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Original poster

Do you let your toddlers splash in the bath??

29 replies

hogu · 04/05/2021 08:11

My DH hasn't spoken to me since yesterday because I wouldn't stop our 2 year old splashing in the bath yesterday.
I do stop him from purposefully throwing water out the bath but in this case he was just having fun and some water was splashing onto the floor. We have a bath mat and I mop up any water after.

Is it me? I want my son to have fun and I feel like I spend most of the day telling him not to do stuff so don't l want him to stop enjoying bath time too.

OP posts:

Herbie0987 · 04/05/2021 08:13

Get your husband in the bath with the toddler and they can fun together.

burritofan · 04/05/2021 08:14

Splashing absolutely allowed. Throwing water from her jug or chucking wet flannels out of the bath: not allowed. That’s what baths are for; I’d feel like the Grinch stopping 2yo DD splashing for no reason.

He’s not talking to you?! I don’t want to be MN bingo of “is he always this controlling” but silent treatment over something this trivial (or anything, frankly) is peak wanker behaviour. You don’t have a toddler splashing problem, you have a DH problem.

picturesandpickles · 04/05/2021 08:16

I tolerated moderate splashing but drew the line at deliberately pouring water onto the floor.

The child will grow out of it.

Can I just check is your husband usually very moody? The fact he's not speaking to you made me wonder what life is like. It sounds a bit boring to be so annoyed about something so small. Presumably his upbringing was dour?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Behaviour & development Families

Nonmaquillee · 04/05/2021 08:17

Christ almighty on two counts:

If a two year old can't splash in the bath then that really is a joyless existence for him / her;

Your husband is an utter miserable arsehole for thinking that a child shouldn't do this, and controlling and nasty for giving you the silent treatment.

How do you live like this? Seriously, his behaviour isn't normal.

BertieBotts · 04/05/2021 08:18

Depends on the bathroom floor really. I lived in one place where splashing was really wrecking the floor so I tried to discourage it. These days it's simple as the floor is tiled so no tipping water out, but splashing is fine.

Morred · 04/05/2021 08:18

Our rule of thumb is “the water must stay in the bath” - this is what I tell DS (who’s 2 and a half) - but we overlook any accidental splashes on the floor/mat. Deliberately pouring, throwing or splashing water outside the bath (or onto Mummy!) isn’t allowed.

Which sounds really strict written down but we hardly ever have to say anything and then a quick reminder that the water needs to stay in the bath works. (I also tell him that when the water’s gone, it’s the end of bathtime so he’s keen to keep the water in there . He or I pulls the plug out and he’s allowed to faff about until all the water’s gone.)

BertieBotts · 04/05/2021 08:19

And yes it's controlling behaviour from your husband. Most people would have a conversation about this not "punish" their partner for making the wrong choice!

WeAllHaveWings · 04/05/2021 08:21

What is his problem with it? Is it the mess, noise, damage to flooring or is he just the fun police?

ZoeMaye · 04/05/2021 08:22

What a horrible controlling sulky man child your DH is. I am sorry he cannot have even a minor difference in parenting without having a sulk. What a horrible example for your DC.

I'm not that strict on splashing, I keep an extra towel and just dry the floor. No throwing water though or kicking it purposefully over the edge, but splashing happens. If the DC splash me usually I splash them back. It's just water

Mumoblue · 04/05/2021 08:28

My 15 month old loves splashing in the bath.
I did have to take away one of his bath toys (a watering can) because he threw it out of the bath when it was full, soaking me and the floor, but I have no objection to general splashing.

Was your husband giving him a bath too or just standing in the doorway being a grumpy git?
As long as it’s not excessive and the water gets cleaned up I see no problem.

ivfgottwins · 04/05/2021 08:51

Wow what a grump 🤷‍♀️

NeedCoffeeToSurvive · 04/05/2021 08:57

He sounds like a miserable bloke.
When my toddler gets a bath 90% of the water ends up on the floor

megletthesecond · 04/05/2021 09:02

Also in the moderate splashing OK. Just keep it in the bath. I never had time for a big clean up.

Not OK, over the mirror, windows or ceiling.

BertieBotts · 04/05/2021 09:07

The other thing is that it really doesn't matter whether other parents allow splashing or not. That's totally irrelevant, you can make whatever (fair) rules you like in your own house.

The priblem is that instead of being able to discuss perfectly normal and uncontentious parenting issues your DH goes to the silent treatment in order to make you act the way he wants.

That's not normal, healthy or OK in a relationship.

DinoHat · 04/05/2021 09:09

I do. It can be a real battle to get my two year in the bath so I try and let it be as positive and fun as possible. As PP said, no chucking water or flannels out, but splashing is allowed.

idontlikealdi · 04/05/2021 09:09

Sounds like my really fucking grumpy husband. Can't seem to tolerate the kids having fun. After ten years I am seriously reconsidering the relationship, we can't parent on the same page.

littleredberries · 04/05/2021 09:18

Yes we let dd splash in the bath. Your husband sounds a bit petulant.

DancesWithDaffodils · 04/05/2021 09:21

We had a similar rule to soneone above - water stays in the bath/Mummy has to stay dry.
So, splashing fine, tsunamis not fine.

LolaSmiles · 04/05/2021 09:25

We had a similar rule to soneone above - water stays in the bath/Mummy has to stay dry.
So, splashing fine, tsunamis not fine.

Same here, especially because our bathroom flooring doesn't like bathmats being left down for too long so the last thing I was is water everywhere.

OP, the real issue here is the silent treatment, not that you disagree over bathtime rules.

Parky04 · 04/05/2021 09:26

Lots of splashing and lots of towels on the floor!

AngeloMysterioso · 04/05/2021 09:33

I don’t think I could stop him if I tried! It does go bloody everywhere but it gets cleaned up afterwards. Bath time is meant to be fun.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 04/05/2021 09:35

Splashing is fine, huge tsunamis of water that soak the entire room are not fine

SquigglePigs · 04/05/2021 09:43

As with most people on this thread - splashing in general ok, deliberate pouring of water on the floor is not ok. Splashing is half the fun of bath time!

Ohnomoreno · 04/05/2021 09:46

I used to be fine with splashing, but unfortunately our youngest moves seamlessly from splashing to huge bath bombs that flood the floor, so we now have a no splashing policy. Seems a bit sad, but she seems not to be able to see the line.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 04/05/2021 09:47

A little splashing but if it starts drenching the floor I say calm down.

I do however let her jump in muddy puddles and my husband doesn’t understand that-
Doesn’t mean a controlling asshole it means they don’t fully get toddlers and their behaviour

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