Willravel

My 2 year old daughter likes to remove her clothes for company. They get uncomfortable (unless they have kids), and we have to use tape to try and keep her dressed. This is my first child and I wanted to makie sure this was normal, and if people have raised little strippers, any ideas on how to control it. It seems to be for attention, btw.

rsl12

People are embarassed by a naked 2-yr old??

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Willravel

Some of them don't have kids, and are thus awkward around our daughter.

feelgood

He ain't kidding, I can be embarassed by it. I think it's normal since I've done it, I know other relatives that done it.

I'm no parent but I think its due to the fact that she was born naked and she probably feels more comfortable naked than clothed and just need to learn how to cope with it and eventually, your little "stripper" will be one of us

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amonkie

she's being 2 - honestly... wouldn't YOU rather be more comfortable without your clothes off? She just doesn't have society's inhibitions about proper social etiquette burned into her head yet .. enjoy her while she's yours.

one question: does she ONLY do this when you have company? If she does ... ask her why she's taking her clothes off, it may be she likes the attention and the reaction when she does do it .. that just fuels her for Next Time.

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ShaniFaye

I did it, my sister did it, her kids and mine did/do it LOTS of kids I've seen do that.

If its unusal then there are a LOT of unusual kids around. Its a phase, I wouldnt worry about it. I will grow out of it one day....maybe

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pig

Will, to qualify I have no children (that I know of) but many friends do, etc. Random sample : totally normal. I agree it's mostly for attention...as for how to control it, I've not seen any special technique (tape is flipping flapping great. please say its duct tape. you could try mini straight jackets with elmo on them or something...); how do you control everything else she does?

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denim

From what I've heard, it's quite normal, but I'm not a parent.

Willravel

Actually, she is really well behaved for a 2 year old. We shower her with attention for a limited amount of time and allow her independant play time. Her only problem was putting her toys away, which I delt with. Besides this, which isn't really misbehaving in my eyes, she is very model of a well behaved 2 year old. Yes, we used duc tape. She ended up sticking some of it on my 10 month old Beagle, Jack. He didn't like that one bit.
Of course, but we've been teaching her social norms for 2 years, and this is a recent thing.
At first, that was both my and my wifes suspician. Working off that theory, we tried to give her equal attention before the guests got to our hose as she got when the guests were there. No difference. I'm now under the impression that the attention from uncle Joseph and aunt Mary is different than the attention from mommy and daddy. Of course, asking the guests not to pay her attention is like asking a fly from not looking at a lightbulb. She is adorable, and she is acting up.

Charlatan

My son and now my daughter had this same issue when they were two.

My son, now 11, wouldn't dream of even taking his shirt off in front of anyone and is mortified when we show him pictures from the cottage of him running around naked.

My daughter, now 3, still strips down from time to time but not as frequently as she used to. Her biggest thing is to claim she is hot (heat) and start taking off articles of clothing.


I don't (and didn't) really worry about it too much. They are/were kids and it's no big deal. Sure your friends are uncomfortable but so what? Besides the pure volume of teasing you can tap into later in their life is invaluable!

You remember meeting Jane, don't you son? You used to strip off your clothes and run around the house for her...

Yes, according to my son, I am mean.

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Willravel

Hahahaha. Oh, I'm sure I'll have plenty of ammo for later.

vanblah

My daughter does it. She's 4 and now she puts on fashion shows for us and company. The problem is she doesn't actually do the changing backstage -- she just throws a pile of dresses down in the middle of the living room and starts changing.

You said you'd been teaching her social norms for 2 years. I doubt that any of it is really sinking in yet. A two year old doesn't really adhere to norms ... even if they can repeat those rules back to you. Infants and toddlers are true hedonists. If it feels good do it ...

Hell, my daughter is now getting to the point where she practically says she "doesn't care" about our rules.

True innocence doesn't last long does it?

(Sorry about all the edits).

mykockle

I agree with vanblah...

It's fairly normal... not every kid does it, but it all boils down to the reaction it gets.

I have 2 little ones, a 4 year old and a 2 year old. Both are very similar, but have a few different ways of expressing themselves and thus getting a response from the people around them.

My son fishes for anything that gets a positive comical response from guests. So in his case, he says something goofy he hears from a movie, it gets a laugh, and so he repeats... over and over and over………

My little girl does the same thing... but she has a cute (for a very limited time) little scream that gets the attention, and when that fails to get the same response it does initially, she then starts flashing her stomach, which of course gets a larger response.

Fact is, kids find something that works for them, and the response it gets from your guests fuel's that fire and she continues... Regardless of whether the response from your guest's is laughter or embarrassment, it's getting a response which she is able to directly relate to what she is doing.

She's only 2 and with a lot of kids, their own sense of embarrassment hasn't kicked in yet.... The concept of correct social interactivity or activity isn't fully grasped, she's just doing what she thinks is entertaining people, with no other hidden meaning...

I’m sure you also find that when you restrict her, she just tries harder. My best advise for you if first warn people that aren’t used to it, and second, when she starts venturing down that road entice her with some other activity as apposed to doing nothing but tell her no.

