to think "solo bathtime" it not really a big deal?

[FuckedOfftotheFarSideofFuck]

there are a few mum friends of mine who occasionally post fearful status updates/tweets about having to do bathtime for their 2 (or more) kids all on their own without help of their DH/DP/OH.

Surely this is not a big deal?! My DH is often not home at the DCs bathtime and I know I am not alone in this for those with and without partners/husbands/whatever.

Obviously an extra pair of hands is useful but it's not exactly a difficult thing without the extra pair...

It'd be a bit of a waste of time for both parents to do bathtime.

I've never thought about it before, do they give a reason why they find it so difficult?

Glad it's not just me who thinks this! I'm always tempted to post something snarky back, but usually sit on my hands.

I know people like to moan about their kids sometimes, so I just assume it is a bit of attention seeking and ignore it.

I know a few women that genuinely make me wonder how they would cope as single parents. Ok so some things are hard work when you are on your own, but bath time?! And before I get flamed, I have been a SP to 5 children, so yes, i do know what I am talking about.

YADNBU!

i do 3 (and always easier on my own )

but i know other people who are amazed that i can do this

doesn't seem a big deal to me

plenty of other things i can't do though

Yeah, the reason I like DH around at bathtime is that he can clear away the supper things from the DCs or get supper on or, possibly, take DS downstairs while I get DD's pyjamas on but he's certainly not a necessity and he is also capable of doing bathtime without me there.
Occasionally he'll be upstairs and it's nice to have all of us there enjoying a moment but I digress. These mums need to get a bit of a grip, I think!

startthefans Not sure it really does depend on the age of the kids...although I agree that triplets might be a challenge.

However, these mums I have in mind have kids with similar age gaps to mine.

The only time we've bathed them (singly because the 9 years between them means DD1 baths herself) is when they were babies and I didn't have a clue what I was doing/had forgotten

5 BF? Did you get them all in at once?

:o

Nope, but it was a bit of an "in - out- poncho towel on - sit on the sofa under a duvet while mummy mops up" job :o

I didn't know this was a thing it seems a waste of resources if both parents are doing bath time, how odd... is this really a thing?

I mainly do bathtime on my own with dc aged 6, 3 and 11 months. A few of my friends often question how on earth I manage as they are usd to dhs who come home at dinnertime and pitch in. I often find dh more of a hinderance than a help with the bath and bedtime routine as he can't quite grasp the calm and quiet aspect!
I remember a friend once whinging how hard it was for her that her dp was working on a Saturday (just the once) and wondered how on earth single parents coped

Off the top of my head, I can think of at least 2 mums who have mentioned it more than once.

Am pretty sure I've seen it from others too but those 2 stand out as having DCs the same kind of age as mine.

An extra pair of hands is often useful, but I really don't get why some people insist on making a fairly simple parenting task into a big deal that requires two people. Manage your resources better people

surely, even with triplets you either leave 2 strapped in car seats or in cots and bath one if they are very small or you put them all in together and wrap and walk to bed rooms...? would you not have the house set up to take account of needing somehere to put childen so they come to no harm whilst you bath another?

I can't BEAR bathtime as both mine are screamers when it comes to hair washing. One has been known to rise up like Godzuki and hit me with wet sponges. It's a total nightmare.

Do dads often post about having to do bath times alone? Probably not.

Being a LP is one thing, i am because i am widowed, but if you are in a relationship, then that isn't the deal that you have signed up for, so they may be posting to make a point.

If they are doing the childcare alone, they are probably doing a lot of other things as well.

I'm obviously missing some thing about the ritual that is bath time.

Child is dirty and you have the energy you bath them.

Child is dirty and you don't have the energy you use a few extra baby wipes.

Child is actually dirty, you bath them even if you are tired.

Apart from nappy area and a bit of stale milk round the neck small children don't get very dirty.

startthefansThere are 2yrs 5mths between mine. I started solo bathtime when no. 2 was...erm..whatever day I came home from the hospital with him or maybe the day after!

Well, not sure if DH wasn't actually there on the first day but it's just a non-issue so not quite sure!

startail - yep, some days I am too tired or can't be arsed to bathe mine but in general it's just part of the bedtime routine and often calms them down if they have pre-bedtime crankiness going on.

Definitely remember solo bathtime was a bit of a pain when youngest (dd) wanted perma-milk in the evenings and medium boy was too young to dress and dry himself. I am not bad at one handed stuff when BFing but installing a night nappy on a squiggly toddler is tricky... it's been fine since dd got past that stage.
My only tip for solo bathtime with 3 small dc is to make sure the bathroom is warm so that if they end up hanging around waiting to be dried they don't get cold and grumpy.
otherwise, no, it really isn't that bad. DH can do it...

No it's not a big deal, also bf babies/toddlers are actually capable of waiting, even if they cry, just the same as non bf children, some times something else is more important and the baby/toddler may squawk for a few minutes, they will not expire.

I remember answering a bell for a lady on the pn ward, there was a massive pile of wipes on one side and a poor baby covered in shit on the other. It did make me laugh.

I think DP has helped 3/4 times. It's nice to have the help, but you just get on with it, surely?

While it was fun for the DDs to have Daddy there, I managed to bath twins solo 95% of the time and I don't consider myself to be any kind of supermama.

The DC have baths on alternate nights, unless dirty, and then we take turns to do bath time, so we only end up doing it about every 4 days, each. Seems like the best use of time management - each person doing their fair share, and each getting more nights off than on.

DC are 3 and 20 months, and obviously have baths together.