3 yr old running around in undies at a close friends house ??

[Kailey's mom]

So.. is my little girl too old to be doing this We were at a friends house tonight, very laid back as always. Dd went potty, and came out with just her panties on. No big deal IMO. My friends have 2 children, a 7 year old boy, and a 9 year old girl. My friends kids were freaking out! I said "she's only 3, it's ok" and then they are like "eewww, she's almost naked" and carrying on.. I ignored it for a while, figured the kids were just being kids.. but finally put her pants back on. So.. are we at that age? I wouldnt' let her run around naked at this friends house, but she was wearing panties.. this has happened numerous times, this is just the first time the other kids wigged

[LynnS6]

Your kid isn't at 'that age', but the 7 and 9 year old are at that age. They're old enough to be 'shocked' at undies, and too young to understand that a 3 year old in undies is really no big deal.

We went through this in our neighborhood. Dd is one of the younger kids, and so when she'd lift up her dress or go out without a top on, the older kids would make a big deal about it.

I personally don't think it's that big a deal to show undies, so I may or may not do anything. My dh argues that if it makes other people uncomfortable when dd shows her undies or goes topless (she's 5 1/2 now), then she should cover up. I'm not sure I entirely buy that argument, as I don't know how we can ever get people to relax about a child's body if we bow to that pressure, but for now, I'll ask dd to cover up.

[meemee]

well if you were visiting us my 7 year old probably would join her.

it sooo depends on the family.

[ann_of_loxley]

lmao...yeah... My son (at 4) is likely to join her. In fact, all of my sons friends seem to think this is the naked house and their mums are just used to the fact that if they come over, the first thing to happen is that they all seem to get naked.

Children are pretty good at picking up vibes. It does depend on whos house you are at. I wouldn't mind and I can't think of any friends I have that would to be honest. If they did, my son tends to keep his clothes on and its the 'vibe' he gets rather then me suggesting that.

Your friends older children are just at that age where, you know, boys/girls have 'cooties' and everything is 'ewwwww!' lol.

[mommariffic]

I'm going to go with everything else and say DD would have been on that and giggling and running around too. Also going to agree with everyone who said that it depends on the kids and family!

[SeekingJoy]

My 4.5 yr old would have joined her. Maybe even totally naked. ITA with pp that it depends on the family.

[jtbuko]

My nieces are older than my kids and they laid down the law with DS when he turned four (the girls were probably 6 and 9 at the time). They were totally grossed out if he did not close the bathroom door or came out naked, and I was comfortable enforcing the rule that while we were sharing space with another family he should be more discrete if it makes them more comfortable. For me it boiled down to a chance to teach him about respecting others' limits and not making them feel uncomfortable.

[~Boudicca~]

Originally Posted by meemee

well if you were visiting us my 7 year old probably would join her.

it sooo depends on the family.

Yup.

[HollyBearsMom]

My 8 year old is currently running around naked with his undies on his head as hair. Gotta love bath time! Your daughter would be fine in this house

[Hoopin' Mama]

I guess it depends on the family.

Pinworms goes around every now and again so most families here encourage pants. Shirtless happens a lot.
(And thank the heavens above, pinworms have never entered my home).

[BaBaBa]

I don't see any problem with it.

Originally Posted by Hoopin' Mama

Pinworms goes around every now and again so most families here encourage pants. Shirtless happens a lot.
(And thank the heavens above, pinworms have never entered my home).

OT... but I just had to chime in and say that a case of intestinal parasites (as disgusting as I personally find them as well) is one of the best things for a child's developing immune system.

[eclipse]

I don't think 3 is too old to be running around in their undies, but the older kids were clearly uncomfortable with it. So, I would have dressed her. I think nudity is cool as long as all parties are cool with it - when someone becomes uncomfortable, clothes need to be put back on.

[mommy2maya]

Originally Posted by BaBaBa

I don't see any problem with it.





OT... but I just had to chime in and say that a case of intestinal parasites (as disgusting as I personally find them as well) is one of the best things for a child's developing immune system.

really????????????????????????????/ Links?

[chezlyryan]

I agree that the 7 and 9 year old are at that age where nudity is a big deal. My 8 year old cousin would react the same way. She is starting to be very big on privacy and personal space.

[earthmama369]

Originally Posted by mommy2maya

really????????????????????????????/ Links?

Check out last month's issue of Mental Floss (a magazine). They have a whole series on how eliminating our exposure to certain types of intestinal parasites has caused other immunological problems because parasites have been a part of our system for so many thousands of years that we've actually made genetic adaptations to them (i.e. certain organs function under the assumption that those parasites -- and the chemicals they secrete -- are there) and their absence throws things out of whack.

[octobermom]

Personally I was never super comfortable with my DD being "undressed" at soemone elses place though I cared less in our own home (and at 3 mine was still in diapers) however it didn't like shock me or anything it was jsut what 3 year olds do. So yes I would have calmly and fairly quickly got her dressed but not because of the reaction of the older kids jsut because its how we did things.
FWIW though a 1/2 naked toddler wouldn't phase my 7 year old and she will happily strip naked in front of her peers if the opurnuity comes up.

Deanna

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by mommy2maya

really????????????????????????????/ Links?

I'm not really a fan of no-undies-for-the-purpose-of-ensuring-the-survival-of-parasites, although I don't mind nekkid babies at my house, but I think this is true. I don't have a link but I've heard in several places that intestinal parasites, off and on, can help with allergies, and that in some developed countries some people are actually given worms to help control allergies. Weird, I know.

To the OP- I think it was the age of the children. Did the parents make a fuss? If not, it's okay. It's different in every family.

Okay, links: I cannot vouch for these as I have no subscriptions, but I know it's a theory presently being tested:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/x3104q77j98l5vq2/
http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abst...No=20053219016

[lmk1]

Actually, I've read that researchers are investigating treating asthma and celiac disease with hookworms.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...22/2721267.htm

Obviously some intestinal parasites have their own negative role on human health, but apparently the lack of them can lead to auto-immune diseases. This is one possible reason why 3rd world countries have a much lower percentage of allergy and asthma cases. I don't know that it's a straight forward solution though, like get intestinal parasites, and then live happily ever after. I think there's health issues either way.

[lilyka]

there was an episode of House (this season) that referenced this. a guy had an autoimmune disease because his mom was a gernophobe and he lack the parasites he needed to keep everything balanced.

as for nekkid kids....my dd had a friend and for some reason every time we went over their house the clothes would just fall off.....I don't know if it was some sort of force of the universe ort what......whatever. while I tried to encourage the girls to remain clothed in public my children were never shocked to see a toddler/preschooler without clothes on. I mean, they are three. they may or may not have undies on. If they do they may or may not be covering the bum (they also make a sylish hat).

[Norasmomma]

We'd be lucky if DD had her undies on