When should they stop bathing together?

[TinaM]

My DD (6) and my DS (3) still take baths together. When do you think I should stop letting them bathe together?

[mom2mimi]

Mine are 8, 3, and 1 and my 8 yr old dd and 3 year old ds still bathe together on occasion. I would stay stop when one of them is uncomfortable with it. My dd is not uncomfortable with it yet but she does choose to shower by herself more and more often mainly because her brother drives her crazy!

[LynnS6]

My kids are 7 and almost 4 (2 more weeks!). They still bathe together, but I can tell that it's about to end because the bathtub is starting to get too small for both of them, and because dd is starting to drive ds nuts! I figure in about a year, they'll want to bathe separately. No, let me rephrase that. In a year ds will want to bathe on his own and dd will go along with it kicking and screaming!

[Ruthla]

My DD (6) and my DS (3) still take baths together. When do you think I should stop letting them bathe together?
When one of them is uncomfortable bathing with the other sibling, or when they're too big to fit comfortably in the tub simultanously.

[Alyantavid]

Mine are 6 and almost 2 and they're not bathing together so much anymore. Partly because my 6 year old is so tall he takes up most of the tub and partly because my 2 year old won't leave his brother alone.

[mamazee]

When one of them is uncomfortable bathing with the other sibling, or when they're too big to fit comfortably in the tub simultanously.

This is the absolute perfect answer.

[AdInAZ]

Ha ha! My mom told me that she used to have my brother (then 8) and me (then 3) bathe together and she would dip my sister in too (then age 1). He wasn't too thrilled with all the company so around that time he started to take showers alone and my sis and I were bath buddies. I, of course, do not remember any of it. :innocent

[Lingmom]

When one of them is uncomfortable bathing with the other sibling, or when they're too big to fit comfortably in the tub simultanously. That is good... but I'd also add that when you're uncomfortable with them bathing together, it might time to end it. My girls love to bathe together, but at 6 and 4, there has been a little too much curiosity with each other's bodies. My friend with two boys (also 6 and 4) has had a similar problem when she found out they were playing a game called "penis tag" in the bath. I'm not sure the details of that particular game... My point is even if it's fun for them, there might come a time when *you* aren't comfortable with it.

[angela&avery]

mine are 6 and 4 and like to bathe together, but I had to stop it bc they make such a mess and I always get upset!!! They are nuts in there together and its impossible to get them to calm down so I can wash their hair..

so ...

Id go when they get uncomfortable, too big to fit, or drive each other or YOU nuts!!!:D

[angela&avery]

That is good... but I'd also add that when you're uncomfortable with them bathing together, it might time to end it. My girls love to bathe together, but at 6 and 4, there has been a little too much curiosity with each other's bodies. My friend with two boys (also 6 and 4) has had a similar problem when she found out they were playing a game called "penis tag" in the bath. I'm not sure the details of that particular game... My point is even if it's fun for them, there might come a time when *you* aren't comfortable with it.

personally I dont think that curiosity is a reason to stop. Curiosity means information... give them information about bodies and not touching others bodies and private parts (without making their genitals seem dirty or making them feel naughty about being curious I might add) .. this is a great opening for discussing something that I believe they are never too young to start learning.

[Lingmom]

personally I dont think that curiosity is a reason to stop. Curiosity means information... give them information about bodies and not touching others bodies and private parts (without making their genitals seem dirty or making them feel naughty about being curious I might add) .. this is a great opening for discussing something that I believe they are never too young to start learning.

Yes and No. My point is not that genitals are naughty in any way. They obviously are not and it is very normal to be curious about them! My point is that when a parent is uncomfortable -- at whatever level that might be, it's a good time stop having their kids bathe together. When two naked kids in a bath are having a hard time keeping their hands to themselves, I think that privacy should be encouraged... even if they are having a ball together and don't seem to want privacy. And sure, it's a good talking point, but I believe that if a child isn't showing interest in having some privacy, it's okay to promote it.

This summer when the kids want to be naked on the beach, I'll be doing the same thing. They are very comfortable in their nudity and if they don't yet have a level of awareness about it, I will take the role of ensuring their privacy by having them wear bathing suits. It's not about any perceived "naughtiness" of genitalia, it's about ensuring that they have privacy - even if they don't want it.

[ctdoula]

Mine are the exact same ages (nearly 6 & 3) and I haven't even thought that far ahead yet, LOL. I do like the answer about when one of them wants privacy.

