Stripping his clothes

Rachael - posted on 12/27/2010

I would definitely take this as a cue baby is ready to learn new skills: potty training and dressing/undressing. Random rewards are the most reinforcing, so give your child a sticker or a treat, make a chart to put a sticker on or put a sticker on the little potty and make a BIG, HAPPY, LOUD deal for every attempt to go potty and for every time he keeps his jammies on overnight, etc. Reward even if no pee or poop comes out. Like one of the responses below, my daughter and son are also very warm kids and they get sweaty at night. Neither can sleep in fleece. Only 100% cotton works. My son is also sensitive to tags and seams in garments, even applique designs seem to bother him. I turn some garments inside-out, and cut off tags. Some children do have sensory integration issues and really just can't stand the feeling of clothing! My daughter never did the poop-play thing, however she potty-trained for poop at 13 months and 2 1/2 for pee (consistently). She has always stripped off her clothing as soon as she was home and continues to do so now at age 7. Our rule is that if there are non-family members around she has to keep underwear or shorts on now, primarily because her body is developing somewhat early, not because she's 7.When we lived 2 houses from grandparents' she often walked or was carried home in just a diaper--once in snowfall. If it's not going to actually hurt, maim or kill the child, why should it be a big deal?! She's a kid who knows how to layer and she's had some logical consequences after insisting she didn't need a coat, getting cold outside and realizing she'd have to tough it out at recess because mommy wasn't there to rescue her! For the toddler...you could try dressing him just before you are ready to go somewhere, set a kitchen timer or timer on cell phone for 5 minutes and tell him you are leaving in 5 minutes for ____. Keep clothes on for the park! When the timer goes off, say 'Time to go to the park!' If he's undressed, say, ' No clothes? No park.' He may not react the first time, but if he keeps missing out on his favorite activities, things will soon change!

Sarah - posted on 12/23/2010

Need to get the ebook Potty train in three days. if he can take off his cloths he is ready to potty train. Alos by his age he is ready. This might help with keeping the cloths on as well.

Dwaina - posted on 12/22/2010

I have the same problem with my daughter. She is the same age, and refuses to keep her clothes on. She even strips at daycare! She is potty training right now, especially since she started coming to me with diaper and wipes in hand saying "eeewww mommy". I just have to be patient until she gets potty trained and hope that she will stop stripping soon. Neither of my other two daughters went through a stripping phase!

Amber - posted on 12/20/2010

Our daughter does that too... the only way i've been able to keep clothes on her (and she only does this when she's put in her bed btw) is to have a bodysuit that snaps between her legs. She hasn't thought to undo those buttons yet. I think...no i KNOW she does it to get attention... It's cute but annoying!



If I used the duct tape I know she'd think "OoooH! Sticker!!!" And then work until she got it off...Lol

Carrie - posted on 12/20/2010

The best suggestion I ever heard was to get zipper pajamas without feet and put them on backwards (scissors can be used to remove pesky feet from the ones where they are included). It may help keep him clothed, at least overnight. Maybe if you get a big toilet converter he'll sit on that. My kids never liked the potty seats.

Bonnie - posted on 12/20/2010

my daughter does the same thing, I've found that onesies work

Thereza - posted on 12/18/2010

Mine is the same. I tried the little vests with the buttons at between the legs, it worked for about a week. Sorry i dont have any advise

Nicolle - posted on 12/18/2010

My daughter is 23 months as well and does the same thing. My nieghbor came over to talk for a minute and there she was bare as could be. Made me feel like I dont take care of her but I do she just loves rnning around nude. My son did too actually still does and he is 3 1/2. Shince he is in undies now there really is not much I can do but the duck tape idea is good I have used it myself a few times. GOOD LUCK and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to everyone.

