If you bathe your kids separately

ppants

What does the other one not in the tub/shower do? 

My nearly 5 yr old b/g twins are still bathing together and I think it's about to stop.  The tub is just too small for them to not be in each other's business while playing.  I'm sure DD would play in another room alone, but DS gets "scared" when alone. 

I could keep the other one in the bathroom with us because it's not that they can't see each other naked, but the lack of space while actually bathing.  I did ask the dr about them bathing together and he said sometime around age 5 or so they'd express that they don't want to be seen/need more privacy.

docmay25

My Ds just turned 6 and DD is 4.  They stopped bathing together a few months ago.  Privacy is not an issue for them...they just don't care yet that they look different.  They wanted to play with more space.  So when one is bathing the other is usually playing or watching a show.

JenniC1135

With the twins, one is in the shower in our room and the other in a bathtub in "their" bathroom.  I run back and forth rinsing and scrubbing and reminding them not to throw water all over the floor.

august282005

If I need to bathe the baby and DS1 doesn't need a bath I set him up with one of his favorite tv shows (on demand/on dvr) and get through bath time as quickly as I can. 

GinandTonic

Mine sometimes bathe apart, sometimes don't - I think it depends on the older one'd mood.  Sometimes it's fun to play in the tub with sister, sometimes it's not (she's past the penis grabbing stage - for awhile, he wanted nothing to do with being naked around her, but now they don't really notice). 

If they take turns, she goes first and he either watches TV or plays right in the next room.  Then, he goes and she does the same thing - or comes in and bugs him anyway (and gets wet again - not the best strategy).

Cbidt's girl

I bathe baby while DS watches a show (on demand). Baby is asleep while DS gets bath (dh often helps with the older child's bath if baby takes awhile to get down).

goodheartedmommy

He never plays alone? He can't just be in his room for 10 minutes by himself? My kids rarely bathe together. E, my oldest, takes a shower by himself. Sometimes my girls bathe together, but not always. I am a little confused why it's such an issue at 5 years old. My 2 year old can go to her room to play, or the living room, or whatever, as long as she's not hanging from the dining room chandelier.

ppants

goodheartedmommy:

He never plays alone? He can't just be in his room for 10 minutes by himself? My kids rarely bathe together. E, my oldest, takes a shower by himself. Sometimes my girls bathe together, but not always. I am a little confused why it's such an issue at 5 years old. My 2 year old can go to her room to play, or the living room, or whatever, as long as she's not hanging from the dining room chandelier.

Well, see he's a twin so he's never really been alone.  They play separately, but he's hardly ever alone.  DD on the other hand is ok being alone.  Different kids, different personalities.

goodheartedmommy

My kids are used to playing together, too, since the older two are only 11 months apart. Still, he's 5. Surely he can deal with being alone for 10 minutes.

Zenya

goodheartedmommy:

Still, he's 5. Surely he can deal with being alone for 10 minutes.

I'm also having a hard time understanding this.  Does he have anxiety issues?

DandelionMom

At 5 my girls could mostly shower by themselves.  So I didn't need to step into the bathroom for more than a minute to help them rinse their hair.

ppants

Zenya:

goodheartedmommy:

Still, he's 5. Surely he can deal with being alone for 10 minutes.

I'm also having a hard time understanding this.  Does he have anxiety issues?

No.  He's not really an anxious child.  I don't think it's that odd really.  I usually play with my kids. 

Zenya

mrs_sexy:

No.  He's not really an anxious child.  I don't think it's that odd really.  I usually play with my kids. 

 Aha.  Most of us never play with ours.  We find it's the best way to ensure that by 5 years old they can sit alone for 10 minutes.  YMMV.

 

goodheartedmommy

Well, aren't you a peach? It's really, really, really odd that a 5 year old could not be alone for a few minutes.

ppants

Zenya:

mrs_sexy:

No.  He's not really an anxious child.  I don't think it's that odd really.  I usually play with my kids. 

 Aha.  Most of us never play with ours.  We find it's the best way to ensure that by 5 years old they can sit alone for 10 minutes.  YMMV.

 

I'm not trying to be snarky.  My opinion is different than yours.  Whatever.