4.5 too young to bathe alone?

[StormySar]

At what age did you trust your kids alone in a bathtub to bathe themselves? My daughter is 4.5 and washes herself in the shower, but dh feels she is still too young to be left unattended in a bath. The furthest I would be would be down the hall in the play room or my office, but I thought she might be old enough to leave in a bath for a few minutes at a time to let her have some privacy. I won't leave her during a shower - I'm too afraid she'll fall. But she's pretty competant in a bath.

When did you start leaving your dc's to bathe themselves?

[Annalisa84]

My oldest is 3 and 8 months and last month, she asked me for "privatcy" when she's in the tub, except when she needs her hair washed. I leave the room, but the door remains open and I check in on her every 5 or so minutes. I think at 4.5 I'll probably still have a similar approach, probably until she's six or so.

[PiePie]

too young. i think i saw 5 as the minimum by the aap. it's just not worth the risk.

[Treasuremapper]

I'm usually in the bathroom or in the hall just outside the cracked door with our five year old dd. I would try to give it just a few months.

Or you could use my guideline -- if you have to wonder if it is ok, then it's not ok. When our 7 year old was ready, she was about our younger dd's age, and we didn't wonder, it was obvious that she was totally ready. Our younger dd is a little unsteadier so she might need a little longer.

[momtokea]

I think it's too young. I never felt comfortable leaving them before the age of 6 or 7, depending on the child. And that's still with paying very close attention, doors open and me not too far away.

[alegna]

Dd is going on 4.5 I am comfortable a few steps down the hall with the monitor on and the doors open. She makes lots of noise

-Angela

[dbsam]

Our two 4.5 yo's are in the bath together and we are in and out. I may go into their room next door to put away clothes or be on the computer across the hall in the study. I cannot see them but can hear them and are steps away. (They are very loud so they make noise constantly.) My husband will run downstairs to get something while giving them a bath. I don't think he should and we've had discussions about this issue. I fear he will get caught up in whatever he runs down for - too dangerous.

[A&A]

Originally Posted by PiePie

too young. i think i saw 5 as the minimum by the aap. it's just not worth the risk.

:

[Amylcd]

Mine started around the age of 4. It never seemed too young to me.

[octobermom]

mine was a lot younger Maybe its because we have a tiny house and its pretty much impossible not to hear everything from every corner. Maybe its because she sings at the top of her lungs through out her bath time.. Not sure but hnestly she is now 6 and shes been bathing on "her own" to some extent since she was at least 3.. prpbably younger.

Deanna

[CheapPearls]

Yeah, about my oldest's 4th birthday I was comfortable being close but not in the bathroom. He turns 5 in March and often when he's in the bath I am across the hall getting a head start on cleaning up toys.

[octobermom]

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org...rics;112/2/437

FWIW

Deanna

[Maluhia]

Between 3.5 and 4 here.

I'm not really taking a nap or something but I'm going around the house getting a few things done here and there.

[emaye_to_2]

I haven't read the previous posts but I felt comfortable leaving my DS in the bathtub around 4.5 years. I wasn't more than just down the hall tho. Altho I didn't necessarily trust him to actually bathe himself well.

[Meg_s]

I actually let my three year old bathe or shower alone. I don't just stick him in there and leave him, but he's fine playing while I do some chores in and out of the bathroom. I'm in an apartment, hear him at all times and the door is open.

[MayBaby2007]

:

DD (almost 18 mos) showers alone at times. I leave the room for several minutes at a time while she showers. I can hear everything and she'll come running out if she needs something (like when she poops and needs me to clean it up before it's safe to get back in the shower )

I leave dd in the bathtub for short periods of time as well. I'll go pick out her jammies for the night, check on her, go throw laundry in dryer (same floor), check on her, etc.

I'm pretty laxed though

[Equuskia]

My 3 yo bathes alone. In fact, that's the easiest way for me to get her out of the way when I need to do something without children underfoot (take things out of the oven, etc). And the bonus is that she gets clean too. But like angela's kid, she makes lots of noise and I always leave the door open.

[Jessy1019]

Around 2 . . . our house is small enough that I could hear playing/talking in there, and check in frequently if they got quiet.

My kids love the bath. I would be bored out of my mind if I had to sit there and stare at them as long as they like to stay in and play!

[Meg_s]

Originally Posted by MayBaby2007

:

DD (almost 18 mos) showers alone at times.

lol, I left ds3 and ds 18mos in the shower today while I made lunch for them. They were happy. I could hear them.. I felt they were safe.

[Petersmamma]

My ds is 3.5 and we live in a very small house. I let him play in the tub by himself for a bit while I get things ready for the next day. I'm in and out, and if he STOPS making noise, I'm there. Wait. He doesn't stop making noise. Ever.