nakedness and children

[That_comic_guy]

Death and Misery

froggymama89

Is it Ok to be naked around your own children even if you have no sexual intent? what about around babies? What about taking a bath together? What are your thoughts on parents who walk around th house topless, allow their kids to see them go to the restroom, or take baths with their children?

I believe this changes from culture to culture and situation to situation. Bathing together is usually acceptable, much like taking children into the "wrong" bathroom, but I don't think constant nudity is considered to be necessary or beneficial to the child and it also may be considered indecent exposure.

THIS. Yeah in America we are now a little bit more prudish about the subject now. However turn the clock back a few decades ago and it wasn't uncommon for people to be naked around their kids.

[froggymama89]

Olya

Methcalarjalope

Olya

froggymama89

I for one think it is ok to bathe with your baby. I take baths with my 8 month old. To him we play just like we do in the pool except in the tub. He has no concept of gender or even nudity. I think I'll stop when it gets the point where it so longer an innocent bonding experience and it may be embarrassing for him. Definitely before he starts school. Maybe 3 or 4. My husband remembers potty training and he didn't get it until he saw his dad going potty so we intend to let our son watch us go potty so he knows how. I do not think it is ok to walk around naked or in your underwear around your children. Babies not such a big deal because they don't remember it but one shouldn't make a habit.

We all meandered through our schooling haphazard; so, to God be thanks,

Actually, I'd be careful because children don't have a particular age when they retain memories. They start whenever they become social. So, depending on how much interaction your child has, he may remember things as far back as one and a half or two. You REALLY don't want memories of bathing with mommy to be popping up in your son's head during puberty.

...it's easy, without too much fooling, to pass for cultured in our ranks.

That would only be a problem if one's son had a distorted idea of human sexuality. Honestly I am surprised by your beliefs, Olya.

We all meandered through our schooling haphazard; so, to God be thanks,

My beliefs are that if he grows up in western culture, which is very uptight about human body and parent-child physical interactions, he will be conditioned to view this in a different light from someone who comes from a culture where nudity and community baths are a common practice. All I'm saying is ask yourself where your child will live and whether you want to test the social norms through that child.

...it's easy, without too much fooling, to pass for cultured in our ranks.

Well that's just one example I don't know exactly when he got it but I think it was during the incuabtion period the last time I had it. I'm not saying I'm right persay but so far he has been fairing pretty well. He has never gotten sick from my bathwater. This may also be because I bathe him, we play for a little while then my husband takes him out and I wash myself.

[-emily-dontworrybehappy-]

i still follow my mom into the bathroom when i'm talking but NOT around dad
eww

[HelloNoora]

That_comic_guy

Death and Misery

froggymama89

Is it Ok to be naked around your own children even if you have no sexual intent? what about around babies? What about taking a bath together? What are your thoughts on parents who walk around th house topless, allow their kids to see them go to the restroom, or take baths with their children?

I believe this changes from culture to culture and situation to situation. Bathing together is usually acceptable, much like taking children into the "wrong" bathroom, but I don't think constant nudity is considered to be necessary or beneficial to the child and it also may be considered indecent exposure.

THIS. Yeah in America we are now a little bit more prudish about the subject now. However turn the clock back a few decades ago and it wasn't uncommon for people to be naked around their kids.

Turn back the clock and you also find dozens of cultures with a nakey family, like the Japanese, Scandinavians, Eskimoe and most Aborignial cultures.

[HelloNoora]

froggymama89

Olya

Methcalarjalope

Olya

froggymama89

I for one think it is ok to bathe with your baby. I take baths with my 8 month old. To him we play just like we do in the pool except in the tub. He has no concept of gender or even nudity. I think I'll stop when it gets the point where it so longer an innocent bonding experience and it may be embarrassing for him. Definitely before he starts school. Maybe 3 or 4. My husband remembers potty training and he didn't get it until he saw his dad going potty so we intend to let our son watch us go potty so he knows how. I do not think it is ok to walk around naked or in your underwear around your children. Babies not such a big deal because they don't remember it but one shouldn't make a habit.

We all meandered through our schooling haphazard; so, to God be thanks,

Actually, I'd be careful because children don't have a particular age when they retain memories. They start whenever they become social. So, depending on how much interaction your child has, he may remember things as far back as one and a half or two. You REALLY don't want memories of bathing with mommy to be popping up in your son's head during puberty.

...it's easy, without too much fooling, to pass for cultured in our ranks.

That would only be a problem if one's son had a distorted idea of human sexuality. Honestly I am surprised by your beliefs, Olya.

We all meandered through our schooling haphazard; so, to God be thanks,

My beliefs are that if he grows up in western culture, which is very uptight about human body and parent-child physical interactions, he will be conditioned to view this in a different light from someone who comes from a culture where nudity and community baths are a common practice. All I'm saying is ask yourself where your child will live and whether you want to test the social norms through that child.

...it's easy, without too much fooling, to pass for cultured in our ranks.

Well that's just one example I don't know exactly when he got it but I think it was during the incuabtion period the last time I had it. I'm not saying I'm right persay but so far he has been fairing pretty well. He has never gotten sick from my bathwater. This may also be because I bathe him, we play for a little while then my husband takes him out and I wash myself.

I just find it weird if not entirely disordered that we teach children to masturbate and use "protection" to have sex before they are fully mature, but we cannot be seen naked at home.

I think this is a sign that we are oversexualizing our children. A son or daughter seeing his or her opposite gendered parent naked (for heterosexuals) is not going to come to mind when dating anymore than mom's pretty face or dad's strong chin.

