I have a certain parenting practice that really makes others uneasy. I sleep with my babies. I breastfeed my toddlers. I tried a natural birth after my c-section (VBAC).
And perhaps the one that gets the most comments?
I let my toddlers run around sans clothing.
They do this more often if it is really warm outside and in the house. Every morning I do my morning thing – feed them breakfast and pull out their clothes to dress them. When the dressing them becomes a game of tag (and tagging her leads to crying and screaming) I usually just give in. Because you see, I think my children deserve naked days. ‘
Don’t adults have naked days?
I remember Joey from Friends had Naked Tuesdays!
So if adults are allowed to be naked in their own house, why are children expected to always be dressed?
My children always dress appropriately when we leave the house. It is when we are at home, around only family members, that they want to be free from the burden of apparel. And I am not going to stand in the way of their freedom.
So of all my “odd” parenting practices, I think the one that adults participate in too, should be the one that they criticize me the least for.
I don’t see anything wrong with it, especially if it is really hot out. its cold here in our house so i always insist that she wear something, but only because I don’t want her to be cold. If it is a comfort issue why not! Whatever! people love to judge way too much. The last thing we want is to make them feel ‘shame” about thier bodies.
yup! My otherwise naked girl wore lots of clothes in the winter….it has been 80 degrees these last few days so she’s been running around in undies (unless she goes outside, then she puts on shoes. It is so funny to see!) oh, and we live on 20 acres, no neighbors.
My 1st born runs around in undies most days, and the 1yo is in just a diaper a lot….I feel you on the criticism. My mom says I am teaching them bad habits. Whatever mom.
I was told it was a modesty issue. Well, I taught my daughter to wear underwear when people come over because it is polite
Soon she will hit the “I want to wear every single thing in my closet” stage…..so this is saving me laundry! hehehe
haha my family is HARDLY modest, so I think my mom is more afraid my kids will be naked the rest of their lives (not likely). I too also dread the impending fashion show in my house considering I have 2 girls close in age.
I don’t have an issue with that. Violet gets to do it now and then after a bath if she wants to.
my 3 year old is often running around in a shirt and diaper. we don’t do totally naked but mine have never wanted to be totally naked. My husband freaks that I am not more careful about covering myself up thinking i’m scarring my kids if they see my bare behind. I don’t sit around naked or anything but I WILL sit around in a bra and underwear and if need be i’ll run from the bathroom to my bedroom in a towel. i think the bigger deal you make about nakedness, the bigger deal it becomes. my kids know what is acceptable, like you said, being dressed when we go out but what they or I do in our home, shouldn’t be anyone else’s business.
To each his/her own.
Us moms are too hard on each other!
Plus, you are inside:)
HAHA Naked Tuesdays – I remember that!
I do the same thing with my daughter. If we’re not leaving the house and she doesn’t want to wear clothes, I’m not going to force her. It actually saves me from more laundry when she doesn’t want to wear clothes too.
Girl, we do the same thing. As long as private parts are covered, I could care less how they run around in their own house.
I have a couple streakers in my house too. LOL
There is nothing wrong with little kids running around naked. My daughter takes her clothes off sometimes, and I don’t have an issue with it, as long as it is just us home and we don’t have company.
Ridiculous. My oldest is a total naked kid. We’d go to Toddler Time in the summer at the lake near us, and he’d strip down in the sand (after a few times, though, I could convince him to keep on his underwear, lol). I don’t think it’s a big deal…..if other people are bothered by a naked baby/toddler/preschooler, that’s their deal. Although having been a former social worker who dealt with child molesters, if it’s in public act accordingly. At home, my kids are in just a diaper or naked much of the time. 🙂
Lol. I think that all applies to me too.
I see nothing wrong with letting yours kids be naked at home. Especially when its hot. Its not like they are streaking the neighborhood.
But I also nurse my toddler and had a VBAC so what the hell do I know. 😉
I don’t think there’s a problem with it. What you do in your own house doesn’t affect anybody else, so why should anyone pass judgment on you?
There is nothing wrong with doing what works for you and your family. It’s not hurting anyone 🙂
I just have to say I love the title of this post!
country kids are required to be outside naked. the end.
Ya, it is your home and your babies! We streak a bit around here too! Sometimes you just hafta!!
Rock on! I grew up in a pretty naked family and no harm done. Our society needs to chill the eff out. I remember my mom dipping into my room full of girlfriends to hand me the phone when I was 13 or so while buck naked out of the shower. I was mortified then, but now I think it’s totally funny and no big deal.
I hate to admit that we keep our heat pretty high and the baby rarely has a full outfit on. He’s learning to be mobile so I figure layers aren’t going to be comfortable. When he was a newborn it just seemed weird to have clothes on someone so brand new and he lived in just a diaper.
Babies maybe, adults YUCK! 😉
My child has never minded being dressed, prefers it, in fact and asks for shorts under her skirts so that the kids at daycare don’t see her underpants. However, my goddaughter spends her days at home in panties (she is nearly 4 like mine). It is weird to see, but I’d never judge and besides…not like she’s parading around Target that way!