Bathing w/ your child. Opinion?

[Blondie]

I've never bathed with either of my boys when they were younger, and neither has DH.

My boys are 11 months apart and usually bathed together up until a certain age. It was just easier on me. They used to have a blast in the tub! I miss those younger innocent days.

 

[noseybuddy]

Who said anything about bonding?

I think its more strange that people can be so uptight about this.

Some posters said that they take bubble baths with their kids and play, I consider that bonding.

Never said I was uptight about it, just said it wasn't my thing.

 

[Dan Murphy]

No big deal with us either. When the kids were that age, often I suppose, fun times. As Blondie said, I miss those younger days too.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

Erin, you reminded me of something my 5 year old told me last night. She said she had a lot of fun when she was inside my belly!




That is cute!

 

[chobie]

Some posters said that they take bubble baths with their kids and play, I consider that bonding.

Never said I was uptight about it, just said it wasn't my thing.

Actually you said this:

I think there is no reason for it on a daily or weekly basis, and find it strange. You can bond with you kids in many other ways instead of bathing together. The only time my DD showered with me and my DS showered with my DH was when we were down the shore and came off the beach. The kids were filled with sand so we used the shower outside to bath them. They were 2 - 3 years old. Other than something like that, I just don't see any reason for it.

Again no one said that they bathe with their kids to bond with them, but you're right in way- pretty much everything one does with one's kids is bonding. But the reason for it is to multi-task, for the most part.

 

[happybratpack]

Wow - thanks for all the responses. I guess there really is quite a range of opinions on this.

 

[DisneyPhD]

So tonight was bath night. I was't planning on taking a bath with the girls, but my oldest DD pulled her baby sister down, resulting in her going all the way under the water. Now in her defense she did pull her out right away (I saved my sister! yes, but you also drowned her. )

Anyway after that baby needed a hug and was really wet so I got in with them. We had a fun time. Sometimes it is for safety reasons, and ease.

I agree I took the bonding thing as a bash, people who take a bath might be bonding with their kids, but that isn't why they do it. Everything you do with your kid is bonding if you do it right.

 

[Feralpeg]

I see no problem with it. DD showered with me when she was old enough to not want to take a bath, but wasn't able to wash her hair by herself.

People are just to quick to look for the bad side of every situation. Good grief!

 

[Judy from Boise]

OK! I know i will win the prize ! I bathed with my 14yo DD just a few weeks ago ! She loves it because i scrub her back with sugar scrub and then give her a back rub, then have her turn around and do the same thing with her feet. ( of course my DD never had a flat head....but oh wait that is a different thread ) My DH was in charge of her bathes when she was younger. he did them naked till she was about 2 and then in a bathing suit until she was 4. I think around 4 we let her bathe by herself if one of us was in the room, but she usually asked me to join her. I bet we bathed together for almost everyday of her life until she was 8 or so. From there it got much rarer.....but like i said can still happen today apon request!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Now in her defense she did pull her out right away (I saved my sister! yes, but you also drowned her. )

That made me laugh!

 

[DisneyPhD]

That made me laugh!

me too, but the poor baby! You should of seen her all wet and sputtering. She handels things so well. All she needed was a hug and see was fine. If it had been her older sister she would of been tramatized for a month!

If DH or I don't get in the tub to bath, one of us has to stand in it (up to our knees or so) to rise and wash (and condtion) their hair. Have you seen my siggy? DD has a lot of hair.

 

[MzDiz]

I keep thinking about all those tribes of people running around in the jungle with nothing on. I wonder what the "experts" would say about them.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I keep thinking about all those tribes of people running around in the jungle with nothing on. I wonder what the "experts" would say about them.

They were perverts!!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If DH or I don't get in the tub to bath, one of us has to stand in it (up to our knees or so) to rise and wash (and condtion) their hair. Have you seen my siggy? DD has a lot of hair.

That's why it's easier to just shower with them.

Jake did shower with my DH this morning (saves time and we then know he's getting clean and his hair washed well), but it was funny before they went to shower. Jake was waiting for his father, who was drinking coffee. Jake said, "C'mon, Dad, I'm going to be late for school if you dilly-dally". Then in about a minute Jake said, "Once again, Dad, I'm going to be late if you dilly-dally". Hmmm, maybe he is getting too grown up to shower with a parent if he's talking like that.

 

[DisneyPhD]

That's why it's easier to just shower with them.

Jake did shower with my DH this morning (saves time and we then know he's getting clean and his hair washed well), but it was funny before they went to shower. Jake was waiting for his father, who was drinking coffee. Jake said, "C'mon, Dad, I'm going to be late for school if you dilly-dally". Then in about a minute Jake said, "Once again, Dad, I'm going to be late if you dilly-dally". Hmmm, maybe he is getting too grown up to shower with a parent if he's talking like that.

Remember what I said about the oldest being a water wimp? She hates showers. When she has to (camping, gym after swimming, other places there isn't a tub) she will take one, but it only if she has too. The baby would't mind, but she is slipery and and heavy when wet. Maybe some day.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

It really depends on the parent and how comfortable they are being naked with their children, as well as the age of the child.

Me, I have no problem being naked/seminaked in front of DS, so it's not a big deal for me to strip and hop in the tub with him. He loves it because we get to splash each other which is great fun.

It TOTALLY skeeves DH out though, but only because he's got this whole thing about not being sure if/when it's appropriate to be naked around kids, and whatnot.

TOV

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Remember what I said about the oldest being a water wimp? She hates showers. When she has to (camping, gym after swimming, other places there isn't a tub) she will take one, but it only if she has too. The baby would't mind, but she is slipery and and heavy when wet. Maybe some day.

Jake has never minded the water in his face and has had many more showers than baths. I really think it's because we're lazy! In a pool, though, he panics if he doesn't have his goggles, but in the shower he doesn't mind water in his face, so maybe it's the chlorine at the pool.

 

[A4Disney]

OK, I'll try to phrase this so it doesn't sound weird. We had a big debate in the office today at lunch over this, I don't even know how it came up...I have a friend that has a 2.5 year old girl that showers/takes a bubble bath w/ her mom. I hadn't given it any thought really, but the consensus here is that she shouldn't be doing it and that times are different from when I was a child. (early 70's) I remember taking baths w/ my mom when I was little, but I don't remember what age. I never gave a thought to it being a problem, (maybe I'm naive) but would you consider this a no-no?

Baths seem a little odd,but I know of many women who would shower with their toddler girls just to be quick.

 

[FreshTressa]

They were perverts!!!

 

[Forevryoung]

OK! I know i will win the prize ! I bathed with my 14yo DD just a few weeks ago ! She loves it because i scrub her back with sugar scrub and then give her a back rub, then have her turn around and do the same thing with her feet. ( of course my DD never had a flat head....but oh wait that is a different thread ) My DH was in charge of her bathes when she was younger. he did them naked till she was about 2 and then in a bathing suit until she was 4. I think around 4 we let her bathe by herself if one of us was in the room, but she usually asked me to join her. I bet we bathed together for almost everyday of her life until she was 8 or so. From there it got much rarer.....but like i said can still happen today apon request!

I cant ever remember a time when my mom didnt see me naked. Usually in dressing rooms while shopping or in my room changing clothes a million times during a teen clothes crisis. I've seen my mom naked too (at 21 I still barge in while she's getting dressed).

Instead of bathing/showering with my mom, we go skinny dipping in my pool. My sister (18) has joined us. My dad is usually away and it's a treat! definite good times. Then we shower seperately just cuz there is no room in the shower!