Bathing

[MrsK]

At what age did you let your kids bathe alone, without adult supervision? The K Bros will be 5.5yo and 7yo in a couple weeks. (I know, can you believe it?) I've been trying to teach them self-reliance and give them a little more freedom. For instance, I don't have to be in the room with them every minute of every day like when they were toddlers but they still get into a fair amount of mischief. K2 is generally more reliable than K1 and less likely to make reckless choices.

K1 is beginning to request privacy and I think he's old enough to have it. I've been trying to help them fill the tub and then check in every few minutes. I still help them out of the tub so they don't slip and then leave them to dress themselves.

Today, K2 was in the tub. I left the room and he was floating when I returned. I couldn't see his face when I was entering the room. I thought he drowned and totally panicked. I was literally crying and hyperventilating. He was fine, just floating on purpose.

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[scrub-jay]

Could you start with showers and see how they do?

[Thirteen]

Could you start with showers and see how they do?

We did this with DS1.


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[SuzySunshine]

Mine take showers unattended, I still stick my head in periodically when they take baths.


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[MrsK]

They act like total maniacs in the shower. Running around and splashing mostly. They won't drown but will likely fall and definitely make a mess. In the tub, they sit and play with toys.

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[alotofyarn]

E just turned 3, and we've been letting her have some unsupervised bath time for a while. We wash her then set a timer and let her play. We're just outside the bathroom, and the door is open, so we can hear her, but she loves just playing in the bath, and it didn't make sense for us to sit in there with her the whole time, so this works out. There's not a ton of water in it, and she's probably not as destructive as the boys might be - once or twice she's gotten in trouble for dumping water, but that's about it. If it gets quiet or I hear water moving in ways that it shouldn't, I go in quickly.

[civilspouse]

DS (6) and DD (3) will shower on their own. I stay in the bathroom with DD still. She has no fear of water and is constantly trying to float around etc. with DS I will leave him in the bath but stay within hearing distance. He just recently started wanting to shower/bathe without his sister which makes the process take longer but I'm glad to see him gaining some independence.


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[HouseofWool]

DD showers and needs help with her hair, but other than that, I would leave her with the door cracked so I can hear if she bathed. She can swim, so she can certainly manage a bath.

[PrincessFiona]

I probably stayed with them until they were 7. We do showers now.


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[HouseofWool]

Over summer, my friend's niece died in the tub. She was 5, they had her in there with her 3 yr old sister. They came in to check on them and the 5 yo was face down and the 3 yo still playing. Even with autopsy they can't determine if she hit her head or what. There was no heart malfunction or anything that indicated an untimely demise. So I say this as someone who isn't a parent but watched what they're going through third-hand.

Jesus. I can't even imagine.

[alison]

Omg, LSW! That is terrible.
Dd1 is 7 and we're still going strong. We sit by the tub. It's her time to unwind and chat with us with our undivided attention. My dh and I both love this time with her.

[MDPhDWife]

Mine were taking showers at 7 by themselves. My girls have always preferred showers for the most part. Will the K boys chill out in the shower if it becomes less novelty for them?


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