What age did you leave your child unsupervised in the bath?

[FruitCider]

Mumsnet sort this debate between me and DP!

At what age did you start leaving your child in the bath unsupervised for short periods (less than 5 minutes)?

My DChild is almost 6, I've left them to it in the bath for a few minutes and apparently I'm the worlds worst mum! I was sat in the room next door listening, trying to give them independence.

I leave my 4 year old whilst I dress the toddler in the next room. She's very sensible though. Think depends on the child.

From around 4 or 5 - I tended to not leave DS (who is the same age) for as long as I left DD at that age due to his tendency to splash a bit! But now I would a bit longer as he is more sensible

But yes its fine

About 4ish, unless there are SN or they are very impulsive/have tendency to to silly things then 6 is not an issue at all. In a couple of years they'll be running their own bath & having it & no need for you to be involved, how will your DP be then!?

From 3 for a few seconds whilst getting a towel, from 4 I would go in the kitchen and do jobs (bathroom was off the kitchen) and keep popping my head round.

Thanks for the validation, seems my instinct about my NT almost 6 year old is right!

7 year old ds runs his own bath or shower and gets in and out, or pills around alone. So 6 seems fine for a few minutes.

Dd is 3 and I leave her for a fw minutes if necessary as long as she is in hearing distance. She is also very tall for her age and comfortable in water. But I generally try to stay pretty close to her.

Yeah, 6 is fine, IMO.
The bathroom is next to the laundry room, so for the last 18months we pop him in and then do the ironing. The doors are both open and he chats with his toys the ENTIRE time, so cannhear he is ok,.

I would start to leave them from 4 ish, when I knew they were going to stay sitting down and not try some crazy prancing around. They had to sing or chat while I was out and then I went back in for the whole getting out and slippy floor bit (but we had a v high sided bath)

I’ve been leaving my six yr old for a while.

Do you trust them to stay sitting down and not do anything that might lead to them slipping or falling over?

Who is making you feel bad? My son is almost 6 he's been showering by himself for over a year! He's fine in the bath for 5 minutes. You're doing nothing wrong.

From about 5.5, at first was happier if both DSs are in the bath as if one slipped the other could call me! Now he’s been doing so for 6 months I’m much more relaxed. Door definitely open though.

I used to leave mine in the bath alone at that age. Every 5 minutes or so I would shout up and ask if everything was okay and my DDs knew to shout back or else I would go and investigate!

4/5 is I'd be around and checking but not always in the room.
From 7 they're pretty independent.

From about 5. Although can't be trusted to wash his hair yet, still a soap dodger at 7.

Mine are 5 and 2 and bath together. When they are in the bath I tend to potter around tidying upstairs. The bathroom is in-between the bedrooms so I can hear them wherever I am and can see them as I move from room to room.

I started by doing an upstairs job, like putting some clothes away. That way I was around.

Dd is 5...i go across the hall but she is to make noise the whole time.

3, but am within hearing distance/keep a bit of a chat up.

Mine are 3 and 5 and bath together, I'll leave them for a few minutes while I sort their pyjamas out but would never go downstairs and I listen the whole time to make sure they're still chatting/giggling.

Dd had a nasty accident in the bath when she was 18 months old, she stood up in the bath for me to lift her out but slipped, banged her chin on the side of the bath and bit through her tongue, she's still got a 2cm scar across it.
We have a strict no standing rule now unless they're holding my hand.

DD is 3 and I'll leave her for a minute or two to grab something from another room. She's very sensible and probably would be fine to leave for a little longer but I enjoy her bath time as my sit down time so mostly I make sure I have everything ready (and a cuppa) before running her bath.

I leave my 4 year old for a minute whilst pottering upstairs. 8 and 10 year olds bathe themselves including hair washing.

3.5 year old, I'll go to bedroom next door while listening to him chat.
6yo I'll go upstairs or downstairs, but I help them both in and out.