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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what age you stopped bathing with your child?

83 replies

LifeIsAMotorway · 22/06/2021 19:05

I probably only have 1-2 baths a month with DS (usually when I’ve made it deeper with lots of bubbles). He’s going to be 4 in a month and I feel like we’re coming to end of this chapter.

When did you stop?

OP posts:
Original poster
LifeIsAMotorway · 22/06/2021 19:08

I meant to put this in chat, not AIBU, by the way!

OP posts:
TheLovelinessOfDemons · 22/06/2021 19:09

When they didn't want to.

Hughbert · 22/06/2021 19:10

After the first time I tried it. Baths are dreary normally, but sitting in tepid water with a slippery baby rendered it joyless.

Original poster
LifeIsAMotorway · 22/06/2021 19:12

@TheLovelinessOfDemons I actually was thinking of it the other way for me - when I no longer want to. I think today was the first day I just realised I didn’t want to anymore - being prodded on my flabby bits and squirted with the rubber duck is no longer no idea of fun.

OP posts:
Natsku · 22/06/2021 19:15

Whenever either of you don't want to any more. I imagine that would be quite soon for me if I had a bath, I hate sharing baths. No issue sharing showers when we have to (always shower with 3 year old DS because he's obviously too little to shower alone and if I'm going to get wet helping him I might as well have a wash too) and still share sauna with 10 year old DD but that is close to ending I think.

Ifonlyidknownthen · 22/06/2021 19:16

Like a poster above, I only ever tried this once as it was hard work and I didn't enjoy it. I shower 99 % of the time anyway so it was easier for me to shower first and bath the kids separately. I did however used to dump them in with dp if he was in the bath and retrieve then after ten minutes, much easier. They're all too old to do it with now. If you're no longer enjoying it op now it's the time to stop.

LoopTheLoops · 22/06/2021 19:16

4

CarlottaValdez · 22/06/2021 19:16

I was wondering this. I still have a bath with my six year old sometimes but they’re definitely getting fewer and further between.

Deadleaf29 · 22/06/2021 19:17

Never did it. Has absolutely no appeal for me at all. I don’t mind them seeing me undressed for the odd moment, but I wouldn’t particularly want to be deliberately naked in front of them once they were past toddler age. Ditto going to the loo etc. I just wanted my privacy back.

They bathed with each other until the oldest decided he didn’t want to anymore around age six.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/06/2021 19:18

It just gradually stops as far as I can remember,they just stop hopping in.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 22/06/2021 19:23

as soon as they found it awkward/embarrassing so pre-teen years.
they have baths & showers with both me and DH until they choose not to.

DS5 was around 9 I think when he wanted to stop (with me, I think he was happy for a bit longer to jump in the shower with DH), from memory around the same age with the older boys.
DS3 was probably about 7 or 8 (least cuddly/needing physical contant)

DD is 9 now and still thinks nothing of it with either of us.
DS6 is almost 7 and frankly he might never stop 🤣 such a mummy's boy, he'd happily be attached to me all day

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 22/06/2021 19:25

in fact a few months ago I had a bath on my own while kids were watching tv and DS6 found out and got very upset because "mummy, you had a secret bath without me!"🤣🤣

Original poster
LifeIsAMotorway · 22/06/2021 19:36

I’m not prudish about my body and don’t really make an attempt to hide in, it’s just neither a fun or relaxing endeavour anymore. It was nice when I was still breastfeeding because I was used to being that physically close but now it feels a bit much.

I don’t think a shower would bother me as much but I’ve actually never tried that so probably wouldn’t start now unless we were at the pool.

There’s a part of me that feels quite sad. I breastfed and coslept until 2, and when that went I consoled myself with still having bed snuggles at weekends and a couple of baths a month. Now we’re losing another element but I also really don’t think I want it anymore. It’s not horrible or awkward, but it’s just a bit on the miserable side now.

OP posts:
30degreesandmeltinghere · 22/06/2021 19:39

Never ever bath shared...

nokidshere · 22/06/2021 19:46

I'm not really a bath person but I bathed with my boys when they were under a year old. But they bathed with their dad until they were about 6/7, we didn't stop as such they just gradually didn't want to anymore.

Sciurus83 · 22/06/2021 19:47

Hell no, bath is my time! Also I like it scalding hot

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 22/06/2021 19:49

How big are your bath tubs?

My DDs stopped sharing with each at 6&8 for space reasons!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/06/2021 19:51

About 5, I think. Maybe occasionally after that with Dd.

It’s as much about fitting comfortably in the tub as anything else! Plus it was the only way I could get a bath at one point, and once that motive had gone there was no real reason to.

motogogo · 22/06/2021 19:53

Me, never did it. With their dad they simply stopped wanting to around 5/6

DazzlingHaze · 22/06/2021 19:55

Not my own child but my niece used to love going for baths with me when she was younger because I always have bath bombs and nice things for the bath. We used to sit and listen to music and chat. I asked her when she was about 8 "When do you think you won't want to go for baths together anymore?" Because I wanted to make sure she wasn't just still doing it because it had become our little tradition and she replied "I think I'll always want to but I think soon we both won't be able to fit" 🤣 and she was right, it eventually got to be too much of a squeeze! Although, she's 12 now and at the end of last year I had a new bathroom fitted and she insisted on squeezing into the new bath with me for old times sake.

I think it's really just a case of stopping when either of you doesn't want to do it anymore!

Hankunamatata · 22/06/2021 19:58

Never. Didn't want to share the bath with someone who might poo at any given moment

Original poster
LifeIsAMotorway · 22/06/2021 20:20

I guess I’ve been surprisingly lucky that there’s only been one poo in nearly 4 years Grin

Yes, I think space is a problem. I have a very standard bath and he has very kicky feet so it’s off putting.

OP posts:
Original poster
LifeIsAMotorway · 22/06/2021 20:20

@DazzlingHaze that’s really lovely that you have such a great bond!

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 22/06/2021 20:23

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

How big are your bath tubs?

My DDs stopped sharing with each at 6&8 for space reasons!

This! I'm a average size and I don't think there's enough room in a standard bath for me, let alone me plus DS. Also, he thinks farting in the bath is hilarious Envy
CarlottaValdez · 22/06/2021 21:20

DS6 found out and got very upset because "mummy, you had a secret bath without me

This is like my DS!