This is going to sound really strange...how old is too old?

[Stitch1404]

Okay, I know this is going to sound really strange, but how old is too old to let a child be naked in public? Yesterday we had a party at our house. It was all family and a few friends. We had a slip and slide set up for the kids. My nephew forgot his swimsuit. His mom then proceeded to completely undress him and let him play in the water naked. He is 4 1/2. I was appaled. I thought it was entirely inappropriate, I was completely astonished. He then proceeded to walk over and pee in our bushes and his mom just laughed about how "silly" he was being. I said something to my husband and he thought it was perfectly fine. He said "he's just a baby, who cares?" He's not a baby anymore in my book, he's almost 5!!!! Am I way off here or was this entirely inappropriate?

 

[lisajl]

ummmm...yeah, I'd say too old. But, I was never one to let my kids run around naked no matter what age.

 

[JVL1018]

I think 4 1/2 is too old too..mainly because I know that my son(5 in September), while he enjoys running around the house naked yelling "Nakey Boy to the rescue!!!" , would be mortified to have people other than us see him naked.
Children should be learning about privacy by then...even if it is just extended family, and not because I think anything sinister would happen, just because I think that's an age where you start telling kids that certain areas of their body are private and should be seen only by certain people like Mommy, Daddy and the doctor.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

I agree. I believe that 4 1/2 is too old to run around completely naked. I never let my kids run around naked, like Lisa said. But, I would say that is a little on the rediculous side.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I probably wouldn't let my own kid run around naked at someone else's house at that age, but if we are home I wouldn't see a problem with it. I don't see anything wrong with a 4.5 boy running around naked - he is just a little boy - but peeing in your bushes is totally unacceptable!

 

[Tinker74]

It wouldn't bother me at all. If the child and his mother were comfortable then thats fine.
I would not be offended in the slightest by a naked 4 yr old.
Now if a teenager stripped down that would be different.

 

[kmp1191]

Why didn't she just let him play on the thing in his shorts, or his underwear??!!
Peeing in the bushes.....I don't think so!!

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Why didn't she just let him play on the thing in his shorts, or his underwear??!!
Peeing in the bushes.....I don't think so!!

Good Point!

 

[Stitch1404]

Why didn't she just let him play on the thing in his shorts, or his underwear??!!
Peeing in the bushes.....I don't think so!!

That was the thing. He should either have played in his shorts and gone home in his underwear or played in his underwear and gone home in his shorts. Either would have been fine.

 

[Missy1961]

Why didn't she just let him play on the thing in his shorts, or his underwear??!!
Peeing in the bushes.....I don't think so!!

My very first thought. And even if I didn't have a problem with him being naked, there is no way on earth would I allow him to pee in the bushes.

 

[va32h]

I have never been a fan of naked children in public, at pretty much any age.

Our kids have been known to run around naked at home. Up to age 3 or so, when they'd get out of the bathtub, we'd chase them around the house saying "naked baby on the loose, naked baby on the loose!" But we definitely stopped doing that by age 4, and no way would I let any of them run around naked at someone else's house.

If it were my son, I would have let him play in his shorts, or asked to borrow a pair of shorts from another parent at the party.

This thread reminds me of something I saw at a local water park last year - a family of kids all splashing around in just their underwear. Park management had to ask them to buy swimsuits at the gift shop or leave. I said at the time, I can see arriving without a swimsuit at an impromptu party, but who the heck goes to a water park without bringing bathing suits!

 

[pearlieq]

2 is about my upper limit for that type of thing. And even then, I agree with the prior posters--why not shorts or underwear?

 

[Minnie824]

My DD is 4.5, and I would never let her run around naked. You know, I don't care how many people are around and whether they are friends/family, any neighbor could see them whatever, and you just can't trust people these days. You never know who may be some kindof sicko watching these kids too. No way. And the peeing in the bushes was terrible too. I know I have a girl, but even if I told her to do that, she'd think I was crazy and not do it. haha.

 

[Stitch1404]

And she made me feel really guilty. I went over to her and asked her if she could just put his underwear on him or would she like to borrow some of my 6 year old's shorts. My 6 y.o. is a girl and she laughed at that idea like it was completely insane. God forbid a little boy wear a little girl's shorts, it's clearly more appropriate for him to run around naked...

Anyway, so then her son overheard me and he said "mommy they're making me feel bad about being naked." And so she turns to me and goes "well that's just great, now he feels bad about being naked when it's perfectly fine."

I had some coworkers at the party and with him running around naked and peeing in the bushes I just felt humiliated. They all looked shocked and I was so embarassed.

 

[lindakmonty]

I would not allow my ds5 to have done that at all, but I know plenty of people that wouldn't think twice about it. Not during potty training... not then, not now...not ever! Cover it up and use the bathroom IN the bathroom!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I think it is wrong. And especially wrong if there were 4 and 5 year old girls present.

IMHO, you must be UNDER 3 years to be naked. And, really, I don't think it is "cute" to see naked children ever. Always reminds me of those films of the naked African kids with flies on their faces.

I've got 4 and none ever ran around naked in public.

At home, though, the second I took their clothes off, they'd go tearing through the house as if they'd waited YEARS to be free of those clothes. Goofballs.

 

[GeorgeG]

I'm gonna say once they're out of diapers. A lot would depend on the individual situation and exactly where in public.

 

[icebrat001]

4 1/2 is way too old! Heck, I think 6 months is too old (outside the home). The kid could've worn his undies.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Absolutely too old. And the peeing in the bushes thing would have really done me in!

 

[TinkerDaisy]

Okay that is inappropriate at that age in public. I would not do that because I would not want to offend others, at home my 2 year old is permanaked. But my 7 year old has had to dress and bathe in private for about a year and a half now. We tell him he is too old to show his parts to anyone unless he has a problem. I think it is important to teach modesty but to also let kids know if they have questions or problems not to be afraid to ask their mom or dad.