How Old Is Too Old to Bathe With Your Child?

Many parents bathe with their children to keep them company in the bath and to save time by not having to take a separate shower themselves. However, as kids make the slow transition from toddlers and preschoolers toward more independence, they may want to bathe alone. It may also start to become inappropriate to bathe with them. The timing depends upon each family's values and cues that parents pick up on from the children. Ask Dr. Sears says that it will be time to stop bathing with most kids when they are approximately 4 or 5.

  1. Longing for Privacy

    • Every family is different, so the time to stop bathing with children will really depend on how children are reacting to it. Ask Dr. Sears says that a common sign that it's time to stop bathing with your child is when he starts showing a need for privacy. Your child may want to cover up, cross his hands over his genitals or close the door when using the bathroom. If this begins to happen, Ask Dr. Sears says that parents should also start to cover up and be more modest about nudity. It is also time to start bathing separately. This usually starts when kids are approximately 4 or 5.

    Discomfort Over Nudity

    • When kids start to show discomfort over their nudity or their parent's nudity, it may be time to start bathing separately. Debra Haffner, author of "From Diapers to Dating," says that some signs of discomfort may include children being giggly or nervous in the tub. This can occur with parents or with other children of the opposite gender. When this starts happening, Haffner says it is time to start giving children more privacy. The age at which this may happen varies for every child, but it is common in the preschool years.

    Impulse for Touching

    • Children are naturally curious about their bodies and the differences between them and their parents. However, Haffner says that when children start to try to touch your private parts, it is time to end shared bathing. While there is nothing shameful in children being curious about nudity or in learning about their genitals, Haffner notes that it is never appropriate for children to touch a parent's private parts.

    Making the Transition

    • Bathing alone can be dangerous for young children, even if they are ready to have more privacy. In order to make this transition, parents can help their children to draw the bath and then look away or step out of the room while they get in the tub. A nonslip mat can ensure that children don't fall while they get into or out of the tub. Parents can draw the curtain and then sit next to the tub, allowing children some privacy while also staying near to ensure there are no accidents. Some kids can be left completely alone in the bath as early as 5 or 6.

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