Strollerderby

My husband and I were talking about this yesterday, and wondering why no one we know showers with their baby.  It's such a time saver for us.  Our little one is almost 2 and we would never get anywhere clean, and on time if it weren't for "Family Showers".

We are decidedly NOT uptight about our bodies. And our bodies are nothing special. Heck, my son watched his brother being born (he was 4 at the time, 5 now), so seeing human bodies is not something that phases him, nor us, his parents. I figure I'll use my bathrobe reliably when he stops wanting me to see HIM naked.

I grew up in a family where my mother walked around post shower without coverups. My father was more modest, being the only guy in a house of women.

My kiddo is two.  Baby number two due this winter.  No way will this naked nelly be covering up until baby number two is weaned two years from now.   So my  kiddo will just have to deal with this naked nelly at four.

I think one of the really tricky issues here is how you view adult bodies in relation to sexuality.  If you see bodies as primarily sexual, you might feel extremely uncomfortable by having your body exposed to your children, simply on the grounds that it seems "inappropriate." (Not that there aren't other reasons to feel uncomfortable, just that's an example of this issue).  If you don't, you might feel it's natural or normal for kids to see real, human bodies around them, rather than the photoshopped computer animations of magazine covers (even Dove's "Natural Beauty" campaign 'required' hours of photoshopping.) So puzzling that out beforehand might help in thinking about this issue - and I think it can be vastly different for different people/families.

I have always bathed with my son (who still hops in occasionally and he's 10)and now bathe with my new baby girl (10 months). I have always been really open about my body and I think it is a good message for my kids. My son attended the natural birth of his sister, hangs out with me while breastfeeding..... he has a deep appreciation for women and what we're capable of. I am glad that he will be able to view the body as an amazing machine that nourishes and needs nourished and something you treat kindly and lovingly. For anyone on the fence about how open to be, I can't say enough about being as open as you can be.

This made me think a little bit about this issue... my folks weren't particularly shy about nudity when I was growing up (we didn't start routinely closing the door when people were peeing until my sister and I hit puberty, for instance). But I still came out of it with all kinds of body-image issues. Y'know why? Because my parents never explained to me that most people looked like them under their clothes (kinda yucky and lumpy and hairy) and not like bikini-ladies on TV. I didn't think of my parents as "normal" (they were) but rather "gross" (not any grosser than you or I, really).

So, naked parents - make sure your kiddos understand that most grownups have weird hairy places and rolls of fat and deflated stomachs and droopy boobs and that it's the hardbodies on TV that are weird! I think it might help.

I hadn't really thought about it until the other day.  I was drying off after a shower and my son (almost 3) came in the bathroom.  He was talking on and on about many things, as he tends to do in the morning. But then he paused and pointed and said "Mama? Your penis broke?"  It took me a moment to process the question, but then I explained that I never had one...  Since then he's been giggling when I go to the bathroom because "mama - sit down to pee!"  He thinks that's I'm playing a joke on him, that I really could stand up... He's too funny.

I think it's interesting that no one responded from the "cover up" camp.  So either they don't want to admit it or aren't in the demographic for Babble.  I think going out of your way to cover up in front of your children will only make them more curious....although I could do without, "Mommy, why are you so big right there?"

While in general a pretty modest person (I brought bottles of pumped milk with me EVERYWHERE when my daughter was an infant for fear of having to momentarily expose my breasts in public), I decided very early on that I wouldn't make a big deal of covering up around her.  I certainly don't walk around the house naked, but she feels completely comfortable walking in on me just as I step out of the shower and I don't want her to think that there's anything wrong with that.  Why shouldn't she see my vagina--she came out of it!  My husband is really very, very modest, but I think I've convinced him that there's something really unhealthy about being so prudish with immediate family.  Children need to know what adults of both genders look like naked.  Thank you, Bunny, for providing your perspective.  I will make sure, as my daughter grows, to make sure she knows that the lumps and bumps are normal.  In the meanwhile, I love looking at my daughter naked. She's just so perfect: porcelain skin and delightfully round!  It will be a sad, sad day when SHE starts covering up around ME!  But I must be making headway with my husband: just the other day, he hopped into the bath with her and they had a great time!  

I think its natural for your children to see you naked. I don't make dinner or clean the house naked but if I have to walk through the house to get something its not an issue. My 4 and half year old daughter has never had a problem and is very comfortable with her body.

I grew up in a household where nudity was just second nature. No boys but my dad in the house, we didn't even have doors on our bedrooms, only my parents had one, but it was never closed. My dad walked around the house naked quite often even when I was a young teen. He watched his 3 daughters grow into young woman, I mean I don't think he ever thought anything sexual, but he would walk by our rooms as we changed even into our teens. I even remember showering with him around age 12. I feel that our family is so close, no secrets, and open nudity was a big reason why.

My son will be 4 in October and we still shower together.  He plays with his cars and I wash and then I wash him.  Sometimes he laughs and says mommy, you have big boobies! Then he says, look ,I have big boobies too!!! He also says mommy, I see your pee pee, and we both laugh.  We play with water guns in the shower and he has the best time.  He doesn't think anything about walking around naked and neither do I.  This is life and we live it and love it.  I say do whatever makes you feel comfortable.  Every parent knows what is right for them and I think society makes too much of simplicity because of all the pediphiles around but I say don't let them ruin the innocence. Teach children to know that immediate family is mom and dad and siblings.  That is my mantra.

I agree with Gina!  What one does in their household is fine for them, as it may not be to the next...  Whatever you feel comfortable is right for you! :)   We aren't here to judge...just support eachother in our differences  :)

I think it's healthy for children growing up in modern times to be brought up in a house where nudity is not an issue. I think little girls need to know that it's normal and OK to not look perfect. Being a parent makes you the most beautiful person to your kid- flaws and all.

My sons are 15 and 13 now and we have been open about nudity at home since before they were born.  I still walk around the house naked most of the time.  I don't think it has had any negitive impact on them at all.  They are great kids and we have always had an awesome family relationship.  They too are not shy about thier bodies and I'm glad they can feel comfortable in their own skin.  

I'm a 19 year old guy. I still live with my mom and 16 year old sister. We believe that only the groin part of the body is the really personal part. So in our home, we have no prob with nudity as long as "that" part isn't exposed. My mum (age 42)has no problem with total nudity in front of either my sister or me and vice-versa. But in my presence, though, my sister ensure that she wears at least a panty. But since buttocks are common to both males and females, none of us has a problem with any of the other of us seeing that part. Our overall attitude is that nudity is acceptable within the immediate family.

I'm a 17 year old male, and i grew up with my grandma, she was always covered up, probably due to shyness. but from 15years old+, i was obviously curious about sex. when it came down to crunch time (seeing another girl naked), i didnt know what to expect, coz i knew it wasnt all like it is in Tv and magazines. i believe that if i had an upbringing where nudity wasn't a big deal, (and this is probably true with everyone), my sex-life would've been alot more... comfortable. :P