Does anyone else shower with kids?

[mom2happy]

Im just wondering if anyone washes their kids in the shower. I have DD1 (7), DS(5) and DD2 (3 months).
Ive always jumped in the shower and called dd1, gave her a quick shower, then called ds, washed him, and then took my own quick shower.
It is so fast and none of us think anything of it. Everyone just runs in and out so fast and its so convenient.
It just occurred to me today that they will get to big for this.
Are they too big for this? Is there any reason to be making them take their own showers? They follow me everywhere and see me getting dressed and breastfeeding. Its impossible to have privacy and I dont really care. I dont want them to be ashamed of bodies.
I just realized that this probably isnt socially normal and maybe they have to learn to shower.
What do you all think?

[ChristyMarie]

Take DD2 in there in a water sling and you'll really be all set.

I see nothing wrong with family bathing together. If at some point it gets weird, you'll all feel it and change. But as long as everyone's happy, why worry?

ETA: I used to bathe my son in the shower with a water sling. Because he hated baths. Now he's decided he hates showers and loves baths. *sigh* So now I'll plop him in the tub while I shower.

DH and my mom will both get in the tub with him. He likes the water way too cold for me to do that.

[nextcommercial]

NO WAY! When my dd was a child, there were days that that was the ONLY time I got alone. I wouldn't have given my bath/shower time up for anything. Heck, she's an adult now, and I still look forward to my bath time.

She did occasionally throw herself in the tub while I was filling it... so, then it was HER bath. But, I still took a bath alone later.

[odenata]

I often shower with my DD (5) and DS (18 months). They have fun playing with cups of water and we all get clean. We have a huge two person walk in shower, so it works well for us.

[odenata]

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

NO WAY! When my dd was a child, there were days that that was the ONLY time I got alone. I wouldn't have given my bath/shower time up for anything. Heck, she's an adult now, and I still look forward to my bath time.

She did occasionally throw herself in the tub while I was filling it... so, then it was HER bath. But, I still took a bath alone later.

I felt this way when DD was little. But now, I prefer my alone time to be doing other things.

[Alyantavid]

Dh and I both shower with our 4 year old son. Our 8 year old son prefers to shower alone so we respect that.

[One_Girl]

I showered with dd until she was about four, then had her start taking over some of the work of cleaning herself. By the time she was five she was showering herself though she still needed me to hand her the shampoo and conditioner until I worked out a system for her so she could be totally self sufficient using different shaped soap bottles to hold the soap, shampoo, and conditioner. By the time she was four I felt like I wanted to be alone when I showered and I didn't feel that springing self sufficiency on her was a good idea so I worked with her to slowly build up to it.

I think you should talk to your older kids about it and ask if they want to shower themselves. Sometimes kids think that there isn't another option and so they don't say anything even though they want something to change. My dd has surprised me with a few things she hasn't brought to me because she just thought that was the way things are until we were reading a book that sort of hit on the issue and that may be what your kids think, or it may not be. I think if you are feeling the need to question things then it is time to talk to them about it and start moving them towards being more self-sufficient.

[Drummer's Wife]

I shower with my 3yo and sometimes 5 yo, but my 7 and 9 yo's shower by themselves.

I feel like I have a good mix of showers as time for myself and multitasking when I do end up showering with a kiddo.

[mom2happy]

This is the OP here.
Im not really talking about having time to myself. I dont have that because DH is gone from b4 we wake up till around 9pm. The baby's fussiest time is from 8-10, so that rules out any "me time".
This is why I just do the shower all at the same time. Its just the way I can manage the situation the most efficiently.
Im just wondering if its not good for any reason.
DS is 5 and has never said anything but that I pee out of my hiney. He doesnt even look at me, Im just his mom naked or dressed. None of us feel uncomfortable in any way.
7yr old DD doesnt want 5 yr old ds to see her naked, but thats it.

Im really wondering what age they will want to take their own shower.

[limabean]

Originally Posted by mom2happy

None of us feel uncomfortable in any way.
7yr old DD doesnt want 5 yr old ds to see her naked, but thats it.

