When and How to End Bathing Together?

Yikes! 6 is Kindergarten or First grade .... NOW would be the time to say that boys and girls take separate baths. Plus, they are probably physically too big to even get really clean so it is probably more like play time.

I think its pretty simple, when they notice the difference or start asking questions, its time to seperate them. That was easy!!! LOL!!

Have a great day!

D. Mattern-Muck
Mom's Helping Mom's Work From Home!
http://www.formyrugrats.com

Okay, I'm just gonna throw this out, although I may as well walk into a pack of hungry wolves with meat around my neck.......THE KIDS will dictate, with their ACTIONS, not their words, when it is time. I have seen this over and over with my friends kiddos. When THEY start to think about the differences, THEY become self concious, or modest, or embarassed, or whatever you want to call it, and they decide they want to be alone. Another mom down the line seemed somewhat in line with this idea......HOWEVER, obviously you don't want a 16 and 17 year old bathing together!!!! So, short of some strange and unusual circumstance, my experience has been to seperate them when THEY are starting to lean that way. Some of the responses seemed really uptight or paranoid, I don't know. Maybe I'm nuts, but I've seen it play out many times over and this way seems to work. The way I see it, when they are starting to ask some questions, or notice some things on their own, they have their own sense of "GET OUT OF MY BATHTUB!!!"

Let the feeding frenzy begin!!!! LOL

Oh, I will say this though, if YOU are starting to feel uncomfortable, seperate them. They pick up on those feelings from us too, so if that makes mom feel better, then get to it!!

S.,

I have a 6yo daughter and a 4yo daughter. Their pediatrician told me that as soon as my oldest turned 6yr. that they needed to stop bathing together. This would probably be the best time for your kids as well especially since they are of different sex. Their Ped. told me that at the age six is when they may become curious of their differences etc.. It was not a problem at all for them to stop bathing together, I cannot imagine that it would be a tough change for them...it's a bath. good luck!

I think I would end it when one or both start questioning and stopped playing.

I would think the best way would be just to tell them, "You guys are getting to be so responsible. I think you're also responsible enough to take separate baths, wash your own hair, etc."

I've noticed that my kids are more open to new things when I praise them first.

Good luck!

Your son needs to begin bathing himself. He will need to be reminded to wash his neck, behind his ears, under his arms and how to wash his privates and really scrub his feet. He may still need help with his hair to make sure he washes out all of the shampoo. He will also need help scrubbing his back.
He will soon also begin asking for more privacy so you can remind him he can dress in the bathroom or his bedroom, but tell him to be sure to dry off really well so that the moisture will not turn into body odors.

This is a good way to go ahead and have them take separate baths. Your daughter will be more likely to learn to bathe herself sooner than your son, because she will want to be a "big" girl, but you will still need to stay in the bathroom with her till she starts kindergarten. My daughter first started bathing herself at the end of kindergarten, I would let her bathe herself and then I would go in and do a quick wipe down just to make sure she was really clean.

They grow up so fast. This is another big step for all of you.

When my son and daughter were 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 we started to separate them at bath time. I would fill up the tub for the first one while the other sat on the floor with a book or other toy (they never wanted to just play alone so they still came into the bathroom together). As I was teaching my oldest how to wash independently my youngest was listening and of course wanted to do it herself when it was her turn for a bath. When the first one was done, I would put the other one in the same water and get them started while the other one would get dressed, brush hair, etc. As a result, I now have a nearly 7 and 5 year old who pretty much do it all on their own at bath time.

By the way, at the beginning of this school year we graduated my son to showers instead of baths. We just told him that 1st graders take showers like Mommy and Daddy and he was ok with it!

Good Luck,
K.

I think you are already suspecting that it is time or you wouldn't be asking. I would go ahead and start doing it immediately. Tell them they are getting older and need to take turns taking a bath/shower. They probably won't have that much of an issue if you don't make it a big deal. The more you focus on the problems they might have, the more likely they will have a problem. Tell them that bath time will be different now and they take turns doing it. Make it seem exciting and they will be excited!

Blessings,
M.
www.4MyChildrenSake.com

I agree with momma B. The kiddo's modesty button will turn on and that will be that! best wishes!

I think your 6 year old son will start wanting to take showers and wash himself in the next few years. Especially if you take showers and your son knows this. If he doesn't ask and it starts getting too awkward for you in the tub, encourage him to take a shower big boy style like Mom or Dad. You might start showers now with both of them and see if he likes it (only you would still do the washing). Teach him how to wash his hair and stuff, and he might decide he wants to do it. Good luck!

Hi S. B,
I have a 8 year old son, 6 year old daughter and 5 year old son. I would suggest that you start letting them bathe seperately now. All my children use to love to bathe together so they could play but when I started letting them bathe seperately they equally had as much fun. I would dump a truck load of toys in the water with them and let them have at it.

My brother and I are two years apart. When my dad was watching us while mom was out he bathed us together. I can remember it bothering my brother alot at that age. I think we stoped around 6 or 7 his age. I think your gut is telling you now is a safe time to quit. Now is the time that your 6 yr old is old enough to bathe himself. I would also start teaching your four yr old to also bathe herself now. If you havent already. Its much easier to teach a kid this age when they dont need privacy. Good luck. I am going to see what other mommas say about this topic.

I think you will know when it is time.

Your son will let you know when he wants to stop sharing the tub with his baby sister. My daughter did the same around his age - plus, the tub was getting a bit full with 3 girls in there!
I bet none of his friends know he bathes with his sister... that would end it quick! He should be starting to want more privacy soon, too. It's a part of growing up, so judiciously encourage it. Big kids get in, get clean, and get out :) But still let sister play - you may have to hang out and play with her, since brother won't be there anymore, but that won't last too long because she's growing up too. Enjoy your babies while you still can!

This is what we decided for our family. We stopped letting the children bathe with us parents at 2 (opposite sexes). Then, we still let them bathe together (opposite sexes) until they started school. (I tried to do it earlier, but it was sooo impractical.) I didn't want them to mention at school that they bathed with their brother/sister and get made fun of. So, we made that the cut off date. Brothers can bathe together at any age in my opinion, etc. It's also a good age to build the habit of modesty. Then, it's a matter of fact and habitual from a young age and not something that you have to spring on them or explain later.

I can only tell you what my Mum did, seeing as my kids haven't got to that age yet!

We loved bathing together too, so when we started asking questions, or when a younger sibling poked a private area, my Mum would just start making the older sibling wear panties, and if she was a girl, a training bra in the tub.

Not to long after this, the elder sibling would start to get uncomfortable with sharing the tub, and so it would kind of ease it's self off.

GL!

This should have ended like 2 or more years ago. When you son goes to school he is going to say that he bath's with his sister. How is this going to sound to other adults. Think about it what would you think?

I think as long as they are not asking questions about each other and you are confortable with it, let them be. However, if you are ready, just tell them that they are old enough to start bathing alone and keeping thier privates private.