Parental nudity

[naturalnatural]

Was reading in 'What to expect...' that it was quite normal for dcs to see dps of opposite sex nude until pre-school, I suppose about 4 or 5,when experts agreed it was not a good idea.

I was quite surprised by this as I saw my dad nude on a regular basis until I was about 8 or 9, when I naturally grew up...and both my parents and I gave each other more privacy...and am a perfectly balanced individual imo. Surely it's natural and healthy for kids to see parental nudity at least until that age? Agree that at puberty things change..but..

Would be glad for others' opinions on this.

I think its okay until someone starts feeling uncomfortable with it.
DD1 - very embarrased from an early age (now 26 & still same). DD2 - doesn't give a monkeys and doesn't mind nudity at all, nefer has done (22 now). DS very much like DD2 until he turned 16.

nefer??? - I mean NEVER

Agree with you NN. Think that parents & children naturally give each other more privacy with the onset of puberty but until then, it shouldn't be an issue.

Thats not to say we all wander about in the nude - but I do have a habit of walking from the bedroom to the bathroom in the nude (as does DH).

What to expect is a great book in many ways, but my recollection is that it is orginallly an American publication and therefore is probably more "sensitive" to a more puritanical approach to nudity than we tend to have in Europe in general. In a most bizarre way, I believe that American culture sees the naked human body in almost purely sexualised terms - remember the furore about Janet Jackson's nipple?

I have always found it an odd feature of mainstream American culture that public nudity is SOOO frowned upon, but tv and films with an inordinate amount of violence are considered to be ok for children to witness. Hmmmm... Sorry, just musing on MN.

BTW dh is American so I am not just spouting anti-American sentiment, I do like America, but like everywhere it has its idiosyncracies...

Experts full of bull.
Children only learn to be worried about nudity if kept secret.My ds is 12 and he is now a bit of a prude in public (not in reality-caught looking at page3)
Dd is 6 and does not mind nudity to much although her father covers frontal region in morn(does not wish to answer embarrasing questions about what it does in morn )
otherwise she's fine.Looked through a book on greek sculpture etc and kept shouting "WINKY" every time she saw one pretending to be shocked and laughing as it winds her overprotective brother up

What 'experts' are these, pray?

Nothing wrong with nudity, IMO. Actually I think a spot of nakedness around the home gives everyone a cheerfully healthy attitude to the human body.

Well said motherinferior

I agree mi, I was wondering which 'experts' research was being cited...

my oldest is always coming in the bathroom to talk to me when I am in the shower this doesnt seem wrong to me hes 8

Why would parents want to hide their bodies from their own children?

I don't get it >

DS is 11 and he sees both DH and me naked

What is wrong with it?

Surely it is natural isn't it?

Of course if he said he was embarressed then we would change our behaviour

I seriously think it's a good idea for children to see real naked bodies and get an idea about what they look like. Otherwise all they'll see is airbrushed anorexics, and that will not be good for them.

MI I am seriously never going to be mistaken for an anorexic I would have to be seriously airbrushed

I totally agree I would rather that DS knew what real women looked like than the plastic surgically enhanced women on TV etc.

If everyone is comftorable whats the big deal. Its just nudity for christs sakes

I do think DP has had second thoughts ever since DD2 told us kindly she'd told her best mates all about Daddy's Furry Bottom and Mummy's Furry Bottom

MI

Now that is funny MI! Furry bottom hehehe!

DS (3.75) came into our bedroom to find me and dh nude in bed. I've worn PJ's since before DS was born but it was a warm night. DH sleeps in the buff

"Mummy you don't wear skin to bed you wear japamas'

My DD still has baths and showers with me or her dad sometimes (when she asks, I don't ask her). She also likes to have a bath with her grandfather (and gets him a flannel so he can cover up his willy). She's 8. I am dreading when she gets all shy and embarressed (which of course she will). I sit about in the dressing room naked drying my hair, putting my make up on. I can't imagine doing anything differently, it's how my parents were with me and I have a really healthy attitude to the naked body, always have done. Winds me up no end when people tell us how to behave in front of our children Experts in prudishness methinks

Don't shield ds from nudity (he is 2.7 so still young). Don't see why I should as I don't want him to grow up with issues around naked bodies.

Still catch my parents naked sometimes and I think ds has probably seen all his gps naked on a regular basis.

HAve to be a bit restricted at home as we have lodger. Lodger keeps reminding me of this

If ds gets uncomfortable about it as he gets older then we'll rethink it, but I like wandering around/sleeping nude.

The Armadillo

I read gps as General Practicioner ie Doctor

and wondered why your DS had seen his doctor naked

There's nothing wrong with bodies, and there's nothing wrong with nudity. How can I expect my dd to have a healthy attitude towards her own body if I'm prudish about mine?

Dd is 6 this month, and sees both dh and I naked - when she becomes uncomfortable with it then we will stop. But until then, I can't see what the big deal is ... they're just bodies.

It's secrecy around nudity that children need to be taught to be wary of, not openness.

rofl.

that was to RT