19 Month Old Not Wanting to Wear Cloths

Updated on November 03, 2010
K.S. asks from Pittsburgh, PA
13 answers

My 19 month old son has just recently started to fight me on getting dressed both in cloths and PJ's. He hates putting a jacket on...perfect timing since it is just getting cold out! And as soon as we get home and take of shoes, socks must come off and he tries like hell to get his shirt off but he hasn't quite figured that out yet. And he will walk around without pants on! I don't know if this is normal and if it is, should I allow him to do this. At home, I don't mind, but if we are out somewhere, I don't want him to think that it is ok to not be dressed.

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your input! Makes me feel so much better! By the way...got home tonight and he has masted taking his shirt of now, too!! HA!

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A.G.

answers from Boston on

My soon to be 4 year old still strips naked the second we get home. I don't mind as long as he keeps his underwear on. He knows the difference between being home naked and being out keeping clothes on. If it doesn't bother you I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Wearing clothes at home is a little battle I wouldn't try to fight.

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R.B.

answers from New York on

Have naked time for a certain period every day. Set a timer. It is pretty normal.

3 moms found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Completely normal for his age. My youngest is normal in just a diaper at home after daycare before bed. You just need to tell him when you are getting him dressed about where your going and that you need clothes on, he will get the hang of it.

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R.K.

answers from Boston on

If you are home why fight it. My youngest did this and potty trained shortly after and of course with out all the clothing on it was much easier for him to use the potty on his own or with little assistance. I am sure even though its cold outside you have your house a reasonable temperature. My rule always was he had to get dressed to go out I didnt mind if he didn't want to where is jacket out to the car because they really shouldn't wear a winter coat in the car anyways but we always brought it with us so he could cover up with it after being buckled or to put it on him when we got where we were going. He is 3.5 and still takes his socks and shoes off as soon as we get in the door he just does not like them when his feet get cold he gets his slippers.

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i totally disagree that you need to 'train' a child to wear clothes at home so he'll keep them on when you're out. of course he needs to be dressed when it's cold or you're out, but this is a sure case of picking your battles. most rules seem arbitrary to 19 month olds anyway. you can insist on clothes for outings, but when at home, why not enjoy the peace of a happy baby as well as the pure bliss of a nakey baby? let those pants come off! he'll grow out of it soon enough.
:) khairete
S.

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L.B.

answers from Stockton on

My 3yo's nickname is natureboy. Loves to be naked. He's been like that as long as I can remember. I figure no harm, no foul while at home. He knows everyone else wears clothes and I have always pointed that out when we have to go somewhere and let him know he can take the jacket, shoes, etc off when he gets back home. He's actually growing out of the stage now. : )

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T.M.

answers from Bakersfield on

It's basically a stage. Let him nude it up at home, but continually explain to him that clothes have to be worn when you go places or have company or when its cold. He'll get it and grow out of it soon enough.
add:
Always love him up when he's dressed and tell him how handsome he is in his outfit... flattery will get you everywhere on occasion.

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Sounds SO familiar. My son was the same way. He hated shoes and clothes. When he was in preschool, we had to put him in overalls because he couldn't get out of those! LOL
At 15, he's still the same way. No matter where we are - home, church, car, friends - the minute he gets in the shoes come off! And when we are at home, he slowly peels everything off until he's just lounging in his boxers!!
If you're at home, I wouldn't worry about it.
Just keep reinforcing that clothes must stay on in public!
Good luck. :)

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

I totally understand... My 14 month as ALWAYS hated socks, shoes............jackets........... He wore nothing but a onesie the first year of his life and now I can get shorts on him (but it's a struggle).... He sweats easily...

But- I feel like people are looking at me like my kid is a ragamuffin or neglected because he never has shoes/jacket on... etc...

I think it's totally normal though... We called my little nephew 'naked nicko' because he would take any opportunity to take his clothes off (and we're talking up to six years old) ;)

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D.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

See if you can get something to pull over him before you go out,like the fleece type shirts that are more bulky. My son takes off his pants and underware when we are home to go to the bathroom then runs around afterwards. Sometimes,he tells me I want to be naked right now. I guess he feels more comfortable. I do not have issues getting him dressed when we go out. If he does give me a hard time, I tell him you can not go with me to such and such a place and he gets dressed. Take the coat with you and have him go outside when it is cold and i am sure after a few minutes or less he will want to put his coat on. Good luck

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

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M.I.

answers from Pittsburgh on

my son was the same, it's a phase. it does seem like it's more boy than girl associated, because neither of my nieces have done this. it lasted for about 18 months to 2 years, and went in spurts. sometimes, especially during potty training, he would refuse to put anything, including underwear, back on. we eventually decided it wasn't a battle worth fighting, but as long as he had his undies on, we didn't argue with the no clothes thing. he's 7 now, and still prefers to sleep in just underwear, if he gets the choice,and will gladly go without pants or a shirt on weekends when we're just hanging out at the house.

on a somewhat related note, my son has ALWAYS taken all of his clothes off when he poops, and when we're home, or at my mom's, he still does this. if we're at someone else's house, or if he's at school or in public, he knows he can't do that, but he still takes his shoes off to go. the moral here is that it may seem odd to us, but it's totally normal in their eyes, and as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, no reason to fight it!

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E.F.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Why is it not ok to be undressed? Who really cares? This, to me, is not a battle worth fighting. He'll put his clothes on when he's cold. No one is going to do anything other than chuckle if he's out in public with no pants on. I'd let this one go... ESPECIALLY at home.

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