Bathing children together

[PrettyCandles]

Until what age would you bath different-sex siblings together? And what about visiting friends, would you put them in the same bath?

I'm puzzled Rhubarb - surely when you allow your children to stay at someone else's house, then they follow the rules of that house? How would the parents know that you didn't approve of the naked thing? I would discourage my children doing this (which occasionally they do) with a visiting friend, but I don't think I would absolutely forbid it unless I knew it would cause problems. Don't most little kids enjoy stripping? If my two did something at a friends house which I didn't allow then I would just tell them "well we don't do that at home". I'm not having a go here, and can imagine being annoyed, but I don't think I would think it undermined me.

Because nakedness involves lots of issues. I would never dream of doing something with a visiting child without asking them first. For instance I used to look after their ds in return, if I wanted to take them to the lake or to the shops, I would ask the parents first. If I were to give him lunch, again I would ask.

Their ds is 6 and my dd is only 5, I don't know them very well and I really feel that they went a step too far. Maybe down to her knickers if they went in the pool, but why were they both undressed just to play in the garden? (and I won't even go into none-usage of sunblock here!)

I think nakedness involves a lot of issues for adults.

But I'm grateful that I've never yet met a kid, for whom nakedness involved any issues.

Would be concerned about the sunblock though.

Exactly my point though! I didn't know the parents very well and felt uncomfortable having my child roam around naked in their garden! Also knowing my dd who won't even get undressed in front of friends usually, this is not normal behaviour and I wonder who suggested it.

Yeah, personally the nakedness wouldn't bother me in the slightest. Let them be children, I say.

I would agree with rhubarb unfortunately think it is naive to think nakedness is just an adult issue. I dont want my son to have a complex about his body but also know how important it is for him tb be aware of who sees his body. Its fair enough saying let them be kids but at the same time they can still be kids with underwear on etc. It is not going to stop his play. My son has been pantless in front of his friend but I have been present as was her mum. They are only toddlers but they are also vunerable to a stranger taking advantage of that..I know about this from personal experience but also from working with vunerable adults who have suffered similair.

i must be fussy. i wouldn't let them share with friends or even share the same bath water between them let alone be in the same bath together and they are aged 2,1 and 8 weeks.
I dont know why maybe because of germs.

My dd and ds bath with our friends son when we stay overnight, but both mums are present so a bit different I guess. dd also shares a room with their son - they are both 4.

am I the only one who gets in the bath with their kids? (only occasionally - but did it at mil house the other weekend and she looked quite shocked!)

I think it depends how well you know the other people. If I arrived at a virtual stranger's house to find my child running around naked I would not be happy.

janey i have baths with my son, mainly because if I get in the bath and he is awake then he strips himself off..lol Does the same for the shower to.

I get into the bath with my dd (or rather she gets in with me). Dss was the same as soon as I went for a nice relaxing bath he was there fully undressed and ready to get in. No rest for the wicked eh!

Last nigth dd got into the bath with dp and then when he got out I got in. She wasnt impressed with daddy getting out tho as she wanted us all in together bit of a squash that would have been. lol Mr Archemides bath sprang to mind

pmsl tarantula..my ds is 2 next month and the look of disgust if I get out the bath before him is sooo funny.

Message withdrawn

I used to bathe with them, but I like my baths steaming hot. Also I hated it when dd would just stare at my nether regions! But what really did it was when we were at a restaurant and I went to the loo with her, she came out before me and went running up to the table where dh was sat shouting "daddy! Mummy's got a hairy bottom!!!!"

I just can't do it after that!

My dd's are 7 and 5 and regularly bath with their brother who is nearly 3.

I have a who has 3 boys aged 8,6,4 and my DD1 aged 5 baths with the younger two when we stay for tea there. They don't even seem to notice, oh and the older one doesn't bath with them more to do with liking the shower more and not being able to fit 4 in

Hi Rhubarb - sorry for being maybe a bit strong there - I guess if your dd is not usually a stripper, and you didn't know the family well you would have been somewhat taken aback. Maybe their ds is the stripper? Some kids just don't like clothes, and it does seem to be catching in my experience (my neice went through a stage of barely wearing anything, and my dd would have her clothes off in a trice in order to copy her cousin).

We don't do the bath thing anymore (I'm a steamer too) but both dh and I shower together with the kids on a fairly regular basis (we have a double width shower - pure luxury!). The kids are used to general hairiness, so it's not a big deal for them anymore, although they both were put out when we told them they would be hairy too one day!