Children bathing alone

[bizzybeing]

At what age would you leave your children alone in the bath? I've always sat with my DC, as much out of habit as anything and would be interested to know when other people start leaving their kids.

Today DS2 (9yo) and DS3 (6yo) came in from the garden covered in mud while I was trying to cook lunch. I decided to put them in the bath and leave them to it but then felt incredibly guilty about it!

FWIW our house isn't enormous so I could hear them playing. I known drowning is quiet but bathing with the two boys certainly isn't so I'd have gone running if the noise had stopped (to check what mischief they were up to if nothing else!)

At that age and if they are together in the bath and you are within earshot it is not the end of the world, but don't make a habit of it

I wouldnt feel guilty for that. I dont sit in with my 5 year old but lie on my bed and listen to her chat to herself. If the chatting pauses, i pop in straight away and check on her.

I think 6 is a perfectly acceptable age to pop out the room when they’re in the bath. I don’t stand and watch my 5 year old. (I will stay upstairs though).

Ask them to shower but a 6 & 9 yo should be able to handle a bath.

My youngest is nearly 7 and he largely bathes independently. My eldest is nearly 8 and can't yet be trusted to be safe. I think it very much depends on the child

9 year olds definitely should be bathing/showering alone, they need some privacy.
From 5 I'd let mine bath alone and I'd stay in the next room.

Those ages are fine. Any younger no. Most deaths recorded have been drowning in Bath.

My 9 year old showers herself, and has done since she was 6. I’m fairly sure she was also able to sit in the bath alone at that age.

Your 9 year old deserves some privacy, watching someone bathe at this age (presuming there are no additional needs) just feels wrong.

Yes I’m surprised he’s happy to a) bath with his brother and b) have you watching at that age.

From age 5-6 I'd be in earshot with the door open but not in the bathroom, from around age 8 children should really have some privacy. My 9yr olds would be really quite embarrassed if I was supervising their baths.

From about age 7-8 eldest ds asked not to bathe with his little brother.

My ds is nearly 6 and he has a bath independently. I always stay upstairs with him and call him/pop in if noise stops. I've probably been doing thar the last 6 ish months

Our 9yo likes us to sit and chat at bathtime - he knows that the minute he wants privacy he can have it

My 5 and a half year old, I leave in the bath and potter around upstairs, have done for probably a year. She is very chatty in the bath though, role playing with her toys, so I know she’s ok. If the chatter stops and she goes quiet I’m in there very quickly. When she was a day when she’s tired and not playing I have to sit in there as I’m not comfortable if I can’t hear her.

I don't know how a 9yo and 6yo fit in a bath together!

9yo would be fine, 6yo depends on how sensible they are. My 5yo sometimes gets the notion of standing and jumping, which could make him hit his head so I don't leave him unattended.

My ds 8 baths abd showers alone! Too old for you and little brother to be in there. 6 to 7 is about the age you have to let them have privacy, teach them if they're not ready.

agreed

Ds nearly 11 has been bathing alone since around 9

4-5 years with the door open as long as a responsible adult is in earshot, the water heater max temp is set appropriately low and there’s a nonslip surface. Usually at that age we’re in & out to chat and make sure they’ve properly washed (we still shampoo hair at that age and up to 7-8ish for our girls) and aren’t creating flood conditions. Our 4 year old will stay in a bath for an hour playing and talking and singing, then calls when they want to get out so we can “make them a burrito” (get them out & wrap them in a towel).

By 8 I’m knocking and asking permission to come in unless they choose to leave the door open, and I wouldn’t expect co-bathing (though having siblings in & out of the room at that stage is fine if the older child doesn’t shut the door). We’re not a body-shaming family but try to let the kids have autonomy about who sees them undressed outside of safety issues.

It doesn’t need to be an all at once shift, you can let them bathe themselves while you clean the rest of the bathroom and fold laundry or similar at first, then progress from there.

9!

Plain weird to Sit with a 9 year old while they bath!