Open Door Policy

I would go with it being ok until one of you starts getting uncomfortable with it. My daughter is 4 and my husband covers up around her because it bothers him more than her.

I think "Julie S" had the best answer-- don't teach shame, teach respect. I think it's fine that you have an open door and that he still sees you nude occasionally in a normal way. I grew up in a verrry conservative house where everything was overly private and uncomfortable. My mother didn't even take us bra shopping. We came home from school one day, and there were training bras in our room. Weird. I want my sons to grow up knowing the body is normal, but is to be respected. Have the door closed, but don't "hide"-- I'm not as eloquent as Julie... she said it best :)

I think it's a good thing that you are teaching your children that a naked body is nothing to be ashamed of. That being said, I would emphasize the "privacy" aspect of being in the shower or sitting on the toilet. That he should knock on the door before coming in. That teaches respect, just like you would knock on his door or when he is in the bathroom before coming in.

I would explain to him that there will be times that you don't want him to come into the bathroom or your room. The knock signals that he wants to talk to you, which is fine, but it is YOUR choice whether he can enter the bathroom or bedroom. The door is closed because you require privacy. Explain that it works both ways. That you will knock before coming into his room or bathroom. If he asks you for some time, that you'll give him that space.

We have a no lock policy as well. But, if the door is closed, I will knock first before entering.

I have a daughter (4 1/2) and step son (10). And I agree with what most of the others are saying and we have similar rules in our house. The children do not have locks on their bedroom doors or bathroom door - but that is a respected space. The kids are not allowed to tell us not to enter their bedrooms, for example, but they can request alone time and we always knock and wait for them to tell us to come in. But if they do not answer - we come in, that is understood. As parents we do have the option of locks - but only use it when we are being intimate, or are having discussions we do not want the kids to hear, etc... I don't think locks are something parents should feel guilty about. At the same time, I think parents should always be available to their kids. So, I agree with the others - knocking solves it. It shows respect and allows for privacy. The adults can still lock the door, but the children would not know that because they are knocking, not turning the door knob. You know? It has worked for us, but every family is different.

K., I'm going thru the same thing with my son. It is just the two of us & I think it's important for him to know he can come to me anytime so I have been taking the approach of manners. He is doing alot better knocking before entering & come to find out he wants the same respect. It's been working really well.

shouldnt do it past age 3

Teach your children simple manners; in another words, knock before entering - it worked for me 100% of the time and my children are now 11 and 13 and would never just walk into any room without knocking. I would be concerned that I am actually "teaching" my kids when I am having sex by only locking it during that time - start making changes now, they grow so fast!

He'll self adjust. We don't place a big premium on privacy in our home. With 8 kids I think they've all walked in on everyone else a time or two. If you don't make a big deal out of it he won't either.

I wouldn't push him away..but I would non chulantly(bad spelling..not french) start to put on a towel..he doesn't think anything now...but I would certainly start "the cover up" I have 2 girls..I never worried about it..but they started getting embarassed. It bothered them more than it did me..Just saying before he gets to that point..start weaning him off....

Everyone has their own feelings about nudity and their relative comfort levels. When my son was about 5 or 6, he'd walk in and I'd tell him I'm getting dressed and I could use a little privacy and I'll be with him in a few minutes. Or "Keep talking, I'm listening, but could you turn around for a bit while I'm getting my clothes on?". Now he's 11 and he wants a bit of his own privacy when he's changing.

I don't necessarily think it is an age thing, as every child is so different. I had one who, from a very early age, was uncomfortable with it, and also wanted privacy when he was changing. However, if your children are in school, they are learning a lot about sex, etc, and they also talk. If it were me, I would start being careful just because you don't always know what is going to come out of their mouths and in front of whom, which as one other poster said, could land you into unnecessary trouble with social services. It is unfortunate that you have to think about this possibility, but the sickos out there have ruined it for the rest of us! But also, once he starts hearing stuff in school, he may be seeing you in a different light, which could be confusing for him. I don't think shame needs to be involved, but I do think privacy and respect for closed doors should be encouraged, especially because that will serve them later in life in situations away from home where people may not be as informal with these issues. Our kids know that when our door is clsed they do not just walk in - they must knock first. If the door is open, they can walk in.

I have a friend whose parents were always very comfortable in the nude. They continued to walk around in the nude until the kids were adults. For all I know, they still do. My friend and her sisters were very comfortable with it, too. They never saw anything embarrassing about it.

Well, I am not from the US, but in my home country there is not a big issue around nudity. I think I have seem my parents/sister/brother in law/friends nude on occasion as there are public co-ed Saunas that we frequent. It's funny, because my husband was deeply embarrassed when my mom was here and helped me out while I was in the tub with our baby... it's just a non-issue for us I guess.
My guess is that he will start knocking when he is starting to feel embarrassed.