Naked Preschooler

Updated on May 18, 2008
J.N. asks from Coatesville, PA
14 answers

My almost 4 yr. old son started this new thing. every night he wants to be naked. we dress him, and then he starts crying because in his words "he's stuck" either he can't get his pajama bottoms off all the way or his shirt gets stuck around his head. It is quite hilarious, my husband and i talk to him about it, but seeing him "stuck and naked" is quite a site I don't think it's a big issue, but wanted to see if these is common at this age. Thanks Jenn N.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the input, i thought it was fairly common, and "normal" but just wanted to make sure. He's not hurting anyone by being naked, and he seem just as happy as can be.

Thanks again. Jenn N.

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M.I.

answers from Pittsburgh on

my nearly 5 y.o. doesn't sleep in anything but his underwear. it's been this way for almost 2 years now. i can put him in PJs at 6PM, but the minute i go to kiss him goodnight after his stories, he asks for his clothes to come off. actually, he spends most of the evening, if we are at home, in only his underwear. i wouldn't worry too much, as long as he stay dressed in public or when people other than family are around.

and as a side note, by 14 year old brother in law was the same way (no clothes but undies at bed and in the evening) until he was almost 8. so, it seems like it's a pretty normal thing for the little guys to do!

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L.T.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I think it is normal. My nieces/nephews liked to be naked around that age. Now my son, who will be 4 in June, suddenly likes being naked - especially after potty time and bath time. I also remember my own behavior at that age. I liked to walk around in the summer without a shirt (I guess to be like my dad and my brother). But when company would come I would hide under the bed until my mom would come help me get dressed.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I would enjoy it! After all--he's in the privacy of his own home, right? :)

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T.Z.

answers from Philadelphia on

My two children sleep in just their unerpants even in the middle of winter. I have a boy who is 8 and a girl who is 5. My daughter on her off days of school won't get dressed unless we have to go to the store. As long as he is comfortable and sleeping for you who cares if he sleeps alnatural or with PJ's on.

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A.E.

answers from Philadelphia on

Once I heard a comedian joking about his two boys (who I think were preschoolers) who loved to run around the house naked. He said every night between 7-8 there was 'naked time' at his house.

I think it's pretty funny, pretty common, and probably something they won't want anybody to remember in a few short years....

B.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Hi J., Maybae your son is too warm in bed at night, or maybe he can't stand the feeling of his pj's sticking to his sheets at night. For whatever the reason, and as funny or cute he is you should address the situation. Maybe you should let him go to bed in a tank style t-shirt and just some underwear in place of pj's. (Sorry, as I have girls I am not familar with boy pj options.) No one in our family (hubby included)can stand to wear long pj bottoms to bed although we will wear them around the house. In our house shorts are the prefered pj no matter what the season. My girls started to make that clear when they were about 4 or 5 too. Best wishes.

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J.T.

answers from Scranton on

i think its totally normal or at least I hope so, because my 4 1/2 year old daughter is naked or at least in only underwear as often as we let her and its not only at night. If we're home and not doing much she'd rather be in her underwear with a blanket on the couch than dressed. Usually the minute we get home from somewhere she strips down! And she ahs been dong it for at least a year if not longer. My husband and I used to joke about it too, but honestly I think she is like my husband and hot all the time, she rarely says she is cold even when I'm freezing. And I have tons of cousins with kids around this age and they too live for their underwear! So think it is totally normal! Let him enjoy it while he can! J.

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M.M.

answers from Sharon on

Hello, my freinds son did this when he was about this age. He just did not like to wear clothes. So her and her husband decided to give him an underware day. They choose Sunday because that was the day the were usually home all day cleaning etc.. Anyways, as long as he kept his clothes on all day throught the week then on Sunday he was allowed to only wear underware for the whole day. He had a t.v. tray that he would eat on if he did not want to get dressed to come to the table. It seemed to work nicely and he grew out of it when he started having friends come over.

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J.H.

answers from Philadelphia on

My 5 1 /2 yr old get *very* hot at night, all sweaty and gross. He'd come down stairs in a daze, I'd just take him back to bed. I told him if he gets too hot to just take off his jammies. Now every once in a while I go up to check on him and he's nekked as a jaybird and snoring, but he hasn't come down since. Maybe your little boy is getting hot too. I don't think its a big deal. If he wants to be naked, let him be naked!

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L.T.

answers from Philadelphia on

Enjoy, And appreciate that he doesn't do it and public!!

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Y.Z.

answers from Philadelphia on

my almost 4 year old loves being "naked man". totally normal, and pretty cute, too.

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J.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

J. 1st of all let me say I am sorry for your loss. Now to comment about your son. I really think you have nothing to worry about with your son wanting to be naked. I think it is something with the age. I know that it has been said that you should not be confined or restricted while you sleep(has to be move comfortable) but if you are really concerned try the underware or shorts and tee shirt thing to see if he is more comfortable. My children always like sleeping in big baggy tee shirts until they got a little older now it is tee shirts and shorts. They save the PJ bottoms for when they are up and moving around the house. My oldest daughter has run to the store in her PJ bottoms to get coffee or milk at times. Well Good Luck. Treasure every moment with him he will be grown and out of the house so fast.

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T.B.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My children are ALWAYS naked! I'm going with the idea that it's normal it will pass. It seems the bigger deal I make of it, the more they enjoy it. My oldest daughter will be 6 next week, and she seems to be growing out of it. She only does it now when her brother and sister do (ages 4 and 21 months), when she used to be the first to strip! They've always done it, from the time they were able to get them off, the clothes were flying!

I wouldn't worry unless he starts doing it in public!!

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A.S.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My newly turned 5 yr old did the same thing. And it was more of a problem since she sleeps with her older sister. She thought it was funny, she would get put to bed with PJs and wake up naked. This may be a bit mean but I told her that bugs would bite her bum if she didn't wear at least underpants to bed. She looked like she wasn't sure if she was buying it. She must have since she hasn't been naked in bed since. Maybe you could think of something else, but that worked for me.

Good luck,
A.

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