[TinaM]

My concern was if teacher and classmates might find it strange if she mentions that she bathes with her little brother. I don't care what people think, but I don't want her to be teased or not accepted because of what I do.
I also shower with my DD (6), but I worrry about her talking about private things to her classmates and friends.
What do you think people might say if they hear this?

[ZenMamaJen]

My kids take baths together, because it is too easy and two separate baths are too much work! ;)
But already they are getting too big for our little tub. Maybe dd will move on to showers.

[damyen's mommy]

When one of them is uncomfortable bathing with the other sibling, or when they're too big to fit comfortably in the tub simultanously.

My kids take baths together, because it is too easy and two separate baths are too much work!
But already they are getting too big for our little tub.

:thumb

[Heirloom]

When one of them is uncomfortable bathing with the other sibling, or when they're too big to fit comfortably in the tub simultanously.

:thumb Our 8 yr old ds will still occasionally bathe with his 2 yr old sister. Our 6 yr old won't dream of it! "Take her away!!" He would say. It depends on the kid and I agree, when they start getting uncomfortable.

[jillmamma]

Any teacher that has kids of his/her own or knows young kids would probably think the mom is being practical bathing the kids together. Based on the replies here, I bet many of the classmates with younger siblings bathe will bathe with them too.

DS is 5 and DD is 2 and they still take their bath together and share a room. Neither of them has any modesty, and they still enjoy playing together. I do use the master bathtub for them as it is bigger (a "garden" sized tub), so they both have plenty of room. They also don't really remember any different as they have been in there together since they were almost 3 and about 3 months.

[tankgirl73]

DS is almost 10. I drew a bath for him yesterday and he BEGGED me to let DD (17mo) bathe with him.

I had no problem with it, just that lately DD had not been interested in bathing with other people -- she seemed keen yesterday though so we tried again and they had a fantastic time together!

[Jessy1019]

When one of them is uncomfortable bathing with the other sibling, or when they're too big to fit comfortably in the tub simultanously.

Exactly. Mine are 5.5 and 2, and I don't see them stopping their joint baths anytime soon.

They still bathe with their dad and I too!

[TiredX2]

When one of them is uncomfortable bathing with the other sibling, or when they're too big to fit comfortably in the tub simultanously.

Another "yupperooinies" here.

My concern was if teacher and classmates might find it strange if she mentions that she bathes with her little brother. I don't care what people think, but I don't want her to be teased or not accepted because of what I do.

I really doubt it will even come up.

That said. DD & DS, I think, have basically stopped bathing together (they are 9 & 6.5). Even six months ago it was not uncommon, and we have a 6 foot tub so it is not a space issue but they just started bathing on their own (instigated by DD, the elder). DS is actually more self-conscious about being seen naked, though.

[MamaRBH]

Mine are 6, 4 and 2....two girls and a boy and they all bathe together. They have a ball! We answer any questions about their bodies matter-of-factly and move back on to playing.

I also shower with my kids, and they have asked about pubic hair and breasts and such....and again, I answer them matyter-of-factly and we move on to a new conversation.

I don't think a teacher would wonder/worry about any shower/bath comments... all families function differently....teachers get to see that first hand more than most of us. As long as the child is not acting upset or abnormal during the conversation, I don't think it will even get a second thought.

[journeymom]

It's not going to hurt them if they don't bathe together.

I'd also add that when you're uncomfortable with them bathing together, it might time to end it.

I agree. In our case my husband didn't want our kids to bathe together anymore. Dd was probably five y.o. and ds was about 9 months old. I thought it was pretty cute, but he wanted to separate the sexes. He wouldn't have cared if they were the same sex.

[emaye_to_2]

Relevant question for us. My DS (almost 5) and DD (2) always take baths together. I think we are going to stop that when he turns five. At least most of the time. We'll see tho. I was thinking of making bathtime a special time for me and DD together since we just gave up nursing.

[2shy2post]

When one of them is uncomfortable bathing with the other sibling, or when they're too big to fit comfortably in the tub simultanously.

ITA! :thumb

Our DS (5) and DD (3.5) love taking a bath together. Though, the hosing down that the bathroom gets is a bit irritating. We did also go through a period where DD insisted she had a penis. :shrug

We've also had times where we've been doing lawn work, car stuff, or something else that's incredibly messy and DH or I will stand on the outside of the shower while the other washes a kid. The "clean baby" is then handed-off to the "towel parent". :lol

Right now, ours still share a bed as well (if they're not in ours! :D). We figure we'll take their cue as to when seperate them...