L.O. asks from Morrisville, PA on October 10, 2011
Play Time in the Bath
How long do you let you kids play in the bath? My husband lets our almost 3 year old daughter play in the tub for only about 5 minutes. I usually let her play for about 20 minutes. She gets a bath every other day, and she is an only child so it's not like there is another kid that needs to get in the tub. She is definitely a water baby, during the summer, she could have easily stayed in the pool for well over an hour if we let her.
So What Happened?™
Thanks Moms,
I did think that about a 1/2 hour is average time for a bath, but I just wanted to hear what other moms were doing. My husband usually does not give her baths so shorts baths are not the norm for her.
Featured Answers
B.G. answers from Champaign on October 10, 2011
I usually let them play until they are done or until a certain time. I know how long to allow for brushing teeth and books, so I'm aware of how much time they have left.
I'd say they are usually done in about 30 minutes. They're just done playing and/or the water has gotten too cold.
I guess I don't know why you would set a time limit unless it's too late in the evening and too close to bedtime. If she's having fun, why make her stop?
3 moms found this helpful
More Answers
B.G. answers from Champaign on October 10, 2011
I usually let them play until they are done or until a certain time. I know how long to allow for brushing teeth and books, so I'm aware of how much time they have left.
I'd say they are usually done in about 30 minutes. They're just done playing and/or the water has gotten too cold.
I guess I don't know why you would set a time limit unless it's too late in the evening and too close to bedtime. If she's having fun, why make her stop?
3 moms found this helpful
C.J. answers from Dallas on October 10, 2011
At our house we have "playing baths" and "quick baths" the former is about 20 minutes and the latter 5 minutes. what determines quick or play? time of night and how much we have going on - however, we typically plan for the 20 minute bath:)
3 moms found this helpful
A.L. answers from Austin on October 10, 2011
We trend toward the longer baths, too.
Our older daughter is five, so if she wants a long bath, I know that she's not harrassing her little sister, and she's more or less out of trouble as long as she's in there! Or, at least the mess is contained.
If the younger one wants a long bath, well, she's okay by herself for a few minutes, but not quite old enough to leave her completely to her bath. That bathroom is cleaner than the rest of the house, since I can clean everything but the tub while she's in there. If she's in the master bath, I can fold laundry or whatever in the bedroom. Her long bath is my catch-up time!
I also like to play with them while they're in the bath sometimes. We blow bubbles, and still use washcloth puppets.
If we're running short on time, they get a bath together, and they get their medicine (during allergy season, anyway - which in Austin, is nearly year-round!) in the tub, and I grab a book and read them their bedtime story while they're still in the tub, too. Lets me skip a couple of pre-bedtime steps later.
3 moms found this helpful
P.M. answers from Harrisburg on October 11, 2011
When our kids were little, there were days they spent HOURS in the tub...because they had a lot of fun and enjoyed it. They had lots of tub toys. I would sit on the floor in the bathroom and read a book, or pay bills or whatever. What's the rush?
2 moms found this helpful
A.V. answers from Washington DC on October 10, 2011
Depends on what she wants and what timeframe we have. If we had a late dinner and a long day, for example, then it might be a "short bath" with just a little play time. Sometimes she requests a short bath herself. I also try to end the bath before it's cold, in part because I let her play in clean water and wash her up at the very end to try to prevent infections.
It may also depend on each parent. DH gets much more involved in SuperDuck's adventures than I do, so their baths tend to be longer. If she does get some longer baths, I wouldn't worry about some baths being shorter. She probably knows by now that Daddy baths are shorter.
2 moms found this helpful
J.S. answers from Jacksonville on October 10, 2011
As long as we don't have to be anywhere, or have anything pressing to do, as long as she wants.
2 moms found this helpful
L.M. answers from Kansas City on October 10, 2011
20 min is fine.. If you are sitting with them, they usually can cue when they are done.. I pull the plug and let my boy play until the water has drained out, then he knows it's time to get out. He will sit and play and play if I left the water in... LOL
2 moms found this helpful
R.C. answers from York on October 13, 2011
I let my son in there as long he he wants if we have no reason to hurry. Some nights I will even let out some of the water as it gets cold and add more warm water. I will play with him with his toys most times. Some times I call my mom and talk to her while I sit on the bathroom floor. I have also used his tubby time to do sit ups or push ups or something like that in the hallway where I can still see him through the bathroom door.
1 mom found this helpful
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