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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have children share baths?

28 replies

susia · 29/09/2008 22:11

My friend always puts her 4 year old dd in the bath with my ds who is 5. Recently I've begun to wonder if he's getting too old to share with girls but not sure? maybe I am unreasonable?

OP posts:

Original poster

susia · 29/09/2008 22:13

what do you think?

OP posts:

ninah · 29/09/2008 22:13

I think is OK

mazzystar · 29/09/2008 22:13

i think he's too old when he feels uncomfortable about it.
my dcs [4 and 18 mo] still jump in with our godchildren [7 and 5]. ok for a bit i would think.

Twiga · 29/09/2008 22:14

you're friends, they're presumably supervised and as long as neither is expressing any awkwardness about it I personally don't see it as a prob. Our dd is younger but has in the past shared baths with friends of both genders if we've been visiting at tea-time/bath-time. I wouldn't worry.

ChasingSquirrels · 29/09/2008 22:14

i think it is fine
i also think it is not really an aibu question - there will come a time when it isn't appropriate, that time will probably be guided by the children, but it is reasonable for you to start thinking about it.

NotQuiteCockney · 29/09/2008 22:17

I think it's up to the kids. When they have a problem with the sharing, I have a problem with the sharing.

My oldest DS is 7. He shares baths with whoever's over and wants in the bath. I think he's shared with girls recently - most of his friends are boys, though.

A big bath full of lovely kids is a great sight, why hurry to bathe them separately!

Original poster

susia · 29/09/2008 22:17

well the last time, they were comparing genitals which is what made me think - no more!!

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psychomum5 · 29/09/2008 22:18

My DS2 and flames DD share baths still and they are 6 and 5.

will shed a quiet tear when they declare themselves to old to share I have to say. they love it so while they do, I will continue to let them.

bozza · 29/09/2008 22:19

Comparing genitals is pretty normal - and also educational. My 7yo DS and 4yo DD share baths most nights.

Original poster

susia · 29/09/2008 22:20

ok, so will let them continue. thanks

OP posts:

psychomum5 · 29/09/2008 22:20

oh, and comparing genitals in very normal.....in siblings as well as friends.

it is just them discovering that they are different is all.

ChasingSquirrels · 29/09/2008 22:20

2 boys would compare genitals though - no?
2 girls - no idea.
perfectly healthy I think.

NotQuiteCockney · 29/09/2008 22:21

I wouldn't be bothered about comparing genitals.

I do end up policing my two in a 'ok, willies are nice, but they are private, you can only play with your own, and please do that in private' sort of way, fairly often, and mine are both boys.

Lemontart · 29/09/2008 22:21

agree with bozza. If they have no problem sharing the bath and discussing the inevitable, I think that it is probably ok for you not to worry either

Lucy87 · 29/09/2008 22:26

My charges are 5,7,8 and when they have friends round they LOVE to share baths. So, if they're not bothered I don't think you need to be! xx

ChasingSquirrels · 29/09/2008 22:28

LOL at "ok, willies are nice..."
The number of times I tell my ds to stop playing with himself when I am reading his bedtime story - ffs can't he wait till I go.
Then last week he comes in with an erection and says "look at my willy, and I can pull it all the way back like this".
Yeah, and thanks for sharing.

Original poster

susia · 29/09/2008 22:45

my son said 'look my willy's really big and I can't make it go down again;

OP posts:

ChasingSquirrels · 29/09/2008 22:48

rofl - they are hilarious aren't they.

psychomum5 · 29/09/2008 22:53

my best willy comparing memory is of the twin boys I nannied many years ago.

they were in the twin sinks in their parents bathroom, looking intently at each others naked willy and in the mirror too.

they then saying "mine is bigger than yours", "no, mine is bigger than yours!", "NO!, mine is bigger than YOURS!!!"

I siad back to them both......

"you are identical, your willies are the SAME!"

so they both retorted......."well, they are both bigger than daddy's!"

it stopped there......WAAAAAAAAY too much information for me!!!

ChasingSquirrels · 29/09/2008 22:58

thumbwitch · 29/09/2008 22:59

ROFL laughing at this thread and the willies stuff - but on a more serious note, how old were all these boys with their erections? Mine is only 10mo (nearly) so would like to know roughly when it starts?

I shared a bath with my 4years younger bro and sis (twins) until I was about 8 - then we got central heating and also too big to share. (CH important cos prior to that our hot water was stove-fired and we had to save up the rubbish and only had enough hot water for a bath once a week , bring on the violins)

Romy7 · 29/09/2008 23:01

about 10.5 months...

psychomum5 · 29/09/2008 23:02

for my boys, DS1 started with erections while stil newborn in hospital.....to my utter horror and shock after three girls. NO-ONE told me they start that early!!!

DS2, he has had about 5 that I have seen, since he was born. I often wondered if his was broken.....

Doc assures me not, just that some are more 'sensitive' than others, whatever that is supposed to mean

Romy7 · 29/09/2008 23:02

thumbwitch · 29/09/2008 23:05

oh good, something to loko forward to then
I have noticed in the last couple of weeks that DS has a particularly big smile on his face when I am drying his nethers while changing his nappy...

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