Im really wondering what age they will want to take their own shower.

I would maybe just bring it up from time to time. Say something like, "This has always been the easiest way for all of us to get clean, but if you ever want to shower on your own just let me know, okay? That's fine too."

[~cassie]

For the most part I have stopped showering with my 5 yr old ds. No particular reason relating to him, but I was starting to get a little uncomfy with it. I still bathe with my 3 and 2 yr old occasionally. My oldest prefers to bathe alone(without brothers) most of the time so he can stretch out and play more.

[~PurityLake~]

My daughters, aged 5 and nearly 4, still shower with both of us. It's no biggie. I never wash them with soap, not even when they take a 'bubble bath' for fun, so I don't worry about that. I also never shampoo their hair. Sometimes I put in some conditioner. They've joined us in the shower since they could walk (10 months). Lately, Abigail has said it's getting too crowded and she wants to know if she can sometimes take her own shower. In that case, I get the temperature just right and let them hop in together where they play with toys, but so far that has only happened a couple times and I have to stay right there to keep them out of everything they're not allowed to play with.

[lactavia]

Sometimes all 3 of us hop in. It becomes a need to just get clean. However my son usually just showers with his dad. He still sees me nude because as it is with others, he follows me everywhere and he sees me bf his brother. Its fine and it works.

[meemee]

my dd is almost 8. she sometimes misses the fun we had taking showers together. so even though she proudly took showers alone at 5 (i cant remember if i checked at that age or if she was completely fine cleaning by herself) today she invites me to a shower sometimes just to have the fun we used to. she likes my company.

i have seen my mom naked through all my years till dd was born and my mom was shy around her.

however we are nudies and my dd has seen many adult naked people.

[urchin_grey]

DP and I both still shower with our 5yo. Its usually just quicker and easier than bending over the side of the tub (DS can't stand unsupported yet). I don't see anything wrong with it at all though. In fact, DS spends the majority of his time at home naked. The kid just isn't really fond of clothes.

[corban's mum]

i don't get what the big deal is - my 5 yo DS bathes and showers with me. nakedness isn't some perverted taboo thing, i've got a little secret for everyone.... we're ALL naked under our clothes LOL

think about the locker room when theyre older, or when we go to the gym etc - it's normal and fine for us all to get naked and shower and chat then isn't it?

[Earthy Mama]

I used to-but my girls are 7 and 11 and the 11 yo would rather die than let me see her naked now. The 7 yo could care less, but it just hasn't come up lately.

[Theia]

Mom of 2.5 yo chiming in to say we shower together. I agree I'd just follow your or your DC's lead on when it becomes awkward. In my case, DD is still so young it's not come up. But if she were several years older, I would respect and give her that time alone. And if it has become awkward for you, I'd consider making changes too. Even if your feelings aren't voiced, I think your DC would most likely pick up on them. I have a vague memory of my Mother telling me I couldn't bathe with my father anymore. I'm not fully sure what age I was... but I think it was after I became of age for school. I think it is unique for each family.

[SubliminalDarkness]

Yep, we've done it since DS1 was an infant. It was mostly just a practical thing. But sometimes the boys enjoy it, too. DS2 is at a stage right now where he wants to get in the shower with DH or I anytime we shower, even if he doesn't need to shower.

For us, it's not weird. It's just showering. Who cares?

Originally Posted by limabean

I would maybe just bring it up from time to time. Say something like, "This has always been the easiest way for all of us to get clean, but if you ever want to shower on your own just let me know, okay? That's fine too."

I'd advise against this. If my child thought up on their own that they're uncomfortable, that's fine. But I wouldn't want to plant that seed of doubt.

[Joyster]

My kids HATE the shower, so it's not an option, though it would be mighty convenient. I've never bathed with them, I need my baths extra hot and that's not very good for little ones. Thank goodness for the pool.

As to when to stop, I think this might be a personal comfort thing and you knowing your kids the best. I seem to remember stopping when I was 7-8, I was a bit frightened, but my mother set everything up for me and sat on the other side until I was finished.