When Should Parents Stop Bathing With Toddlers?

You and your toddler both enjoy the pleasurable and practical bonding experience of lathering up and bathing together. Sharing the tub with your tot can't last forever -- but how do you know when it's time to step out of the tub and let him bathe solo with your help and supervision? It's generally best to follow your toddler's cues.

  1. Significance

    • The average 2- to 3-year-old starts to a develop gender identity or a sense of being a boy or girl. Nevertheless, at least one child development expert doesn't believe that gender awareness necessarily means that an opposite sex parent should put the kibosh on bathing with his toddler. Shari Nethersole, a physician at Boston Children's Hospital, says it's probably okay for a father to shower with his 2-year-old daughter, as long as she feels comfortable.

    Observation

    • Watch for signs that your toddler is developing a sense of modesty when deciding that it's time to stop bathing with your toddler. For example, he may want his body covered with a blanket or towel when he's around you and he may make a special point of placing his hands over her genitals, explains Ask Dr. Sears. Your toddler's body language may be telling you that he'd to prefer take a big bubble bath with a rubber duck as his companion.

    On the Outside Looking In

    • Give your toddler a few basic cleansing tips -- washing the genital area, underarms and so on -- then give her an opportunity to wash herself. An easy grip cleansing bar made especially for children can make the bathing process simpler and more efficient. Taking the lead when it's time to wash your toddlers hair will help prevent shampoo from getting in her eyes. It's okay to let her massage the shampoo into hair for a bit to help her get the hang of lathering up her locks; not to mention that it will make her feel like a "big girl."

    Precautions

    • Once you're physically out of the tub, it's critical to closely supervise your toddler, warns the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Keep your toddler within arm's reach when he's in the tub. Something as seemingly harmless as grabbing a towel from a nearby linen closet can spell trouble. In 2009, 30 percent of fatal, unintentional injuries were caused by drowning in bathtubs, swimming pools and other sources of water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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