Bathing w/ your child. Opinion?

[Miss Jasmine]

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.

And I have to agree with your opinion.

 

[tiggersmom2]

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

ITA!

 

[amburger]

I don't have a problem with it. I agree with the same sex child thing though just because they don't really need to be seeing that much of an opposite sex member when it's starting to become clear that you're different or whatever. It's fine up to a certain age though. Like I think it's kinda cute if the dad wants to shower with his daughter. Just not when she's like 5 still. That's just getting weird.

 

[scubamouse]

when we're trying to maximize our WDW time we've been know to have the kids shower with us. We do it rarely but if it means extra time in the parks, we'll do it In a pinch we do it but mostly our DD and DS take baths together.

We haven't bathed w/them since they were infants but we're not bath people.

 

[ElizK]

I showered with both of mine (both girls) until they were about 4. No big deal, especially if they're the same sex.

 

[Planogirl]

In Europe nude or topless beaches are quite normal. I wonder why American society has such a hangup about nudity?

 

[Freyja]

No big deal here. DD is almost 4 and I would still take a bath with her. Haven´t in a while, but that´s just because of circumstances, not because I see anything wrong with it.

 

[Disney_1derland]

We don't bathe together except when we are camping. That said, I don't see any problem with them seeing parental nudity but it will stop when they become uncomfortable with it.

We have a 5 and 3 year old and neither of them bats an eyelash if they catch us leaving the shower, we only have one bathroom, they have to go, they have to go, they come on in, do what they need to and leave (or stay to talk, apparantly a shower curtain is like a 5 year olds confessional). We don't make a big deal out of it and quite frankly, she's NEVER asked us about body parts or anything. Just things that apply to herself. She will tell you that girls are different than boys but as for specifics she just doesn't seem interested in that yet.

 

[Buttercup26]

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.

I agree 100%! I was recently at a Girl Scout swimming event where all these girls didn't want to change in front of each other. We were in the Women's locker room, ONLY girls/women and more than half the girls were uncomfortable with having other girls/women see them naked for the 60 seconds it took to change into a swimsuit. In my opinion that was ridiculous!

At my daughter's junior high they don't require showers after PE because not everyone is comfortable showering in front of others.

When I was in school (okay it was a long time ago!) we always changed/showered in front of each other, in fact showers after PE were REQUIRED.

 

[Cass]

In the house we used to live in we had a huge tub that would fit 4, my DD & I used to have baths together all the time - I guess up until she was about 5ish.

Usually I would start the bath for me and she would beg to come in.

Fun fun times - it was like a hot tub with the jets going, we had all her toys etc... we would sing and talk and spend hours in that tub.

Special times, nothing weird, creepy about it IMO

 

[noseybuddy]

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. JMO

 

[dizagain]

There sure is a lot of light bashing going on here.....DH and I have never bathed with our DD's, never felt a desire/need to, and we don't walk around in less than underwear when they're in the room. That is what we're comfortable with...and that should be ok. It's not for some freakish reason - I'm very comfortable with my body (other than the fact that it has somehow gotten a little bigger over the years) but I feel it's MY body and personal. I have one DD who feels the same - and yes, she is dreading changing in the locker room next year, and one who couldn't care less who sees her naked and she's 9. Everyone is different...that doesn't equate wrong.

 

[DVC Jen]

OK just a little clarification..

I never meant my post to be "light bashing". I was simply stating an observation that I made.. people in other countries seem to be much more open to nudity than we (as a whole) as americans do.

It is our culture..right or wrong..and I didn't say it was either.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I don't think there was any bashing going on (light or otherwise). Everyone has different comfort levels. I change at the gym in the locker room out in the open. Not a big deal to me. But there are others who will change in the big bathroom stall.

Adn I really do believe that nudity is viewed much different in other countries and cultures, it is not as sexualized.

 

[kbkids]

I agree 100%! I was recently at a Girl Scout swimming event where all these girls didn't want to change in front of each other. We were in the Women's locker room, ONLY girls/women and more than half the girls were uncomfortable with having other girls/women see them naked for the 60 seconds it took to change into a swimsuit. In my opinion that was ridiculous!

At my daughter's junior high they don't require showers after PE because not everyone is comfortable showering in front of others.

When I was in school (okay it was a long time ago!) we always changed/showered in front of each other, in fact showers after PE were REQUIRED.

DD has a friend like that. Every other kid that comes over (the girls are 8) could care less. They change into bathing suits, take baths if they're sleeping over, it's not an issue. But this one will go into my DD's closet and shut the door to change clothes. I don't care - that's her choice, and I've told my DD not to pick on her because she's doing nothing wrong, but it does seem a bit off to me. My daughter couldn't care less about being naked in front of her little brother (he's 4) - doesn't happen frequently, but hello, we all live in the same house, use the same bathrooms, it's gonna happen at some point.

FWIW, DD still showers with me when it's convenient. She can bathe on her own, but still has problems getting her hair really clean and the soap rinsed out - so sometimes, it's just easier to tell her to hop in the shower with me.

 

[damo]

In the house we used to live in we had a huge tub that would fit 4, my DD & I used to have baths together all the time - I guess up until she was about 5ish.

Usually I would start the bath for me and she would beg to come in.

Fun fun times - it was like a hot tub with the jets going, we had all her toys etc... we would sing and talk and spend hours in that tub.

Special times, nothing weird, creepy about it IMO

Sounds like our house!!! We did exactly the same thing with the kids and it was really so much fun.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I don't think it's a big deal. My 3 y/o son will hop in with me from time to time. Like a previous poster said, kids don't sexualize stuff at this age! For him it's just a fun bubble bath with mom. We don't do it often - just cause the though of him peeing in the tub sort of skeeves me out!

 

[va32h]

I don't like baths, so I don't bathe with anybody, including myself!

All three of my children have wandered into the shower with me at some point in their lives (2 girls, one boy).

I was not horrified by it, but I can't say that I especially enjoyed it, either. The water would get in their eyes and they would cry, I couldn't have the temp as hot as I wanted it, and I really got tired of saying "stop poking mommy there" while I was trying to rinse the conditioner out of my hair.

Personally, I would rather bake cookies or play Candyland to bond with my kids. Your mileage may vary.

 

[kbkids]

I don't think it's a big deal. My 3 y/o son will hop in with me from time to time. Like a previous poster said, kids don't sexualize stuff at this age! For him it's just a fun bubble bath with mom. We don't do it often - just cause the though of him peeing in the tub sort of skeeves me out!

Reminds me of an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos. Two sisters are bathing together. One apparently is proud of the fact that she has learned to hold her breath underwater. Just as she goes under, the younger sister yells, "Wait!! I just peed!" It was hilarious!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

In the house we used to live in we had a huge tub that would fit 4, my DD & I used to have baths together all the time - I guess up until she was about 5ish.

Usually I would start the bath for me and she would beg to come in.

Fun fun times - it was like a hot tub with the jets going, we had all her toys etc... we would sing and talk and spend hours in that tub.

Special times, nothing weird, creepy about it IMO

That is our house. We have a blast with that tub. I never seem to get to take a bath on my own unless the kids are out of the house or I lock the door and tell DH and has to keep the kids out. The baby throws a fit when we clean the tub (fill it and run the jets with dish washing detranant in it) and she can't get in.

DH has been know to get in the tub with the girls too. However he keeps his underwear on or a swim suit just to keep the questions down. The girls never ask though.