Nudity in front of the little ones

[sjacques7]

This article got me thinking. My DD is almost 11. I don't walk around naked or anything but if she comes into my room or bathroom I don't run and hide either. I will ask her for some privacy and turn around. I think I showered with her until she was about 5ish. I'm guessing that's about when I stopped getting dressed/undressed with her present. L on the other hand I think nothing of changing in front of. With him being the opposite sex I will likely be more aware of it and stop at a younger age. What are your thoughts or plans on this ladies?

www.yahoo.com/parenting/should-your-kids-see-you-naked-107600140897.html

[mishkaroni]

I walk around in just my undies. No bra. Because she's nursing. As she stops, I'm sure I'll still be in the less clothing camp until she gets a bit older. I don't think I'll ever shy away from her in the fear I teach her there's something to be ashamed of, but I'll try to teach about when and where it's appropriate.

[klongoria11]

Right now it is NBD, I would rather her see me naked while I change my clothes than have to deal with the drama or trying to remove her from the room first. She is like the cats, if a door is closed then that is clearly the room they NEED to be in.

[LizInFL]

Right now, it's NBD...as he gets older (2? 3?) I would definitely curtail him seeing me naked. Likewise, if we had/have a girl, I would feel the same about her and DH. Same-gender parent & child? I don't have a problem with that. My sister and I saw my mom naked all the time. I tend to be kind of prudish about stuff like this, though, so I probably err on the side of overly-cautious.

Along the same lines, I also think there's an age where brothers and sisters shouldn't see each other naked/bathe together/sleep together. I don't know what that is, but I guess if we have a girl we'll have to figure it out!

[pinkaliphant]

I will probably stop once she's about 2 or 3, that is when I'm assuming it will be uncomfortable for me at least. Now that I'm thinking about it she's probably never seen DH in the nude. I think when he changes around her he always keeps his underwear on....and he's never showered with her in the bouncer like I did when on maternity leave. It may sound silly but I think that would creep him out since she's a girl.

ETA: I still remember seeing my Mom naked when she was teaching me to take a shower and I remember being in there with her. #cantunseethat

[klongoria11]

MH had to pee once when he was giving Cadence a bath. He asked me if he could close the curtain a little so she wouldn't see anything. I thought it was funny that he thought she would notice or even care.

[cagoldi]

There were 5 kids in our home and only one was a boy, so we had to share a bathroom a good deal of the time. Out of necessity or because my mom just didn't care us girls all changed around each other, would bathe while another sister was doing her hair, etc. We just were not modest around other females.

I never saw my brother, dad, or SD naked.
I am sure that my dad and SD helped bathe us until we were old enough to do it ourselves.

I will probably start covering up around A when he's 3ish? If he were a girl I wouldn't think twice about it unless she said it bothered her.

[bettercallsaul]

My brothers and father always were covered up. I'd seen my mother and sister naked or in undies as they got ready to go out.

I'm trying hard to promote positive body image but also appropriateness. If I'm getting ready and she sees me in my underwear, I don't mind. But if she does mind, that's fine. If I'm in my bedroom/bathroom though, I'll very much be in the "well then close the door or leave the room" camp: my room, my domain. But, I'd take that as a cue that it makes HER uncomfortable and wouldn't pop into HER room in just my undies, KWIM? I won't really walk around the house that way on the reg. though.

[wineallthetime]

My dad used to walk around naked when I was in elementary school and I had friends over. Obviously that got weird and had to stop...

[debatethis]

So, it's odd but I have been kind of thinking about this a lot lately. For the backstory - MH and I are going on vacation to St. Maarten next month. Almost all the beaches on the island are topless, and one is a completely nude beach. The nude beach actually has a family "naturist" resort on it. It popped up in a "recommended hotels on the island" link so I was reading all about it, partially in abject horror and partially out of practical interest. (I asked DH "do you really want to eat crunchy French bread in the buff? Isn't that a health code violation?!")

So, weird to say, but it really got me thinking about how Americans view nudity and children being around nudity vs what the rest of the world thinks. IDK that I would be ok dining al fresco as a family in a restaurant with a hundred other nekkid families, but I guess I would have to fall on the side of the human body not being a big deal until it makes someone uncomfortable.

My parents were always clothed but their relationship with sexuality and nudity is...stunted at best... so I don't really intent to use them as my guide.

