Bathing Alone

When my son was about 2 I would leave him in the bath alone. BUT....the only thing I would do is put away laundry or whatever in my bedroom which was right next to bathroom. He'd had swimming lessons so I knew if he went under for a second he'd be fine. Oh yeah...I also listened the WHOLE time for splashing and still checked on him every minute or so. Now he's 3 1/2 and I let him be in there alone, but I call out to him every once in awhile so he'll answer back. Don't really know what good THAT does. But again, now he's older and I'm still always very close by and listening intently. I know some people will totally disagree with me on all this stuff, but that's just how I handle it. I know that some would call me crazy. Oh well. Oh yeah...I still wash his body. Don't trust him at ALL to do that! He'd get out still smelling stinky!

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I think my kids were about 5 when they started bathing alone. I would still check in on them. I think you have to know your kid. I think even when they were four, I would step out of the bathroom for a moment to go get something. I don't think this is something that you just one day decide they're old enough. I think over time, you give them a little more time alone, but always knowing you'll be right back. It's not the drowning I worry about so much - they're not just going to put their heads under water and die. More likely, they are going to do something "adventurous" like stand with wet feet on the edge of the tub, or try to drink the shampoo, or put a toy in the toilet. I always had them call to me when they were ready to get out because I didn't want them steping on the side of the tub and slipping and they were too little step over. They also loved it when I wrapped them in a towel, so the calling mom probably happened until they were seven!

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I never really thought this out, at exactly what age. We have so many people running around all the time, and the "babies" of the same gender are bathed together for convenience, of course. But, my children get modest at about 5-6yo, so I would say that is a good age. I have always gone for maturity. If the child has to be reminded to sit down when you are washing them, that is probably too young for that child. If they are showering, that is probably too old to be in the bathroom with them. And, I agree with the washing the boys, they will come out dirtier than they went in if you don't keep tabs on that. LOL

I know that my grandmother left my sister and me in the tub alone, and she had just turned 3, because I think I was 18 mos old. I guess she left me in there long enough to fall asleep, because they heard my sister scream, "Sissy died, sissy died" as I was under the water and unconcious. My uncle revived me, and my sister said I had fallen asleep. I was petrified of water after that and never learned to swim until I was 13yo. So, I would say that is a bit too young, even with an older sibling there. I still love my grandmother though. She raised 8 children and they all made it to 18.

I say never. When you feel your child is ready then he/she is probably old enough to shower. There are so many unnessasary drowning deaths that it isn't worth it. All it takes is a few seconds and that is something you can never get back! Please consider not doing it at all. Children should never be left in water alone.

i've read that knowing how to swim doesn't have a lot to do with bathtub safety. i would do a lot more research, before trusting that because they passed a swimming test they'd be okay alone in the water (any water). i always stay within easy earshot of my son, and like someone said, if it gets quiet i poke my head in. but he's a jabberer...he's VERY rarely quiet!

It just depends on the child honestly! My son was about 4 when I'd step out of the bathroom within ear shot so he could play longer why I was in the kitchen cleaning up a few feet away. When he was 5 he started to wash him self more on his own, but of course I always had to double check. He's 7.5 now, and CAN take a bath/shower alone. But would rather have Grandpa (who we live with) give him a bath and chit chat with him etc. Also he doesn't like to be in the bathroom alone anymore. It's amazing when they were younger they wanted to do it them selves, and now that he's older he doesn't!

I am by no means an expert, but in my opinion: when they have safely passed a swimming test, that states they know how to
how can I say this "breath" safely around water. I am not sure what age that is, so I hope a swimming expert and/or an RN and/or a Doctor chimes in to your message, for both our sakes. Thanks for asking a great question.
M. N.

Dear L.
GoodMorning. When my kids were 5years old I tought them
to take a bath by them selves I gave them 15 minutes in the
bath tub because a bath tub is no place to be playing
around in I told they could get hurt and drown. If they
played around they had to start taking showers.
Have a great weekend B. K.

I always disliked this stage and I don't think it's really an age so much. Some of my kids were more cautious in general than others. One of them in particular was a demon child when it came to taking risks. My youngest is a fish out of water AND she is fairly cautious. So what we have been doing for a few years is have her sing and keep the door open. If she gets quiet I check on her.

The thing I tried to do with all of mine is teach them to take and like showers. I felt they were a little safer that way.

S.

Mine are older but I left the door open and checked frequently from 5 until they were around 10. That's when they started closing the door. I let them decide. And still if they seem to be taking to long I'll tap and say "Everything ok in there"? lol

I'd say it almost depends on the child. My daughter (now 11), I would begin leaving around the age of 3 1/2, almost four, just maybe to run and grab her clothes or something like that, but Would always saty where I could hear her. She was always very good in the bath and played well. My middle child who is 5 I have just now begun in the past 6 months let him bath alone for a few minutes then return to check on him. He used to like to get out and get drinks and I didn't like him getting in and out alone...that's an accident waiting to happen. My youngest is 3. I'm not sure when I'll be able to trust him. I'll leave for a moment to run to another bedroom real quick maybe to put some folded laundry away, but that's about it. He's a little mess maker. I'd have a flooded bathroom because he likes to try and dump water on the floor.

my oldest is almost five and i don't think we'll be ready for him to bathe alone till at least 7.

Hi L., I let my kid to bathe by himself at the age of 7. I always check on him, he is now 8. I let him do it when he learned not to do anything unsafe in the bathtub like standing up in one foot, doing dangerous movements in the water, and so far. What you can do is let your kid some minutes, and check on him, teach him how to move in the tub like not standing up away from the mat, and not trying to make silly things (they do!)
It takes time, besides you have to teach him how to bathe and wash his hair as well.
Good Luck!
A.

I have 5 children. They all seemed to let me know when it was time. All 5 of them prefered I didn't see them naked anymore at around the age of 5. I respected their privacy. That doesn't mean I didn't go to the door and ask them if everything was alright.

It depends on your child. My boys were very modest by age 3 and did not want me in there. I do not let them lock the door when they are taking a bath or shower but they do close the door. When they were that young I would make sure I could hear them talking or pouring water or playing and if they got too quiet I would call their name and see if they answered as I always worried they might fall asleep. My oldest started taking showers at around 4 so felt safer with that. I think my daughter was around 3 when she took baths alone too and always played a long time but would hear her talking or splashing and did the same thing and checked on her if she got too quiet. My youngest is 8 and still loves to take a bath so I still have to have a listening ear especially if I know he is very tired before he takes a bath to make sure he doesn't fall asleep in there because he loves to take long leisure baths and doesn't like to take a shower very often but will take showers when we are in a hurry or sometimes before school. We just have a rule in the house even us as adults don't lock the door when we take showers but the kids know to knock on the door if they are closed before entering to go to the bathroom. Anyone can slip and fall so that is just a rule we have for safety to get help quicker if someone did have an accident in the shower or bathtub. I would definately say 2 and under is too young to leave alone for even a few seconds.

I think I heard when they can swim. However, some people never learn to swim, so there must be a better benchmark.Hum...

I wouldn't leave a child in the bathtub alone until they are also able to take a shower by themselves. I understand modesty, I have an 11 yr old and 13 yr old who have been taking showers for years, but not before they started elementary school! Some of the responses I read are scary...leaving a 2 and 3 yr old in the tub by themselves??
that's not being a responsible parent in my opinion. Too much can happen..children can drown in the bathtub. I dry my hair and style it while my son is in the tub, that way he can play while I get ready. By the time I'm finished, he is too and I never had to leave the bathroom. Be safe, not sorry. V.