I’m with ‘trashy.’ My cub(16 mo.) would never go out in anything less than shorts (though I let him in our backyard kiddie pool with just a pair of Swimmies on.) Diapers sag, yellow, and leak when full, even the best of them. No one wants to see that while shopping (even in Kmart) or eating. Plus, a pair of shorts at least gives a psychological level of protection for when you have to finally pick up the wet baby- noone wants that saggy-sponge feeling against their arm.
GypsyBaby wears clothes in public. Always. He prefers to be barefoot, which is ok because he isn’t walking yet, but I won’t even take him out without a shirt.
Even around the house, clothes provide some protection when he’s scooting/rolling around on the floor. Scooting across the living room floor leaves some icky rugburn on his tummy if he doesn’t wear a shirt.
On a similar note, I won’t take him out in public in his pajamas, although I see other kids dressed that way frequently. Clothes are for daytime, pajamas are for night.
I’m with the trashy camp.
The only time WVBaby (almost 2 years old) goes out with just a diaper on is like, on the porch or something (and nobody can see her when she’s standing there).
If its hot what iss wrong with that. I would but hey my kids 18 now.
If it’s their yard, they can do what ever they like. When little bro was a baby, the doctor suggested some diaperless yard time to help clear up diaper rash. <shrug>
I don’t have kids, but if I did, they wouldn’t be outside in a diaper-only ** ever**, unless their dad is considerably darker skinned than I am. <thinks about how a baby-sitter took 18 month old, diaper clad, elfie to the beach for an hour or so and returned her to mom and dad with 2nd degree sunburns…>
Outside in my yard? Occasionally, and not for too long. Sometimes when I’m weeding my front flowerbed, my youngest dashes out in her diaper (I swear I get her dressed, but she often changes that status, and if it’s warm, I’m slow to dress her again). I usually let her run around until I’m done before I get her dressed again. And this isn’t everyday or anything. Most days I’m together enough to make sure she’s dressed before I start weeding. I slather my kids in sunscreen every morning before I get them dressed, so I’m not terribly panicked about sun exposure.
But I have much looser rules for my yard than I do for a store.
I would not take her out in just a diaper out in a store, or anywhere beyond my yard. I have a lot of light, breezy dresses just for hot days out.
And isn’t it funny that while I write this, my two year old daughter just tried to escape out the front door wearing nothing but her diaper and a spaghetti sauce smile. She was recaptured and returned to her habitat.
My father believed that children shouldn’t be required to wear clothing until they reached puberty. However, I don’t think that we went out to stores or anything in diaper only; I’m pretty sure that a pair of shorts would go over it. After potty training, though…
Yay, naked!
Out to the store in only a diaper? Nope, never.
Running nekkid in the backyard? Sure, why the heck not?
My little guy likes to be fully dressed, and would probably be upset if I took him out in public clad only in a diaper. I give him two outfits to choose from each time he needs a change of clothes, and he enjoys having a little say in what he wears.
Since he’s always liked clothes (thank god), I can’t imagine taking him anywhere dressed in just a diaper. I agree that it looks trashy.
I’ve seen little ones (diaper only) rooting around in their diapers while sitting in a shopping cart. Ick. I think kiddoes should at least have a onesie on if they are going to the store.
However, if my son wanted to run nekkid in the backyard on a hot day, I’d be cool with that. 
Unless they’re the type of people who remove every single stick and rock from the yard, it can be very dangerous. That’s how my sister lost her virginity at the age of 2.
Last I checked losing one’s virginity involved having sex.
What the HELL? Oh god that’s horrible. My legs are crossed so tightly now, hillbilly queen.
Sticks, rocks? it was the city in the early 80’s, there were no trees or rocks
I have never taken my kids out in just a diaper though I have let them in the wading pool on the deck naked.
I don’t have any objection to kids being in just a diaper though. I’m hoping too fervently that my parenting isn’t being judged every second I’m in public to allow myself critical thoughts if I can help it.
I don’t put shoes on my non walking kid (8 mos.) and have gotten some grief for that.
Actually my kids never go out in anything without sleeves because I’m worried about the carseat straps chafing them. Of course most parents leave carseat straps so loose that isn’t a problem (stop it! Bad carlotta! No judging!)
I don’t usually take the Dumplings out in just diapers, but only because I think the carseat is hot without a shirt.
I don’t hesitate to take them out in a tee shirt and diaper, though. And here at home, it’s a pretty big day if they both wear clothes at the same time.
I’m not even KMart, I think. I’m more of a payday-KMart type person, and a Goodwill/yardsale type the rest of the time. 
~karol
I certainly let the kids run around the yard (front or back) in just a diaper or underware.
I don’t NORMALLY take them out places not fully dressed, but things happen…
Baby has a big poop, and while I remembered to bring diapers and wipes, I forgot to bring another outfit and her old one is soiled. So now we are down to just a diaper.
Should I abandon my full but not yet paid for shopping cart? Should I leave the mall, drive home, put another outfit on, and then drive back to the mall to get my erands done? Or should I finish my shopping day with my child wearing just a diaper?
The later I think.