[HelloNoora]

Human female breasts are not "dirty pillows" to be tittered about as nasty naughty-bits. They are actually there to feed human baby as well as to attract her mate year round with her masked estrus cycle.

[Kilomech]

I don't think any of those things matter with babies. If you want to walk around your house nude with your three-month old watching then so be it.

It gets weird once they get a little older though, like age 4 and up. Same with multi-sibling bathing or bathing with parents. It's okay when they're younger, but when they get older it gets a little strange.

Of course, I see no reason to let even a toddler see you pee. That would make me uncomfortable. A newborn is no big deal, but a kid who can walk, point and ask questions? Awkward.

[Spiltz]

There are still cultures in the world today where people wear almost if not completely nothing. And when the men speak to the women, they look them in the eye, not at their bare breasts, because that junk is old news to them. It's all cultural. Raise a kid to believe his p***s is a dirty sin and he'll believe it. Or don't. Whatever.

[HelloNoora]

Kilomech

I don't think any of those things matter with babies. If you want to walk around your house nude with your three-month old watching then so be it.

It gets weird once they get a little older though, like age 4 and up. Same with multi-sibling bathing or bathing with parents. It's okay when they're younger, but when they get older it gets a little strange.

Of course, I see no reason to let even a toddler see you pee. That would make me uncomfortable. A newborn is no big deal, but a kid who can walk, point and ask questions? Awkward.

Our entire family demo'ed "going potty" for the ones not yet potty trained. Mostly I ask that we close the door when using the toilet. However bathing or changing together is simply not a problem unless people have a screwed up idea of the human body and human sexuality.

[Kilomech]

Hepzeba

froggymama89

Is it Ok to be naked around your own children even if you have no sexual intent? what about around babies? What about taking a bath together? What are your thoughts on parents who walk around th house topless, allow their kids to see them go to the restroom, or take baths with their children?

I walk around naked in front of my children, but then I also breastfed them until they were five years old. I think that one should be considerate of the feelings of others. My son told me that it bothered him, so now I cover myself with a kimono whne he is around or give a heads up that I am coming out naked to grab something so he can avert his gaze.

Am I the only parent here that thinks this is very, very weird?

[Kilomech]

HelloNoora

Kilomech

I don't think any of those things matter with babies. If you want to walk around your house nude with your three-month old watching then so be it.

It gets weird once they get a little older though, like age 4 and up. Same with multi-sibling bathing or bathing with parents. It's okay when they're younger, but when they get older it gets a little strange.

Of course, I see no reason to let even a toddler see you pee. That would make me uncomfortable. A newborn is no big deal, but a kid who can walk, point and ask questions? Awkward.

Our entire family demo'ed "going potty" for the ones not yet potty trained. Mostly I ask that we close the door when using the toilet. However bathing or changing together is simply not a problem unless people have a screwed up idea of the human body and human sexuality.

When I was being potty trained, I don't recall ever being confused at the concept of using the toilet without being showed how first. My mom supervised me, of course and she double-checked to make sure everything went...well, but I don't remember her sitting on the toilet and saying, "This is how it's done." I mean, you just sit and pee/poop right? The hard part, I would assume based on experience, would be in the wiping (IE, front to back, make sure you get it all, etc). Not that my mom closed the bathroom door (or closes the bathroom door) when she uses the toilet, though. She has no shame.

But I figure that with adequate supervision and substantial appraisal, a child should have no problem knowing how to use a toilet. Accidents will happen, of course, but as long as they understand it, I don't think it'll be too terribly difficult. I wet my pants often when I was very little, even when I knew how to use the toilet. I just had terrible bladder control and was too shy to ask where the restroom was often.

[Pflibbitz]

It's very interesting that the more primitive the society, the more nudity there is and the more "Advanced" the society, the less it is tolerated.

Somewhere back in time, perhaps a Monk was frustrated and thought if he could not have it, then why should anyone else. Closed minds close doors, not only for themselves but everyone else they are able control.

Around the World today, some of these so called "Advanced" societies are so controlled that they prohibit more than a few inches of a face to be shown on their women yet in some "Primitive" societies, even today, their women are all but naked.

It makes me wonder, which is better and more wholesome?

[HelloNoora]

Kilomech

Hepzeba

froggymama89

Is it Ok to be naked around your own children even if you have no sexual intent? what about around babies? What about taking a bath together? What are your thoughts on parents who walk around th house topless, allow their kids to see them go to the restroom, or take baths with their children?

I walk around naked in front of my children, but then I also breastfed them until they were five years old. I think that one should be considerate of the feelings of others. My son told me that it bothered him, so now I cover myself with a kimono whne he is around or give a heads up that I am coming out naked to grab something so he can avert his gaze.

Am I the only parent here that thinks this is very, very weird?

It is "wierd" in a culture where babies are given bottles instead of the breast but not in cultures where nurturance comes primarily from the breast, no. The culture is all F'ed up when it thinks that breasts are dangerous for children.

[HelloNoora]

Pflibbitz

It's very interesting that the more primitive the society, the more nudity there is and the more "Advanced" the society, the less it is tolerated.

Somewhere back in time, perhaps a Monk was frustrated and thought if he could not have it, then why should anyone else. Closed minds close doors, not only for themselves but everyone else they are able control.

Around the World today, some of these so called "Advanced" societies are so controlled that they prohibit more than a few inches of a face to be shown on their women yet in some "Primitive" societies, even today, their women are all but naked.

It makes me wonder, which is better and more wholesome?

It was not the Monks but your Protestants especially Puritans.