Creepy Neighbor - You See Red Flags Too?

No red flags for me. He saw something amusing - a naked toddler running around in the sprinkler. You needn't be a perv to think naked littluns are cute.
As for the sunglasses - I wear mine outdoors to keep the sun out of my eyes. I don't take them off in bright sunlight to chat.

No. I really don't see any "red flags" from what you described.
The guy was out for a walk, stopped to chat & may have glanced at your happy, playing, bottomless son.
I think your assuming a lot here, really.
I DO believe in the mommy gut, though. I don't know what your gut felt like! Lol
No disrespect, JMO.

Well, if you don't want people to see your son naked, don't let him run around outside naked...

i really worry about how often we assume that people are creeping on our kids.
predators are a real worry and we all have to be vigilant.
but i think it's so sad that a neighbor can't be outside with sunglasses, chatting, with a naked cherub running around, without being suspicious.
if your tiny were playing nakey in the sprinkler, i'd have to physically wrench my face in the other direction to stop myself from enjoying the sight. and if we were outside, i'd almost certainly be wearing sunglasses.
i was having a rare city day in baltimore yesterday. so many beautiful tinies enjoying the pretty day at the inner harbor with their parents. i smiled and laughed at them, and so loved watching them, and occasionally made eye contact with a relaxed, happy mama. some smiled back. most didn't. and if i were a man, i guess i'd have been uniformly frozen out.
i'm not being snarky. i honestly think that if your nakey baby can tip you over into thinking random innocuous conversations are creepy, you should keep your baby clothed whenever you're outside. i think it's a shame. nakey babies are one of the sweetest sights any human can see, and it ain't sexual.
khairete
S.

Well, you have to trust your gut, BUT, if the guy doesn't have kids, he could have been discombobulated about the whole "there's a naked kid running around, what do I say, where do I look" brain fart...Or even "I miss being able to do that - if I did that now, I'd be arrested" ; )

Might be creepy, but might be kinda funny if it's the latter.

No red flags here. There's something about a nekkid baby butt that invites a gaze. Which is probably why we get a kick out of taking nekkid baby pics and saving them to laugh at years later.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Not really - no red flags for me. Your child was naked. People look at kids. People look at naked kids. People take pictures of their young naked kids. That doesn't mean that the parents taking the pictures or the people they show them to are creepy. You acted like it was nothing that your kiddo was naked in front of the neighbor. Was he supposed to avert his gaze BECAUSE your son was naked?

Unless you see something REAL with this neighbor, don't worry about this.

I don't know....

Many, many people do not remove their sunglasses when chatting.
Are you only bothered because he is a man? If his wife was the one chatting with you would you be seeing red flags?

If I were your neighbor in this situation and I stopped to chat, I probably would not have removed my sunglasses and, yes, I would glance at your son playing from time to time because kids having fun makes me happy.

Sunglasses are one of my biggest pet peeves! I hate the fricken things. My husband's are permanently attached to his face whenever we leave the house and it annoys the bejeezies out of me. When I am talking to someone I would like to see their eyes, you know?

Anyways... If it sent your mommy alarm off, just keep it "filed away" in case anything else might come up. But don't treat them differently because of this one instance.

Always trust your gut, nothing wrong with that. But realize that he could have indeed been looking at your son, but it could have just been a wistful action, looking at the innocence of a child running free and unencumbered by society's overall prudish stance on the naked body. Not that I am pro-nudist, mind you. Just want to make that clear ;)

If I had no other creepy feelings about this neighbor, I would think no more of it but wouldn't let my kid run around without pants on in the front yard, either.

I think it is great that your gut registered, because it means you are aware that naked children outside need to be protected from many unfortunate possible problems. (Peeping toms, creepy strangers taking photos, etc.)

But for now, it seems like things are okay, so I think you can just file this memory away in your gut file. And keep DS clothed when outside, as much as possible!

I don't care if he wasn't or was looking at your child. Your gut felt wonky, and that's worth going with. My gut has never been wrong. I choose to trust that, over being polite. You are a parent. You can protect your child from anyone, for any silly little reason. It's your right.

If you aren't going around thinking people are after your kids all the time...I think it's wise to listen to your gut. If you are kind of paranoid and everyone is a target, lighten up!!

I don't see any red flags here.

I think you may have been in protective mode because your child was naked. Most children playing in a sprinkler, clothed or naked, scream, laugh and make a lot noise. Anyone near this would glance at the source.

Sunglasses are worn to protect the eyes. Is it possible that the sun was behind you, which places it directly in his eyes?

I think I would've been more concerned if he stayed far away and just stared or appeared to be staring.

If one of my neighbors kids was running around half naked, I'd probably stare too while I questioned their judgement. I'd wonder how long it would be before they took the child indoors and if I had stopped to chat I would consider suggesting they go do that.

You don't live far enough in the country to not have neighbors walking by, so you're too public to allow outdoor nakedness and peeing.