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Original poster

How old before you left child in bath unsupervised?

218 replies

Gruffalosandbuffalos · 20/01/2020 17:35

Just that really. How old were your children before you felt you could leave them in the bath while you put clothes away in the next room?

OP posts:
OldTownRoadHome · 20/01/2020 18:28

5 but in with the 7yo. Pottering nearby. Think I left the older two from about 6/7 but they had to sing a song so I could hear them at all times!

4amWitchingHour · 20/01/2020 18:30

Drowning is not noisy - don't use that as an indicator www.thepragmaticparent.com/quick-silent-deadly-know-5-signs-drowning/

Figgygal · 20/01/2020 18:31

I leave my 3 year old with his 8yo brother
I will leave him when I’m in our room across the landing putting clothes away in the drawer as can see him from the door h

InDubiousBattle · 20/01/2020 18:33

Tfoot75 the risk is that she stands up, slips and bangs her head, ending up in the water. I don't think I would have left mine at 3, even though they were together. At 4 and 6 I think they're fine together. I do have a tendency to over think risk though!!

Frenchw1fe · 20/01/2020 18:34

@Tfoot75 drowning is silent that's the whole point. As a pp said if the chattering stops that's when you worry.
@fallfallfall you were very lucky imo. Just reading your post made me shudder.

Bluetrews25 · 20/01/2020 18:36

If my DMum supervised me until I could swim it would have got a bit embarrassing. Blush

SpeedofaSloth · 20/01/2020 18:37

About 5.

Justabadwife · 20/01/2020 18:38

I would potter around the upstairs from when she was about 4. :)

PrincessHoneysuckle · 20/01/2020 18:38

5.7 years

ElspethFlashman · 20/01/2020 18:42

About 4. Like others have said, you are listening to the chatter the whole time, and you're popping in and out anyway.

Those of you who said 8......Shock

Tfoot75 · 20/01/2020 18:46

Well exactly, I meant it's difficult to see how she could silently drown without slipping & shouting, banging her head etc which would obviously cause me to come running. I know the actual drowning is silent, but the thing which causes the drowning obviously isn't. And as she's noisy anyway....

AlbusSeverusMalfoy · 20/01/2020 18:46

My oldest was about 4/5 but nearer 6 she used to splash and dance about so I was worried about her slipping but would tidy whilst popping in and out.
My youngest is currently 3 nearly 4, I think he will be older before he's left because he's a bugger and I just don't trust him Grin

cricketmum84 · 20/01/2020 18:47

Omg I must be a very over protective mum! I've only just started letting DD go have a bath alone and she is 10!

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 20/01/2020 18:50

I would say 4, but mine couldn't be trusted.
They would destroy and flood the place, and or risk slipping and hurting themselves
.
It was more like 6. 🙄

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 20/01/2020 18:52

I've only just started letting DD go have a bath alone and she is 10!

What?! You would sit in the bathroom with a 9-10 year old?!

I started getting pubic hair when I was 9, I would have been horrified having to be bathed by my mum!

Lipperfromchipper · 20/01/2020 18:52

2/3 and I wonder in and out as such, like into the bedroom to lay out pjs and plug in hairdryer etc. They could both swim unaided at age 2 so 🤷‍♀️ The bath is never deep anyway.

jayde28 · 20/01/2020 18:55

I left my Dd around 3.5. Our bathroom comes off of our kitchen so I'm normally doing after dinner clear up etc.
And she likes to sing Disney songs at the top of her voice for the ENTIRE time so I know she is okay. However I was constantly in and out and checking on her. She could confidently swim from much younger. X

PixieDustt · 20/01/2020 18:57

I wouldn't before 6.

I let them be in the tub from the time they could walk. They played in the water nightly for 30-45 minutes. As if I could sit there and waste all that time.
Personally those that claim to sit there till well into school age are either virtue signalling or avoiding life.

This is quite rude. You've been very lucky. Some babies walk before a year so to have them in on their own when they could walk is ridiculously

PixieDustt · 20/01/2020 18:57

Ridiculous* thank you auto correct

IScreamForIceCreams · 20/01/2020 19:01

Mine is 9 and I still will be in room next door. When she was younger (older than 6 in any case), I would make her sing if I had to pop out of the bathroom. She fainted last December in the shower, luckily I was in the room with her (she's fine btw) but you just can't be careful enough. Young children can drown in only an inch of water.

cricketmum84 · 20/01/2020 19:05

I would have been horrified having to be bathed by my mum!

Give over it's not like I was scrubbing her back!! Just sat in the doorway of the bathroom keeping an eye whilst reading a book. She also has extremely long hair and will shout me to help her rinse conditioner out. (Shock horror!)

As per PPs my biggest worry when younger was her slipping while getting out and bashing her head.

Seaandsand83 · 20/01/2020 19:11

2 and 4 - 4 year old was very sensible

ItsARaveDave · 20/01/2020 19:13

DS is 3.5 and has been bathing "unsupervised" for a while. Our landing is the width of the stairs and length of 2 doors width, so no matter what room I'm in, I can see and hear him. He also sings at the top of his voice the entire time.

AppropriateAdult · 20/01/2020 19:16

I’m not sure what swimming ability has to do with it. Children don’t drown in baths because they get out of their depth Hmm

I would potter around upstairs from about 4, I’d be in and out of the bathroom and she always made a lot of noise anyway.

Straycatstrut · 20/01/2020 19:18

7 and 3 still bathe together and I've just started leaving them to play for a bit since being a single parent - just too much to do on the evenings and I'll be popping in and out and shouting to them as I go. I wouldn't leave the 3 year old in there on his own though.