Angela - posted on 12/18/2010

You are not alone mine has done it since he could walk and when he was about 3months is when he would fuss when id put him in clothes. My child has a hot body so naked even in winter doesnt bother him. I think it is a stage and i wish i could help on advice but i am in the same boat. Just know you're not along and be patient. Also my son is the same age and my eldest was the same way until he was about 2 1/2. So im just being patient. I do get embarrassed cause people come by and give me looks or advice...but i think he is just expressing himself and if he's happy then i will let him be. Dont care what others think. If they say something tell them all our children are unique in there own ways. Just dont worry it will pass.

Melissa - posted on 12/17/2010

fun times!! My son has been doing this for about 2 weeks. Backwards onsies...but that will only last until he figures how to unsnap them from behind, yes he is already trying. Thanks for the essentialwhites.com info!!! I never had the problem with my daughter...and I have avoided the poo all over the place, THANK GOD!!! I am pregnant with my 3rd and have a hard time with smells. :)

Bonnie - posted on 12/16/2010

Believe it or not, all of mine have done it. I have three. My 3 year old still likes to strip down to underwear as soon as he walks through the door!! LOL!! My little on is also 23 months old and has just started the stripping thing. She doesn't do it all the time but enough. I do believe it is a boy thing. My oldest one was the worst. He started it just after he turned a year old. I got so sick of cleaning poop of of him, the crib, the walls. As you see he played in it. I searched on line and literally everyone said they duct taped the diaper. We did it and tore the tape off every morning. It worked and he lost interest in doing it. You don't just tape the tabs of the diaper. We would hold him up or spin him around and literally wrap it around him. HAHA!! Hope this helps. You're not alone. It's a phase. You'll laugh about it later and you can use the story to tease him when he's older. ;P

Vanessa - posted on 12/16/2010

my little lad hasn't kept his clothes or nappy one since he was about 1 and he's 23 months now, i've tried everything he has 2 zip up suits that he can't take of so they usually stay on all night, i've also found putting a body vest on when he goes to bed also helps keep the nappy on most nights even if he does manage to get his pj's off, hopefully he snaps out of taking his nappy off soon though body vests only go upto 2 years. it usually his a phase though my sister did the same when she was younger up until she was about 4 i think she even used to strip off at school!

Gayle - posted on 12/15/2010

essentialwhites.com saved either my son's life or my life, not quite sure yet. Large size onesies, I think they go up to 5T. Since I got them he is not able to take off his pants and unsnap the onesie, pull off his diaper and abstract art with poop.
I was trying to figure out why he was doing it, was it curiosity or defiance... but whatever his reason it had to stop. We got rid of our dog because he kept crapping on our floor and now I'm cleaning it off the walls, windows... Oh no! Sorry just had a flash back. Check them out essentialwhites.com.

Julieanne - posted on 12/15/2010

my 23mth son (also3rd child) is the same..i've also done ducktape at nite to save getting cold, but he has just taken to the potty so well this week i've let him be nude. I keep potty in view at all times and dont push the point just big cheers when he gets it right. He is doing better than all my other kids and at a younger age!! good luck!

Doreen - posted on 12/14/2010

My daughter did the same thing! It was frustrating because I was washing her bedding everyday, because she'd strip when she got into the crib (probably bored and didn't want to sleep) and then being in crib all night she'd pee. Uggh ... But we solved it by applying about 4" of duct tape over along the collar where the zipper resides (so she can't take pj's off) or if non-zip pj's we'd put the duct tape over the diaper sticky tabs. It worked magic for us ... and while she doesn't seem to have the inclination to take jammies off anymore, I still duct tape her because I dont' want to take the chance.

Coco - posted on 12/12/2010

Once mine got a potty in his room, it seems that he knows it's there for a reason and doesn't stripped naked anymore. (nor does he spread poop everywhere in his room)
he's not using it alot, just a couple of times, I'm not pushing it. Now that he knows it's for that he keeps his clothes on, idk why but I'm sure glad.

Melissa - posted on 12/10/2010

I think it might be a phase and you will have to be patient. However, once I read somewhere that what you can do is explain a million times to yor child that if he hasnt got the clothes on he can't play, watch TV, go outside etc....dont know if it works but you can give it a shot!