Solo bathing?

[lyzziesmom]

As I was helping my DD wash her hair in the shower tonight, and drenching myself and most of the bathroom floor in the process, it occurred to me to wonder how old other people's kids are when they begin to bathe/shower alone. I don't mean splish-splash in the tub alone for a few minutes, I mean the whole shebang -- running the water, washing the hair, scrubbing the *ahem* body parts, y'know?

Mine is almost 8 and refuses to even try to wash her own hair - the rest she can handle.

 

[disneymama73]

DD5 does it all herself. DD7 does everything but wash her hair. She's obsessed with getting water in her eyes.

 

[lyzziesmom]

DD7 does everything but wash her hair. She's obsessed with getting water in her eyes.

That's the problem with mine too! She keeps a clean washcloth in her hands, just in case a drop of water should dare to go anywhere in the vicinity of her eye/eyebrow/forehead area, and then she screams, EYES! EYES!!! as if I didn't know they are there.

 

[MomofKatie]

DD7 has just started to shower by herself. She used to do a bath that I ran for her. I also helped her wash her hair. Lately she has become very self concious about being naked in front of me or her dad, so she decided she's old enough to do her own shower, from start to finish.

 

[LadyBears]

That's the problem with mine too! She keeps a clean washcloth in her hands, just in case a drop of water should dare to go anywhere in the vicinity of her eye/eyebrow/forehead area, and then she screams, EYES! EYES!!! as if I didn't know they are there.

My DD6 was like this until I got her to "keep your chin up" so the water would go down her back instead of in her face. Now I just need to control the AMOUNT of shampoo & conditioner she uses. If I let her do the bottles herself, she will use half the bottle!

 

[My2Cinderellas]

oldest was 7.5. youngest just started this summer at age 6. you know, has to be just like big sister. both of them don't always get their hair super clean, so about every 2-3 weeks I make sure to scrub their head.

both like to use a lot of product too, so I've switched them to the cheap stuff - Costco's Kirkland signature shampoo and conditioner. $5.69 for 2-pk of 40 oz bottles. You need to use 2-3 times the quantity over the good stuff, but that's about right on for the girls. also the shower gel is now Suave. again, it's a quantity issue.

 

[southernbella]

That's the problem with mine too! She keeps a clean washcloth in her hands, just in case a drop of water should dare to go anywhere in the vicinity of her eye/eyebrow/forehead area, and then she screams, EYES! EYES!!! as if I didn't know they are there.

Mine does "Towel, Towel!!!" The 2 year old just runs out of the tub when she sees me pick up the rinsing cup.

Thanks for posting this. I was wondering the same thing. Sbella

P.S. The pic of your DD drinking Beverly cracks me up every time I see it!

 

[disneymama73]

That's the problem with mine too! She keeps a clean washcloth in her hands, just in case a drop of water should dare to go anywhere in the vicinity of her eye/eyebrow/forehead area, and then she screams, EYES! EYES!!! as if I didn't know they are there.

YES, same here! Silly girls!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Started them all at 6. Two were able to master it, but one had to be sent back in occasionally because he "forgot" to wash his hair.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I'll let you know when it happens, I'm still trying... DSfreshly-turned6 still needs a lot of help, both with his hair and certain areas.

 

[Katy Belle]

DS6 has been doing his own shower since 4, well I got the water to the right temp and watched to make sure all was scrubbed. At 6 he does it all, but our water is set so there is no chance of it being to hot in his shower.

My oldest DS had issues with water in his eyes, I think because I was so careful when he was tiny. With the next two boys I always just dumped water over their heads!

Boys are easier, short hair. I think long hair takes more help.
Good luck,
Katy

 

[Briarprincess]

I always hated getting water in my eyes! Still do. Mom used to hold my chin up and pour it so I had no choice. Eventually I taught myself how to do it. But my aunt is having the same problem with her kids. She bought them each a pair of cheap swim goggles that they wear when they shower, with the strap at the base of their hairlines. Hasn't had a complaint since. They all think it's neat to be able to wear the goggles in the shower.

 

[geetey]

If you saw the amount of hair and how thick my dd's hair is, you would understand that she finally managed to wash everything around 11 yrs old. Even our hairdresser has to spend extra time washing, because there is just SO darn much of it.

DS probably around 8. I guess I was too afraid of them slipping and getting hurt in the shower before that.

Whoever mentioned about the quantity of shampoo is SO right! It's amazing how much those two go through now!

 

[KerriSue]

At least your kids arent allergic to water and soap like my DS11. It is WW3 at my house everytime we tell him to get in the shower. The kid is growing up fast, so you know, the stink is growing fast with him It kills me...


Kerri

 

[aprilgail2]

Mine is 6 1/2 and has finally started doing it all on her own.

 

[ariel75]

DD5 does it all herself. DD7 does everything but wash her hair. She's obsessed with getting water in her eyes.

my son wears his swimming goggles in the bath to wash his hair as he don't like the water/shampoo in his eyes,he also thinks it's great fun

 

[ariel75]

My DD6 was like this until I got her to "keep your chin up" so the water would go down her back instead of in her face. Now I just need to control the AMOUNT of shampoo & conditioner she uses. If I let her do the bottles herself, she will use half the bottle!

I recently brought shampoo bottles with a pump on top i now refill these as my ds would have a handfull of shampoo and would moan like crazy about the amount of rinsing it would take to get the suds out!!
now i just tell him to pump once and thats enough

 

[Serena]

Both of mine were about 5 or 6. I had to be in the bathroom with them, but they wanted to do it themselves.

 

[ntburns22]

My DD6 has been taking showers since she outgrew her blow up tub. Our first home only had a handicap shower. When we moved when she was 5 she didn't want to take a bath. She is does everything herself except I insist to help her rinse her hair. It is long and she can't get all the soap put.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I'm not a good person to ask this. DS has been washing himself in the bathtub with me there to supervise/nag since he was about 5. But I'm not exactly a "clean freak". I figure if you put enough bubbles in the bath and they play long enough everything will end up clean regardless how "thorough" they are. At about 7, I started leaving him alone while I was next door in the bedroom or the hallway. A few months after I started doing that DS slipped in the bathtub and chipped his front tooth. Of course I felt awful! So now I'm back to supervising, although DS is getting "shy" about his body so I usually sit on the toilet and read a book so he feels like he's getting a little privacy.

When will we try again? I don't know.