A mom writes in asking for advice about when it is appropriate to stop changing clothes while your child is in the room. This mom has a 7-year-old daughter, whom she says is “more like 3 to 4” mentally. A friend recently told her that she should stop changing in front of her daughter, claiming that the daughter is “too old” for that to be appropriate. Is this mom out of line, or did she get some bad advice?
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A member of the community asks:
“When should you stop changing with your kids in the room?
I have a seven-year-old daughter, and mentally she is more like 3 to 4. And I get dressed and undressed while she is in a room with me and a friend told me not to do that, said she is too old for that. I don’t see it as a big deal and was wondering what the big problem is. Do any other moms get dressed or undressed in front of their seven-year-old daughters?”
– Mamas Uncut Community Member
Community Advice for This Mom Who Wants to Know if It Is Appropriate to Change in Front of Her Daughter
To see what advice the Mamas Uncut Facebook community has for this mom in need, read the comments of the post embedded below.
Advice Summary
The community offered this mom in need a lot of great advice. Read some of their responses below.
“I’m 23 and will still go in my mom’s room when she’s changing. My daughter is 7 also and we still take showers together she likes when I wash her hair. She HATES doing it herself. We got the same body parts.”
“I change in front of my daughter who will be 10 in November. It shouldn’t be made awkward or shameful. My mom and will change in the same dressing rooms or exchange clothes and undress right there in the room together. It isn’t perverted or weird, it’s mom and daughter being comfortable with each other.”
“I still change with my 17-year-old daughters AND my 56-year-old mother. I look at it this way… we all have the same thing. No woman should be ashamed of her body. AND I came from my mother and my daughters came from me. Now if it were a son, instead of a daughter, that would be a different story.”
“Lol my mom never ever stopped getting dressed and undressed in front of me. If I didn’t like it, I looked away or left the room. There is no shame in the human body. She is part of the reason I am comfortable in my own “mom bod” and I love my imperfections.”
“My mom changed in front of me my whole life! I’d also sit on the toilet when she showered a lot. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. You’d be able to tell if your child was uncomfortable with it. I don’t know why so many people reach their babies that there is something shameful about a naked body.”
“My kids are 6 (girl) and 2 (boy) and they see me naked regularly (after I shower or I’m changing). I don’t see it as a big deal at all. My daughter watches how I take care of my body and learns body positivity. She’s pointed out imperfections on me (not being mean when she does it) and I show her it’s okay to have flaws and even with them you’re beautiful.”
“I change in front of all 3 of my girls. They ask questions, I answer.”
“Never, as long as she feels ok with it. Kids should be taught that the human body is just natural. I would do THE SAME with both a boy and a girl.”
“She’s your daughter! Why would it ever be inappropriate? She’s a girl and has the same parts you have. My daughter is 13 and I never stopped changing in front of her. If it were a boy it would be different because his body is different. I don’t think there is anything wrong with changing in front of your daughter. Your friend has issues.”
“She’s your daughter. Don’t let someone make it a big deal for you when obviously it’s not.”
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