Kid Baths

My oldest was a little more than 2 1/2 when baby brother was born. We kept him company most of the time, but I did have to get up and leave occasionally. The door was always open, and I talked to him the whole time.

I really didn't leave until little brother was big enough (probably 3). The door was still open all the time, and I could hear them and talk to them. I tend to hover much more now, but that's because they tend to get roudy and get water all over the place if I don't supervise.

I really think so much of it depends on whether or not you can "leave" and still be very close and within ear shot. I would never be more than a room away, and I would be able to hear them. My boys tend to be very loud and very - energetic. If they quiet down even a little bit, I ask both of them to say, "Hi Mommy."

I think there is a way for you to give them some independence and still keep them safe.

My kiddo is 3 and I still sit in there with him while he bathes. I will read a book or take that time to clean up the bathroom while he plays. I dont mind sitting in there, and he likes the company.

Never stopped sitting through baths...but by age 5 or 6 they do their own showers 100%. It's a walk-in; wouldn't want them to use a tub shower alone. So for 5 years I'd sit for baths.

I can't imagine leaving a child alone in a bath. Read about a 6-year-old who drowned in one...it takes the blink of an eye.

My husband had a childhood friend who drowned in very shallow water, so his attitude is that as long as our son is taking baths, he's got company.

For us it was right around 2y/o...we own a pool and as soon as the kids could swim w/out their lifejackets, which was around 2y/o for all 3 of them, we felt it was safe to let them be and just check on them every few minutes.

My oldest turns 5 in October. Our step up at home is basically a jack and jill style bathroom between the 2 kids rooms. So I will let my 4.5 year old stay in the bath and play while I walk in and out of the rooms putting away laundry or dressing my younger son or something, but I would not leave the general area with him in the tub. Kids do some really dumb stuff, often not even realizing that it is dumb, and I dont want any of those mistakes to cost him his life because I was not in the bathroom to stop him, or to help him should he slip and fall and hit his head or something. It only takes seconds...

For ours it was about 3. But the bathroom door is wide open and our house is small, so if I'm in the kitchen I can hear every splash and hear them talking. I'll also go and see for myself that they're ok every 3 or 4 minutes.

My oldest (6) is now wanting to shower, so then I just peek in to make sure she's washed her hair properly.

I still do with the 6 year old, he's a crazy child and I don't want wet sopping messes to clean up. Plus he's likely to do karate in the shower and fall to his death. I had a high school friend who fell and died in the shower so that does influence my choices a lot.

The 9 year old still needs me to do her hair if I want it done my way. She can take a shower or bath by herself but she won't put conditioner in her hair and comb out the tangles. So if she has a show or a performance for something I always go and do the conditioner. I do check both kids hair for critters every weekend and it's easier to do if the hair is sopping wet and been conditioned.

With my kids, at about 3 yrs., we let them bathe alone. However, about every few minutes, I'd yell, "Ellie, I love you".. and wait for her to answer. (did that with each child). I'd also casually walk past the open door and check in on them. My son, now 5, has discovered the glory of our shower (with the hose and multiple sprays available). Now he takes 30 minute showers! lol)

By about 3 I felt comfortable to come and go from the bathroom as long as the bathroom door was open and I could hear them from where I was.

I live in a ranch. I leave the door open for showers and baths. I'm there for the shower so he doesn't slip. I'm close by for the bath 50% and there 50%. Always listening because a LACK of sound is when you worry.

My girls started taking showers probably before they were even 3. They're 4 and 6 now but I still moniter they're showers.

Around 5-6 when she was a proficient swimmer!

I don't remember a specific age. What I looked for before allowing them to bathe alone was their ability to remain seated without my presence reminding them to sit back down. It's the slipping and falling that causes drowning. So, I'd guess it was around 3 or 4.

Even then, the door was open, I'd be nearby and in and out.

Oldest was probably 6 or so. Youngest was probably 5. They bathed together frequently until oldest was close to 7, so I was always in there when they were both in there. (There is 3 years difference in their ages). But this is determined by factors besides just age. Some kids behave better in the tub than others, too. And some kids need more help (long hair, etc).

Sometime in the last year we've started allowing DD to splash with the door open for short periods. She's 4.

I think she was about 2.5. The time has gradually gotten longer but I still stay on the same floor. I also make sure she's making noise. If she's too quite I check on her because that is definitely not normal :)

I'd say we started leaving the two of them alone for a few minutes around 2.5. I leave the room during showers too.

My son is 4 and I watch him still.

With our daughter I would say it was probably around 3. We have a loft area on our second floor where all the bedrooms, her bathroom, plus the computer desk resides. If she's in the tub with the door open and I am on the computer, I can hear her the whole time. I don't go any further away than that.

I would say 5. Once she was in school, kindergarten, she was fine alone. But like some of the other mothers said.. If it was super quiet, I would check on her.

She was never a wild bath kid..

I would say probably 5. But we kept the door open and would help with hair because they would always play and not wash.

I don't plan on never sitting through baths. My son is 4 and just about ready for showers. (He used to hate the water hitting him, but he's more used to it now.) Since he's so close to showers, I'll just keep sitting in there. He's probably ready to be by himself for a while, but I figure might as well. I would absolutely never allow a child younger then around 3.5 to take a bath alone. I can't think of a Dr. who would, either. I think any parent whose kid did good before then, were simply lucky. Just my opinion.

**I meant just leave alone, not going in every few minutes.

When they could swim at around 5 . My mom still yells at me when I leave them in there by themselves. They are 7 now :0)

Mine was almost 5 before we started the "popping in and out" routine. I'd say he still (at 5.5) wants us in there the whole time for most of his baths anyway. He's a bit of an attention hound. :)

But if I am putting laundry away in his room or making his lunch - both rooms being just off the bathroom - we are both ok with just having the door open a bit and a chorus of "are you doing ok?" "i'm fine!" back and forth whenever it seems a bit quiet.