Bath time for blended families

[GainGirls]

Blended familes and bath time -

I have a 9 year old girl and my partner has a 4 year old boy. They often have baths together, she wears a bikini and he is naked. They play very happily and as parents we have no concerns. A family member has stated that they think this is wrong. I would love your opinions on this as I really don't have a problem myself.

7 upwards I don’t think should share a bath with opposite sex whether siblings or blended

Your family member is right. Your 9 year old daughter is entitled to privacy when she is having a bath.

Is your partner in the bathroom when shared bathing is going on?

Absolutely nothing wrong with it as long as either one can choose to have a bath by themselves if they want to.

I wouldn't be insisting on swim wear either.

Why was my post deleted? I simply stated that I had reported the thread to MN. Is that against talk guidelines? As far as I recall @Ophir's reply advised posters to be careful in what they say about children bathing together.

@Blondeshavemorefun Interesting, I like to give choice and if both children want to, I can't see a risk/issue. We are all different 😊

@Decacaffeinatednow if my 9 year old daughter feels comfortable with him being in the bathroom too then yes, otherwise I'm in there.
Both children are given the choice on a shared bath - they ask to bath together.
Both children are given full options on privacy grounds.

@JuneJoys interesting, thank you. I don't insist on swimwear, it's her choice, particularly if she thinks my partner may come into the bathroom which I totally respect.

I think It is just respecting their privacy

what age would you stop it, especially if they seem happy to Have a bath together

If she feels she needs to have a bath in a bikini then she should be having a private bath and your partner should not be coming in.

Do you take a shower in your swimwear? Didn’t think so.
The point of washing is to get your body clean, and that involves removing clothes.
A 9 year old should be able to do this totally independently in the shower.

Why should a 9 year old wear a bikini for bath time.

At around age 9 is when children often start to want privacy when washing and getting dressed. If it was her baby brother it would be a bit different. But a 4 year old step sibling isn’t the same.

My son and daughter shared a bath from my daughter being 3 and son being newborn, for about 2-3 years. Then she wanted her own space so we did separate baths.

There is absolutely no need for your DD and DP's ds to be sharing a bath or for your partner to be going into the bathroom whilst your DD is in the bath. The fact she is choosing to wear swimwear shoes she wants privacy and at 9 this is to be expected. At what point will your DD be allowed a bath on her own without others walking in, 10, or 11 or older?

She clearly isn’t comfortable is she is opting to wear a bikini specifically incase your partner comes in. That shouldn’t even be something she is thinking about. She should be able to wash without that worry.

When my daughter became clear that she wanted privacy, nobody entered that space while she is showering going forward. But beforehand she never felt the need to wear a bikini perhaps because it was her actual father coming in and out.

As it is your DD’s choice to bathe with him and she chooses to wear a bikini then it sounds no different to playing in a paddle pool in the garden. Presumably they literally use the time playing.

DD could have a quick private shower afterwards. Although I can imagine she isn’t clean even with the bikini on.

How long have you been with your partner @GainGirls ?

Another one of these threads wanting your stories of bathing your children, folks. Don’t fall for it again. 🙄

She takes her costume off when the 4 year old has finished and left the bathroom so she can wash properly.

My nieces share a bath - 8 and 3, they love it and have fun. She’s old enough to tell you if she wants to stop.

It's not a case of need, it's their choice and they choose to play imaginative games together, in the bath.

2 years

Why is your daughter wearing swimwear, but your partners son is allowed to freely display his personal area?

how long have you been with your partner?
there’s no way I’d be allowing a non related man to be in the bathroom with my daughter.
I’d suggest that you start phasing this out, and explain the importance of privacy.

Your 9yr old girl needs to have baths by herself, anything else is inappropriate and only yourself should be checking on her if necessary.

I assume your nieces are blood related and of course are the same sex, these two children are not related and opposite sexes completely different.