Ohh, one last thought.... let her have naked time when no-one but you and family are around.... I've seen that work.

Suzz04

Someone is going to get me for this I'm sure, but....

My daughter from the time she could manage to pull her clothes off has constantly stripped to the point of complete nakey.

She finally got to where I could keep at least a tank top and panties on. That came about when she was about 5 or 6.

She's turning 10 next weekend. And this is what is gonna get me in trouble. She still does the tank top and panties routine. But just as soon as there is a not on the door, she's running for the bedroom to put on shorts or pants.

I try not to jump her about it too much. She's still a kid and I understand where I freeze to death when it gets cold, that she doesn't. It's a compromise in a way. She at least covers up appropriately until company is over then she has to put something modest on. Works out really good.

Though, I have to add. When she forgets to take clothes to her bathtime or a towel, you usually get to see a streak thru the apartment to find one!

:::OshnSoul:::

I can't beleive your company would get embarred over that. That is so natural- practically every kid does it. I remember my son doing the same thing and we accepted it. She is comfortable with her body, and that is a good thing.

tec-9-7

I have no children and would definitely be awkward in this situation.

Nimetic

Well put. I laugh so hard when kids do that, and it seems to be common.

Ok... I have no kids or experience in teaching them - but here's my suggestion... How about making the room colder.

My brilliant theory is that the tots will wear clothes if they need them to keep warm. But heck. California is warm outside yes? Maybe though you can use the aircon?

analog

Yeah, some people are going to be weirded out by it, most notably those of us who are not parents. It's not unreasonable to be weirded out by a naked child wandering around, i don't care how "natural" YOU think it is.

So, for the sake of your company, have them put some pants on. Random naked is one thing- naked with people over is another.

ShaniFaye

I would really like to take the kids that are at the stage of doing this and hand them over to the people that dont have kids and watch them "try" to get some clothes on them.

That would be most hysterical IMO...people its a lot easier said than done

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I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

mykockle

You got that right.... good luck non parents...

maleficent

I suppose threats of scalding them with boiling hot water or locking them out in the cold would be inappropriate tactics...

I say spray paint clothes on thekid -- and he or she is goodto go for a few years... saves a lot of money too... kids do out grow clothes very quickly you now....


...and yes, this is where you say it's a blessing that I won't ever be a parent...

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Lead543

Where do you think streak_56 got his name from. Hell, he still does it

I think it's pretty normal, I can remember doing it when I was little, there's tons of pictures of me roaming around in my diaper.

tinfoil

Couldn't say it better than that. My nephew was the same at around that age, but now that he is 4 he's no longer like that.

/nekkid right now.

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Catdaddy33

Our daughter went thru the same phase, she would do it when company came over everybody would laugh, and that was all it would take. She would do it for the reaction.

It never bothered me, cause before we had her we saw a naked 2-ish yr old being chased by her parents in the grocery store..

Giant Hamburger

There is so much nudity at the Hamburger household that there is now a rule that one must wear pants at the dinner table. This includes YOU!

Clothing is optional before and after the meal.

Charlatan

What if you are the meal...


(by the way, if you untie me I promise not to run)

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

rlynnm

I dont imagine a young child understanding the implications or the social definition of prancing around naked. Children will try to overthrow anything they've been told if they don't completely understand the reason why they're being made to do (or not do) something. Also, isn't it almost inherent for a child to thwart authority?

It doesn't seem to be so grave an issue but if she continues doing so in the next few years I'd lock her up. hahaha. Your feelings are completely understood, I guess I'd feel odd if my 4 year old were running around the house barely clothed. I don't let her walk around the house just in diapers but I just may be overprotective.

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Plaid13

yep kids are weird like that its normal. mostly they just want attention. I remmeber when i was 9 going to a friends birthday party we were all eating donuts in the morning on his front pourch and his 3 year old brother comes running out of the house naked and peeing all over the place.... kids are nuts. best thing to do is take a picture and hide it in a photoalbum untill they get married then show it to her husband/wife whatever and embarass the hell out of them =)

d*d

this is one of those threads which opens me up to another way of thinking, to me that seems so absurd, shes 2 years old - where does the awkwardness stem from? sorry to seem a bit incredulous, I have no kids but this still seems a strange reaction to have - help me understand

rlynnm

Oh sweet sweet revenge. it's a beautiful thing.

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The hardest thing is to be honest with yourself, especially if that means completely redefining the world you've come to know.

Don't look too hard, I'm right in front of you.

Anneri

Both of my children did this, my son even stripped from the waist down in a shop queue at 3, he said his trousers were tight !
Best advise i can give is ignore what she does, if you have to react just ask her to put something on before she catches a chill, nudity is natural, nothing to feel uncomfortable around but don't emphasise the fact thats shes naked as it will become an issue that can be used to attract attention.

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Baron Opal

Yeah, the Baronet did this too when he was 2-3 y.o. Mostly because he was more comfortable sans clothing, although he liked the additional attention, too. Afreind of ours, who is involved in education, told us "hey, he's three, they do this. If he runs around like this when he's thirteen, then we need to talk."