Don't Strip your Kids!

[mjkacmom]

I have noticed lots of debate on this thread about toddlers wearing no tops at the beach, pool, etc. How would anyone even always know if the topless toddler in a swim diaper is a boy or girl? Even at 10 while wearing fairly "boy attire" like jeans and a t-shirt DS is often assumed to be a girl. He wears his hair in a style common on both genders (I have heard it called a surfer, mushroom or bowl cut in different regions) and has very delicate featres and LONG eye lashes. I actually had people tell me a should dress my girl more daintly when we took him out as a baby once (clearly an unacceptable commnet even if he had been a girl). I am glad no one ever siad anything to me at the beach about covering up his top. I might have snapped

Great article, BTW - I couldn't agree more. It's time to stop wrapping our kids in bubble wrap, because it's causing more harm than good. BTW, my kids are blonde, and therefore had very little hair when they were babies, except for ds6. He had beautiful, bouncy curls! Sometimes I did dress him in his twin sister's clothes, and put bows in his hair, because he was the only child with hair! His sister was bald!

 

[jm106]

I find it creepy to read ppl saying Toddlers/child and sexualize in the same sentence. I never look at a toddlers clothes or anything about a small child and think they could look too sexy or think their clothes can sexualize them- they are babies. I agree There are many creepy ppl in this world (and statements like these remind me of that), and I wouldnt expose my child in public, but more because there is no need.

 

[RFrank9504]

aside from our thoughts on nakedness and steroetyping "europeans" I'm more concerned for the child's safety that some whack-o child porn perv would be taking photos or something. Its a choice for parents, we NEVER undress our kids anywhere for this reason-they go into shower at the beach and wear their suits. We just rinse to get the sand off-they fully shower at home.
However, I probably would cover my sons eyes and walk him away he has an older sister too and yes they've taken baths together, but its different when it another kid.
I would be a little offended and I agree with OP-it wasnt the smartest choice. We're leaving for WDW in 3 hours-its gonna be hot-hope we dont see anything like this.

 

[mjkacmom]

aside from our thoughts on nakedness and steroetyping "europeans" I'm more concerned for the child's safety that some whack-o child porn perv would be taking photos or something. Its a choice for parents, we NEVER undress our kids anywhere for this reason-they go into shower at the beach and wear their suits. We just rinse to get the sand off-they fully shower at home.
However, I probably would cover my sons eyes and walk him away he has an older sister too and yes they've taken baths together, but its different when it another kid.
I would be a little offended and I agree with OP-it wasnt the smartest choice. We're leaving for WDW in 3 hours-its gonna be hot-hope we dont see anything like this.

Wow, I hope you don't need to lay your eyes on a naked toddler, and especially your boys - nothing more offensive than that!

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

Well said

I saw this opinion piece online today and it made me think of this thread:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/196023






I have noticed lots of debate on this thread about toddlers wearing no tops at the beach, pool, etc. How would anyone even always know if the topless toddler in a swim diaper is a boy or girl? Even at 10 while wearing fairly "boy attire" like jeans and a t-shirt DS is often assumed to be a girl. He wears his hair in a style common on both genders (I have heard it called a surfer, mushroom or bowl cut in different regions) and has very delicate featres and LONG eye lashes. I actually had people tell me a should dress my girl more daintly when we took him out as a baby once (clearly an unacceptable commnet even if he had been a girl). I am glad no one ever siad anything to me at the beach about covering up his top. I might have snapped

FanTASTIC article! Thanks for posting!

 

[robinb]

DD always wears a 2 piece. It's much easier for bathroom breaks and she looks adorable in them. With that said, I am particular about which styles she wears. I was at Target and we found some really cute fabrics and bottoms....but they had the "traditional" two triangle tops (sorry I don't know how else to describe them) and my personal opinion is that they are not appropriate for a 5 year old.

I agree about the triangle tops. I do not allow my 9-year old DD to wear them either for the same reason. FWIW, I found some cute 2-pieces at Justice a few weeks ago. My DD usually wears a 1-piece as she's on swim team but she wanted a 2-piece for our Hawaii trip.

 

[katyjeka]

For a real eye opener, go on a cruise and spend the day at a beach.(in Tortola) Half the people(children and adults) walk around topless. We had staked our spot and were swimming and returned to fine a great family, on the seats next to ours. Our youngest dd decided to bring it to the attention of my dh and shouted daddy, look at that mommies big *****. We were speechless, but thankfully they had a great sense of humor. The father made the comment that we had to be from the United States!!! I must admit it made me think. They had no problem allowing their 4 year old daughter to swim topless, and it made me sad to think that we now live in world were a four year old can't swim in just a bottom.(Something I did as a child)

 

[tam626]

My brother is a deputy and sometimes works the cybercrimes unit. Please, please do not strip your children down in public. You are in a public place where you don't know the kind of people around you, some of whom may just be snapping pictures of your naked or half-dressed child to trade on websites we all wish did not exist.

I did'nt read all the responses but this is my feeling too. There are too many pedophiles out there for me to let my child go naked in public.

 

[1hero2princesses]

I am pretty sure disney has a dress code? I know the waterparks do.