the summer. Winter now and it is sooooo cold and wet and windy our house never seems warm enough - poor ds will have to stay clothed til spring!

[MoreEggnogAnyone]

My kids love to get rid of their clothes. They run around the house having a great time. I'd love to be so care free

[harktheheraldfoxessing]

DD 3 runs around in the nod, even when its freezing. DS 6 has become a bit more modest the last year or so.

[EllieChocolateOrange]

In the summer my ds (then 6 mo) went naked on holiday, on the beach (swim nappy for pool!). I was shocked when I came back and a friend came round with her 2yo to play in paddling pool and forgot trunks so made him wear his pants in the pool! She said his dad refuses to let him go naked outside for fear of perverts taking pictures of him (assume it would have to be a telephoto lense!)...made me someone would even THINK that.

[aliceband]

my dh of same opinion re perverts

[fortyplus]

Mine used to love running around naked. It stopped when they were about 4 - except for one of those big water slides in the garden, which works much better with bare skin than trunks, so they used to go on that nude till about age 7.

I did have to tell ds1 (when he was about 3 or 4)that he really shouldn't stretch his willy when people came round - it's not polite!

[terramum]

My DS (29 months) spends all his time at home semi or completely naked. As did me, my brother & the 2 girls next door when I was little. Did us no harm at all. I think its sad when adults think its wrong for young kiddies to be naked - kind of takes away their innocence & freedom a little I think.

[permatired]

Am also horrified at cats on work surfaces, but worst was when went to house of a friend whose husband is a top(ish) chef and they let cat walk across bread board then cut bread on it 2 seconds later . Re naked kids - I tend to think it's ok with just friends and family around but not a great plan in a public place or if workmen etc are around.

[fortyplus]

One of my friends has 12 cats (no kids). The cats pee in the fireplace, walk all over her work surfaces and even on the table. One day I was round there and a cat jumped on the table and licked the butter. She just scraped a bit off and chucked it in the bin. Bleeurgh!

[mrsnoah]

I remember years ago when dd1 was about 3 I was discussing the sale of our house to estate agent in the kitchen while dd1 kept coming in with less and less on, and I kept shooing her away and telling her to get dressed.

Finally, as a finale, she arrived stark naked covered from head to toe in pink body glitter expecting us to be delighted.

Oh the toe curling embarrassment!