Bathing w/ your child. Opinion?

[beattyfamily]

I see no problem with it either. In fact, I used to take baths with my DDs when they were smaller. I won't fit with them now!

Now my 2 DDs bathe together. Ages 6 & 9.

I don't get what the big deal is.

 

[mudnuri]

I think once a child becomes aware of another's sexuality, it's time for some privacy. I think it can be confusing for the child.

Your right, but at the same time, I'm not going to FREAK OUT if my dd's come in to use the toilet while I'm in the shower...we all have parts that are private, however there is no reason for paranoia about them. This culture is so far from being accepting of ones bodies its crazy! I'm not saying we should all walk around naked, but these are your own children, who came from your body...and we're talking in the OP with TODDLERS...

Brandy

 

[rascalmom]

I don't see a problem with it at that age, particularly with a same sex child.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Shesh...my dd's see me walk from my bathroom to my bedroom naked when I get out of the shower....they've been known to sit on my bed talking to me while I'm getting dressed.....They come in the bathroom when I'm in the shower, (almost clear curtain)...and some nights they get in the shower as I'm getting out....the shower never shuts off.

I dont see a big deal with it, but then again, I dont have a big "hide my body from my daughters" complex either!

Brandy

I totally agree. The parents are the ones that usually have the issues with it, not the kids.

 

[Beth76]

I think at this age and with the same sex it's ok. If we're talking different sexes, then line is drawn somewhere around that age.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Only if you need to get done fast. Our friend, when in a hurry, would have the mom in the shower and the little girls would each get washed by mom and the dad would dry them off and dress them while mom washed the next one. But this was not an every day occurance.

 

[Iluvthemouse]

I still bathe with my DD and she will be 7 in 2 days. I dont see anything wrong with it. We dont make a big deal about nudity in our house and since I have been bathing with her since she was born she doesnt know any different. DH is more careful as of late but mainly because he is uncomfortable with her seeing him nude.

 

[briannesmom]

I shower with my DD 1-2 times a week. She is 2 1/2. Sometimes I throw her in with me when we are crunched for time, sometimes she just comes on in clothes and all. I never really gave it a second thought.

Amy

 

[SamIAm21]

As a 41 year old woman who remembers bathing with her Mom, I remember being very shocked at all the differences between us. I must have been about three. I don't think I saw anything wrong with it persay, but I actually remember it to this day. I bathed with my DD once when she was around one, but given my memories, I didn't really want her to have the same ones.

 

[ilovepcot]

The showering I don't mind. I just wouldn't want my toddler sitting in dirty bath water with me. I'm the worst "germaphobe" this board has ever seen! I feel bath water (tub) needs to be fresh for each bather. Don't have a "modesty" issue with it at all where toddlers are concerned.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I took a bath last night with my 2 girls (ages almost 5 and 18 months old.) I don't see a problem with it at all. Heck I was still nursing my oldest until a bit after she was 2 years old. Being a breast feeding mother takes away all body and nudity hang ups. We are prety relaxed in my family, but we do teach about privacy and boundires. We talk about ok touching and not ok touching and who can and can't see you with out cothes one.

While my DD doesn't see it often she also knows what DH looks like with out cothes on (and understands it is private). I would much rather have her know about bodies and have it be no big deal and curious and freaked out.

 

[MrsKreamer]

I bathe with my son all the time. It saves time and energy. He is 16 mos and loves to play in the tub. I am now 5 mos preggers and cannot lean over as easily. It is easier to hop in and get two jobs done at once. He pays no attention to me or my body. I really don't see the big deal at all. Dh doesn't do it though, but he showers and DS prefers a bath. When this one is big enough for the tub and if we can all fit, I will bathe with both of them.

I am curious, for those who think it is bad, why? I really never gave it a second thought...

 

[mrsltg]

I am really baffled by the posters who feel that a 2.5 year old can't see their mother naked, even moreso by those who feel it's ok only if the child is of the same sex. GET A GRIP! This is a body we're talking about. Why can your kid not see you naked? I have a 5 year old who takes bubble baths with me on a regular basis. We have a great time chatting and just being together. The same 5 year old only stopped showering with her father recently - because of him - not her. She understands her body is private and what a good touch is, she also understands that her parents' bodies are private. Sex and nudity are not as interlinked as some here would imply. For heaven's sake - my children came out of my body. I just don't see the big deal.

Erin

 

[rt2dz]

Kids, on average, are about 4 before they become aware of body differences and 5-6 before they understand the privacy issues--or at least I think that is what I've read. I popped my oldest DS in the shower with me until he was about 3. I had DS#2, who just turned 2, in the shower with me just yesterday since he dumped milk on his head as I was jumping into the shower.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I am really baffled by the posters who feel that a 2.5 year old can't see their mother naked, even moreso by those who feel it's ok only if the child is of the same sex. GET A GRIP! This is a body we're talking about. Why can your kid not see you naked? I have a 5 year old who takes bubble baths with me on a regular basis. We have a great time chatting and just being together. The same 5 year old only stopped showering with her father recently - because of him - not her. She understands her body is private and what a good touch is, she also understands that her parents' bodies are private. Sex and nudity are not as interlinked as some here would imply. For heaven's sake - my children came out of my body. I just don't see the big deal.

Erin

I have to agree.

Heck she sucked on my ****s for food everyday for 27 months. I am also curious why people would feel it is a no no.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Well, I'll have to say that my DH stopped showering with our DD than with our DSs at an earlier age (I'd say by 2-2 1/2). We just kind of knew when it was the right time to stop, but in some cultures families bathe together for longer. My 6yo still showers sometimes with his dad. He did this morning, as a matter of fact. He's never known any different (he does shower by himself sometimes, so I don't mean that he doesn't ever do that) and he doesn't sexualize it. I won't even go threre. And he will walk into the bathroom when I'm showering and when I'm going to get out and dry I'll ask for privacy while I'm getting dressed. I reached a point where I wasn't comfortable having him in there and I know that the days are limited that my DH will shower with him, but right now he's still a little boy and there's nothing wrong with it.

 

[mickeyboat]

For heaven's sake - my children came out of my body. I just don't see the big deal.

Erin

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!

Denae

 

[DVC Jen]

Ya know what amazes me.. in most other countries no one would blink an eye about it.

Our culture seems to have a major problem with nudity and has a tendency to see it as a very taboo thing instead of the totally natural thing it was intended to be.


Just my honest opinion.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The "experts" say cross-gender parental nudity should end at age 3. I have to say I agree, because by age 3 the kids I know are PLENTY curious about differences and are willing to broadcast them. My friend's little girl came up to me one day and said "The other day when my dad was naked..." and I said "STOP! Stop, stop! I don't want to know that story!" Luckily she stopped. She was 3 or 4 at the time.

In my Child Development classes the thinking was that kids will start to feel "funny" about seeing their opposite gender parent naked, even if they can't really explain why they feel that way. Makes sense to me.

I see nothing wrong with Mom & daughter having a bath together, or Dad & son having a shower as long as the parent AND the child feel comfortable. At some point kids need privacy and may not want company in the bathroom.

 

[mickeyboat]

In my Child Development classes the thinking was that kids will start to feel "funny" about seeing their opposite gender parent naked, even if they can't really explain why they feel that way. Makes sense to me.

I just wonder where a 3 year old would get the funny feeling from, unless it was some sort of vibe given off by their parents or by society in general. How would a child know they should feel funny about seeing nudity if someone didn't tell them (in some way) that it is wrong.

Denae