At what age...(bathing, changing, etc)

kate3636 · January 2012

Do you plan on not bathing your DS or have your DH stop bathing your DD? Or changing in front of one another etc? A friend of mine said when her DD turns 3 they feel like her DH shouldn't be the one to bathe her anymore. I think that seems rather young. Thoughts?

penguingrrl · January 2012

We'll stop having DH bathe the girls when the girls express discomfort with it.

MamatoJackson · January 2012

I don't understand why you would stop/Have DH stop?

ToBeMrsT · January 2012

When they are old enough to take a bath/shower alone, until then both dh and I will give them baths.

LynsiBHM · January 2012

I think as far as parents go, it depends on the child. My niece just turned 7 and just within the last year got funny about changing/ bathing in fron of my brother (her dad.) Now he will help her if she needs it (in the shower or whatever) but just lets her do her thing unless she asks for him. (He and SIL are divorced, so mom isn't there when she's with dad.)

As far as other people (outside of parents and maybe grandparents) I don't think 3 is too young. It's such a touchy subject, though. I don't plan to make a big deal about "the naked body" in a way that would make them embarassed or ashamed (especially while at home with me and H) but will make it very clear to my children that privates are PRIVATE. KWIM?

Andrewsgal · January 2012

penguingrrl:
We'll stop having DH bathe the girls when the girls express discomfort with it.

This! DD is five and has no qualms about getting dressed in front of DH.

JOEBunny · January 2012

Wait, her DH should not bathe his 3 year old for the reason's of privacy. That is really interesting. What should single, divorced, gay, or home alone for a week father's do?

Personally, I do not see the need for "privacy" within our home for my 5.5 year old. She has no concerns about it at this point. When she does, we will respect that.

laney75 · January 2012

3 seems super young.

We will just play it by ear, we have no plan at this point. I err on the "comfortable with our bodies" side. My parents were really modest, to a fault, in my opinion.

ali-1411 · January 2012

DS started to be uncomfortable with me seeing him naked around 6-7 years old. Definitely by the time he was 8, he no longer wanted me even in the bathroom when he was taking a shower.

I stopped changing in front of him when he was about 4.5

kate3636 · January 2012

JOEBunny:

Wait, her DH should not bathe his 3 year old for the reason's of privacy. That is really interesting. What should single, divorced, gay, or home alone for a week father's do?

Personally, I do not see the need for "privacy" within our home for my 5.5 year old. She has no concerns about it at this point. When she does, we will respect that.

I think part of it has to do with how her DH feels about it. He was raised in a family of all boys so it has been a huge adjustment for him to begin with. Their DD is only 1.5 right now but it was just interesting that they put a firm time frame on it. I agree with the majority on here that it should be played by ear and when the child starts to express the need for more privacy.

dionnemd10 · January 2012

probably when she is more able to bathe herself. i currently bathe the kids most of the time, but my dd went through a stage where i could not wash her hair-only daddy could and currently she wants him to help her get her jammies on after bath time. 3 seems quite young (at least to me) but my dd is already 5 and she went through the hair thing just last spring/summer.

i am working on her not watching me get dressed anymore--but she likes to talk to me when i get ready for the day so this is tough. i still help her get dressed in the mornings sometimes.

dionnemd10 · January 2012

oh and i will add--anyone know of any toddler 2-4 age frame that doesn't like to strip their clothing off and run naked around? my friend has 2 boys that are almost always in their undies when i go over--little kids have no body image-they just love their naked freedomness

sometimes wish we could all be so lucky!

ijustcantthinkrightnow · January 2012

I am the one who almost always gives baths, it just happens that way. I say when they are about 4 or 5 and are able to bath themselves pretty well.

danienross · January 2012

Haven't really given it much thought. I come from a family with a lot of females and we all still change/shower/use the bathroom in front of each other. No real privacy there. I assume it will be similar for DD and any other daughters we have. If the child expresses a need for privacy, I will respect it though. As for now DH does a good portion of the changing/bathing and we'll just play that by ear for when he'll stop.

We'll decide how to handle a son if we ever have one.

luvmyducks · January 2012

I was raised by my dad and I think I was about 6 or 7 when I wanted to start getting dressed by myself and not having him help me. I don't remember if it was because I felt uncomfortable, so I'm guessing I didn't....so I don't really know why I stopped. But I specifically remember him helping me get bathed and dressed, so I was much older than 3.

Want a personalized experience?

At what age...(bathing, changing, etc)

Re: At what age...(bathing, changing, etc)

Choose Another Board

Search Boards