Children sharing bath (opposite sex)

[meow1989]

Nb: just in case of hairy handed readers, please can I be clear that I am not looking for any details of children sharing baths etc, just opinions on age.

My ds and his closest, most long term little friend (female - support bubble) share a bath maybe once a week to two weeks. they are 2.5 and obviously supervised at all times because of their age.

I've just started tentatively drip feeding about privacy and private areas and it got me wondering how old before this should stop? Part of me thinks I don't want to make bodies something to be shamed by or taboo (obviously is one of them were showing they were uncomfortable that would answer the question without a second thought). Ds knows what bits he has and what girls have (age appropriately) . I'm.not sure I would be asking the same if his friend was another boy.

Can I ask what others think?

Pretty sure I was running around in the nude in the garden at parties with friends and cousins (boys and girls) until about 4?!

I wouldn’t be concerned about it at all, until T least 4 or 5.

You don’t even know they’ll both be hetro sexual! Don’t be sexualising things that don’t need to be. 2.5 yr is definitely not too old to share a bath with either sex.

What if he ends up being gay will you look back on baths where he might have shared with a boy and be horrified that you inadvertently let that happen when he was, say, 4?

If they both fit comfortably in, and are both happy to share the bath, then it's ok. As soon as one of them doesn't want to share, or it becomes too much of a squeeze, then I'd say that's the time to stop.

I'd say up to 4 or 5 is fine. They literally have no understanding of privacy or what is appropriate/inappropriate at 2.5.

For your information, at my DC primary, because of lockdown they have closed the changing rooms. Reception and year 1-4 changes in the classroom. Year 5 and 6 goes to school in PE uniform. 2.5 yo is definitely too young for it to be a problem. I think maybe year 1 or 2 before you need to start thinking if it’s appropriate.

I think I don’t know why you’re even asking. 2 1/2 years old, no issue whatsoever.

BTW I've talked about private parts, saying no, bad kinds of touching etc to my kids from pretty much as early as they could understand what I was saying. So I'm not saying that it's a waste of time to try and teach these things to a 2.5yo. It's just that a young child having a bath with a friend of the same age is not something to worry about, it's not going to undo what you have talked about iyswim.

Looks like there's a consensus then! Thank you for thoughts shared.

@inhaleexhale23 yup me too, pretty sure I insisted I was mowgli and ran round in pants at any given opportunity for quite some time!

@denisethemenace i was actually asking because I'm fine with it but I come from a very naked family (the women anyway, my dad is much more private)! So I just wanted to check my views weren't screwed by that I suppose. Looking online for info around this seemed geared towards older kids. My friend (other parent) also wasn't sure, but neither of us are suggesting that they need to stop now.

@insertfunnyname I know ds might not be heterosexual, I suppose if it were two boys it seemed less of an issue purely because they have the same bits and are less likely to be conscious of any differences that might make them.curious enough to make the other uncomfortable rather than because I'm worried about sexuality... as you mentioned, they are 2.

We were at friends the other day and it was bloody hot. They had their paddling pool out, we have 6 kids between us 0-7. They all (apart from the baby) ended up starkers running and jumping in the pool. Nothing wierd at all, it was lovely and spontaneous.

@Inhaleexhale23

Are you Bridget Jones?

@3beesinmybonnet

I am not but to be honest our British childhoods sound eerily similar. Which may explain why I am so cringeworthy like Bridge!!