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Original poster

If you're on your own with DC, how do you shower?

61 replies

clkim · 15/04/2022 10:17

I'm off today with my nearly 3 year old DS and I really need to wash my hair! I've already used dry shampoo for 2 days in a row and I can't get away with it any longer Grin

I obviously usually shower when my partner is home and can sit with DS but he is he working today and won't be back until later and I really need to run errands so can't go out with my hair like this.

I'm thinking the most sensible option here would be to put him in his bedroom to play as there's a safety gate on his door so I wont have to worry about him having an accident and falling down the stairs but it just makes me anxious leaving him unattended, even though it won't be for long. What does everybody else do?

OP posts:
ofwarren · 15/04/2022 10:19

I used to bring mine in the shower with me

Original poster
clkim · 15/04/2022 10:19

@ofwarren I would but I know he will just open the bathroom door and run off into the landing 😬

OP posts:
RedskyThisNight · 15/04/2022 10:20

Other people leave the child somewhere safe. In his bedroom with gate closed is perfectly fine. It is ok to leave your nearly 3 year old unwatched for short periods.

Or they shower before the DC get up/after they are in bed.

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Crimesean · 15/04/2022 10:20

Bring him into the bathroom. He can play splashing in the sink, or sing songs, or 5 mins of screen time. Easy peasy.

ILikeCrapTelly · 15/04/2022 10:21

I'm thinking the most sensible option here would be to put him in his bedroom to play as there's a safety gate on his door

I do this 👍🏻 just give him something to play with and you should be fine for 10 mins? Or take him in the bathroom with a toy and sit him on the floor?

lustforlife · 15/04/2022 10:23

I close stair gates, doors etc and just put some toys out on the landing and let my DD (20 months) potter about for 5 mins. I leave the bathroom door open obviously so she can see me. I easily get a shower every morning Smile

shabbalabba · 15/04/2022 10:24

My dh used to work away a lot. I always washed my hair when they were in bed (the night before) but in this situation then in the bedroom on the bed with favourite toy or iPad.

aliloandabanana · 15/04/2022 10:26

Are you always in the same room as him? Surely there are times when you pop into another room or go to the loo and he's safe in front of the TV or engrossed with toys for a couple of minutes? Just tell him you've got to wash your hair and close the safety gate for 5 minutes. Failing that, take him and some toys into the bathroom with you.

I don't really understand when women claim they can't have a shower etc because there's a child in the house... How did you manage to dry shampoo your hair - how was that different from washing it, in terms of having a child around? Confused

TiddleyWink · 15/04/2022 10:28

I just leave the bathroom door open and kids play upstairs. They’re 3 and 5 but I’ve done this for ages. Stair gate at the top of the stairs.

I’m another one who is baffled by women who insist they can’t have a shower because they’re in charge of a baby/child. Ensure they’re somewhere safe and crack on. If they need to be right next to you but will open the bathroom door then put a bolt on the door high up.

WildCoasts · 15/04/2022 10:30

At 3 I'd let them play on the floor of the bathroom. I can't remember exactly what age mine were when I did this, probably younger, but I sometimes put the plug in (shower over bath) and let them play in the water while I had a shower.

Movetothebeat · 15/04/2022 10:30

I used to either take DS in the shower with me, or give him a couple of toys to play with on the bathroom floor with the door locked.

We had a stair gate on his room as well as the top of the stairs so sometimes I’d close these and he could roam (age 3-4 then) and I’d talk to him with the bathroom door open while I was in the shower to try and keep tabs on where he was and what he was doing.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 15/04/2022 10:31

I didn't do anything. Single parent since DS was 10 months old. We lived in a flat though so no stairs. I had a stair gate on the kitchen so he couldn't get to the appliances. I just showered normally, he was fine playing with a toy either in the bathroom or just outside.

Original poster
clkim · 15/04/2022 10:32

I don't really like to leave him unattended because he literally has no sense of danger and will find a way to do anything. He's also non verbal, so it's not a simple case of just telling him what I will be doing because he won't understand. Occasionally I do leave him in the front room whilst I potter around in the kitchen but I really don't like to leave him on his own unless I absolutely have to.

OP posts:
jazzyjeffs · 15/04/2022 10:33

Biggest bloody drip feed...ffs

Heythere13 · 15/04/2022 10:33

Bloody hell at that age I’d just shout - mum’s in the shower
Tv on or playing
I think I must have been very lucky because they weren’t one of the mad climbers etc

Bootothegoose · 15/04/2022 10:33

I used to leave them in their rooms with the ipad. They don't even notice I'm gone.

I do let DS kind of have free reign (I didn't with DD) because she would always come and get me if they needed anything.

FreezyFreezy · 15/04/2022 10:33

I used to just let mine play in the eldest's bedroom. There's nothing to be anxious about because they can't go anywhere or do anything. You've got to be able to leave them alone at some point 🤷

Heythere13 · 15/04/2022 10:34

Oh FFS just read your follow up 🙄

FreezyFreezy · 15/04/2022 10:34

Only just seen your update.

I'd still do the bedroom option though.

koalalala · 15/04/2022 10:35

Take 2 year old into bathroom. He watches a tablet for 5 mins whilst I have a shower.
Do this most days as I have a job & I can't not shower.
When he was younger I had a special basket of interesting toys. Sat him on the floor where I could see him.

Furrbabymama87 · 15/04/2022 10:35

They can be left for ten mins while you shower. I'm lucky my bathroom is downstairs so I can hear everything that goes on but if it was upstairs I'd probably just sit them on the bed with an ipad. Or shower before they get up.

Flippanty · 15/04/2022 10:35

At nearly 3 surely they are playing on their own a lot of the time? Maybe I’ve just been lucky with my dc but by that age they were having quite a bit of independent play and didn’t need the same level of supervision as a younger toddler.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 15/04/2022 10:36

@clkim

I don't really like to leave him unattended because he literally has no sense of danger and will find a way to do anything. He's also non verbal, so it's not a simple case of just telling him what I will be doing because he won't understand. Occasionally I do leave him in the front room whilst I potter around in the kitchen but I really don't like to leave him on his own unless I absolutely have to.
Ok, you maybe should have stated that in the original post.
Furrbabymama87 · 15/04/2022 10:37

Read your update, just get up earlier. Kids are not an excuse to not shower sorry. I've got 4 kids, one with additional needs similar to yours and I've never struggled to shower.

yellowwellingtons · 15/04/2022 10:37

My 2.5 year old gets free reign of the house minus the kitchen usually, if I'm in the shower she'll usually play in her room and I'll leave the bathroom door open so she knows where I am if she needs me. There's nothing in her reach that she could harm herself with so I feel fine leaving her for 5 minutes.