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AIBU?

To think bathing with your kids is totally fine and normal?

45 replies

Notimefortossers · 26/03/2016 18:58

So there's a post flying around on fb with a pic of a Dad and his little girl, looks about 3, in the bath all covered up with bubbles. The caption reads 'Is this acceptable?'

I'm so shocked at the hundreds of comments saying how wrong it is!

We've always bathed with ours when they are little and I did with my parents as a kid. AIBU to think there's nothing wrong with it and this is just the world gone mad?

Obviously there's a line. There was a thread on here a while back about a Dad bathing with his 11 year old daughter and mum went up to find the door locked. When reading it I asked my DH if he would still bath with our 7 year old, as it just made me realise they hadn't for quite a while. He said 'Only just'. Then after some reflection he said 'Actually I don't think I would, would feel weird now'. It made me a bit sad that she'd grown up that much that those days were over and I'd not noticed them slipping away! Used to love listening to them playing 'You're wet', splashing each other soaking up my bathroom floor! and laughing their heads off from the next room :(

There are people commenting on that post saying that a father should NEVER be naked in front of his daughter! Really?! Is it me?

OP posts:

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Jujuheyhey · 26/03/2016 18:59

Oh ffs of COURSE yanbu, it is TOTALLY fine and acceptable.

PacificDogwod · 26/03/2016 19:01

YANBU.
With bells on.
FFS - why does everything have to be tainted now?!

I can remember baths with my brother, and sometimes with our dad, no idea what age I would have been, but certainly not an infant. We had such fun, it was great.

Jujuheyhey · 26/03/2016 19:02

(I'm not ffs-ing at you btw, but all those other cretins who have made you doubt your own sanity )

MrsMook · 26/03/2016 19:07

While my DCs (boys) are comfortable gate crashing my bath of their own free will, I know we're all in our comfort zone.

Notimefortossers · 26/03/2016 19:08

Phew. Thanks guys. Glad it's not just me :)

OP posts:

Mysteryfla · 26/03/2016 19:12

Would never ever bath with my kids, me in the bath door locked were the only few minutes of peace I ever got.

DolphinsandDinosaurs · 26/03/2016 19:13

Definitely not just you. It is only a problem if the adult involved is a paedophile. Most adults are able to bathe with their children, and respect normal boundaries.

Funnily enough, when I told DS to get in the shower tonight he said he wanted to have a bath with me like he used to. I had to point out that at 8 he is too big now and we wouldn't both fit.

grounddown · 26/03/2016 19:18

Mysteryfa I totally agree. DC not allowed in bathroom when I'm in there!! that's what Disney films are for Baths are sacred.

anyoldname76 · 26/03/2016 19:20

ive never bathed with my dc, i dont think its wrong, but its usually my only time i get totally to myself

MrsKCastle · 26/03/2016 19:24

Yanbu. DH often used to bathe with both our DDs, they're too big now at 7 and 4 but they still see both of us naked after showering etc. It's a complete non-issue.

HoundoftheBaskervilles · 26/03/2016 19:27

My nearly 9 year old DS jumped in the bath with me today. He brought you soldiers and a diplodocus and we had half an hour of dino-wars.

It did cross my mind that we wouldn't be doing it for much longer, which made me simultaneously sad and happy that I may get a bath by myself at some point.

Sparklingbrook · 26/03/2016 19:30

Bathing with your DC is fine as long as the DC are fine with it too. I never fancied it personally, nor did DH.

Posting pics of it on FB though-just why? That's the unacceptable bit, who wants to see it?

PollyIndia · 26/03/2016 19:32

Always bath with my 3 year old. We have since he was a newborn. Now it's a good chance to chat and play. I'll feel sad when we don't anymore.

MyBreadIsEggy · 26/03/2016 19:34

Perfectly fine depending on the age of the child!!
Both DH and I bathe with our DD (not at the same time) all the time, she's only 11mo at the moment, but I'm sure we will still do it for a while now.
I remember bathing with my mum for quite a long time - probably 9 or 10. And remember being in the bath or shower at swimming with my dad until I was around 6 or 7.

PacificDogwod · 26/03/2016 20:06

I think it depends less on the age/gender of the child, and more on the child and the parent - I have never, every had a bath with my boys because I hate and detest baths - showers all the way here . DH otoh has always shared baths - we have had baths with 5 penises in them

BadgersNadgers · 26/03/2016 20:15

My boys are 8 and 5 and I haven't had a bath without someone jumping in to play water fights for years. They'll stop when they're ready I hope it soon

Earlyday · 26/03/2016 20:18

Last thing on earth I would want is my child hoping in to the bath with me. The whole point of a bath, apart from cleaning yourself, is to relax. How could you relax with a child in the bath - unless you have an enormous bath.

Also I don't get why you think it's sad your child might not be able to get in the bath with you - is there not a zillion other things you can still do together.

Sparklingbrook · 26/03/2016 20:22

Lock firmly on the bathroom door if I have a bath. I don't think the teens feel like they have missed out by never having bathed with their parents. I will have to ask them.

Mishaps · 26/03/2016 20:22

Small children in the bath with parent - fine
Pics on facebook - no

thebestfurchinchilla · 26/03/2016 20:24

I think it's fine. Who posted the pics on FB? That's wrong.

TheCrumpettyTree · 26/03/2016 20:24

I enjoy a bath wth the DC. It doesn't happen very often as I prefer a shower, but occasionally we've got in together and we have lots of fun playing bubbles and with the bath toys.

Squiff85 · 26/03/2016 20:25

I find it weird and we haven't done it ourselves, but don;t judge those that do!

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AmpleRaspberries · 26/03/2016 20:25

Yanbu. Dh always bathes with dd (2.5), in fact she refuses to get in the bath without him. Bathtime has always been their thing. I'm not a massive fan of baths, so on the rare occasion I do bath time I don't get in and she'll have a bath on her own (with me in the room).

My household was very free in terms of nakedness and going in and out of the bathroom when someone else was in there. It stopped when one of us as children said we wanted it to and my parents were fine with that. I imagine we'll do similar with dd and future dc.

thebestfurchinchilla · 26/03/2016 20:27

Btw we both still walk from bathroom to bedroom naked. DC are 15 and 12. The 15 yr old has become v self aware and doesn't but the 12yrd old still does. No one parades around naked but we don't rush to cover up either.

UmbongoUnchained · 26/03/2016 20:28

I don't think I've ever had a shower alone since my daughter my was born.

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