[wineallthetime]

Jan 22, 2015 16:41:25 GMT -5 debatethis said:

So, it's odd but I have been kind of thinking about this a lot lately. For the backstory - MH and I are going on vacation to St. Maarten next month. Almost all the beaches on the island are topless, and one is a completely nude beach. The nude beach actually has a family "naturist" resort on it. It popped up in a "recommended hotels on the island" link sIo I was reading all about it, partially in abject horror and partially out of practical interest. (I asked DH "do you really want to eat crunchy French bread in the buff? Isn't that a health code violation?!")

So, weird to say, but it really got me thinking about how Americans view nudity and children being around nudity vs what the rest of the world thinks. IDK that I would be ok dining al fresco as a family in a restaurant with a hundred other nekkid families, but I guess I would have to fall on the side of the human body not being a big deal until it makes someone uncomfortable.

My parents were always clothed but their relationship with sexuality and nudity is...stunted at best... so I don't really intent to use them as my guide.

My main concern would be how they clean the chairs at nude beaches and restaurants. I do, however, agree with your points about how the U.S. views nudity vs. Other cultures.

[mskatiep]

I vividly remember seeing my dad pee when I was around 5. Tim isn't ever naked around her, and I think he would be really uncomfortable about it. I will get naked infront of my friends and sisters still, so I'm not planning a certain time to stop. If she is uncomfortable, then of course I will respect that. But I don't want her to feel ashamed of her body, so I won't get on her for not giving me privacy either.

[debatethis]

Jan 22, 2015 16:46:15 GMT -5 wineallthetime said:

Jan 22, 2015 16:41:25 GMT -5 debatethis said:

So, it's odd but I have been kind of thinking about this a lot lately. For the backstory - MH and I are going on vacation to St. Maarten next month. Almost all the beaches on the island are topless, and one is a completely nude beach. The nude beach actually has a family "naturist" resort on it. It popped up in a "recommended hotels on the island" link sIo I was reading all about it, partially in abject horror and partially out of practical interest. (I asked DH "do you really want to eat crunchy French bread in the buff? Isn't that a health code violation?!")

So, weird to say, but it really got me thinking about how Americans view nudity and children being around nudity vs what the rest of the world thinks. IDK that I would be ok dining al fresco as a family in a restaurant with a hundred other nekkid families, but I guess I would have to fall on the side of the human body not being a big deal until it makes someone uncomfortable.

My parents were always clothed but their relationship with sexuality and nudity is...stunted at best... so I don't really intent to use them as my guide.

My main concern would be how they clean the chairs at nude beaches and restaurants. I do, however, agree with your points about how the U.S. views nudity vs. Other cultures.

Picture it with me, because I already did and someone has to share the misery. Crumb-y, sweaty dad balls. In a restaurant.

YWIA.

[wineallthetime]

Jan 22, 2015 17:04:37 GMT -5 debatethis said:

Jan 22, 2015 16:46:15 GMT -5 wineallthetime said:

My main concern would be how they clean the chairs at nude beaches and restaurants. I do, however, agree with your points about how the U.S. views nudity vs. Other cultures.

Picture it with me, because I already did and someone has to share the misery. Crumb-y, sweaty dad balls. In a restaurant.

YWIA.

And then you get seated in the chair he just vacated.

[88sharonlee]

I think I'm with bettercallsaul about the idea of appropriateness - meaning there is a big difference between walking around the house nude or in underwear (when other people are around) vs. having LO sit in my room while I get dressed. I think that teaches that it's good to be comfortable with your body, but there are limits to when it's ok to show off

My DH has been nude in front of LO I'm sure, but only in passing. I think the first time she points at IT or shows any awareness will be the end if that for him.

As for me, I'm thinking I'll be comfortable in just a bra and pants while upstairs/getting ready for a while- maybe even school age, but probably wouldn't shower or hang out nude with LO past 2-3 years

Eta:tagging is hard

[ke2009]

Eh, DH and I have both been naked around him. I'm sure at some point we'll stop, probably when he doesn't have to be in sight/hearing all.the.time. But I remember growing up and seeing other female family members naked often.
ETA: Should add I'm a bit of a hippie when it comes to clothes. But only at home with DH.

[cagoldi]

Jan 22, 2015 18:57:25 GMT -5 mellochello said:

I'm in camp until it gets weird. Maybe 3? Also, if L were a girl this would never be an issue. My mom, sisters and I still change around each other. But I am sure I will feel weird about being naked in front of L as he gets older.

Yes to all of it. And girls trips? Same thing. All of my friends change in front of each other and it's not weird at all in my book.

[trtlcrzy]

I am in the same line of thought as @sing2phins. If one of us feels uncomfortable with it we will cover up. DH will probably stop being naked around her in the near future.