At what age would you leave your second child to bath alone with your first child?

[lilima]

I can't leave my DD 15 months, as she tries to climb the side and has slipped.
If anything has to happen to her though, I know DS would yell out immediatly. They were playing on the verrandah this week and I was inside, (but can see them from our kitchen) and DD slipped between the trampoline. DS was HYSTERICAL - screaming for me that she was hurt and needed help. So I know he would let me know, but I would hate for something to happen if they were alone as it would distress DS as well.

[Nai]

My 2 bath together but I never leave them unattended and DD1 is very responsible BUT I don't know what she would do in a situation if DD2 slipped and hit her head etc. I leave DD1 unattended as she is 4 and she talks constantly to herself in the bath so I always know she is ok. I guess I wouldn't leave DD2 alone with her until I was happy leaving her alone by herself, so probably not until she is at least 2.

[Just Me]

I wouldn't leave my kids alone in the bath - but it probably does depend on the kids and how comfortable the parents are. I am completely uncomfortable with the idea.

Drowing is a notorious silent killer. A couple of months ago I was in a wadding pool with DS sitting next to me. I had turned away from him to do something with DD1 and I turned back and he was on his back under the water and unable to get up again. It was a horrible horrible experience. I had no idea because it was completely silent. He flailing wasn't loud enough or urgent enough to grab my attention and it was only because I looked at him that I realised. He was 21 months at the time and I had no idea. It still makes me sick to think about it. I think he just went over on his back and he just couldn't get in a position to push himself above the water again partly because he was panicking. We were only in calf deep water.

The other issue with leaving kids alone in the bath is the hot tap. There are precautions that can be taken to ensure the hot tap doesn't burn but it is definitely an issue to consider because if the kids touch the tap and there are no precautions, it can give them bad burns pretty quickly.

Another thing I never considered until it happened to someone here is that showers have some hidden dangers. The mum left her 4yo and 2yo shower alone together and thought they would be safe because the water runs away. The 4yo threw the pile of dirty clothes into the shower and it blocked the plug hole causing it fill with water and the toddler almost drowned. I think she may have been alright in the end but the ambulance had to come and they took her to emergency.

I don't want to be an alarmist, but I think that it is best to know all the issues before making a decision and if you are aware of the dangers, precautions can be taken. I think most people get caught out with the things that they don't know about or think about. Hope that helps.

[Marlene]

DS (almost 10) bathes with DS (2) but I only leave them alone long enough to go grab a towel or clothes. Jack likes to jump around in the bath and can be a bit silly, I would hate for Mitchell to have to deal with Jack falling and hitting his head or something. If I am busy I get my DD (15 years) to watch him in the bath Yep, teenagers are good for something, LOL

[~clover~]

Yep, teenagers are good for something, LOL

Your DD is a pretty awesome teenager though
Bri still goes on about her when she see's photo's lol.

[*EJ*]

When my boys DS1(3.5) & DS2(almost 15months) bath i am generally there for the whole thing. The only thing i may leave them to do is run around and get pj's organised in front of the hearter if i didn't get to do it before they hopped in. But it's only for the quickest time and i race back to them as soon as i can. DS2 is also a bit cheeky for standing up in the water which freaks me out.

DS1 i leave for minutes while i get DS2 out and dressed but i constantly call out to him and get him to talk to me. If DH is home they aren't really left alone to bath because we can 'tag team' but i think he's more nervous about leaving them for a second that i am.

[deletedit]

I have the 9yo and 2yo in the bath as we speak ... been letting them bathe together for quite a few months now. Little one usually bathes with my partner. They seem to have fun in there, big one teaches the little one loads of bad habits though.

[sirenz]

I never leave my ds alone in the bath. ANYTHING can happen in a matter of seconds and we currently do not have anything to stop the hot water getting too hot.

My ds is very clumsy and slips in the bath while he is sittintg (he doesn't stand up), and has on occasions hit his head. I couldn't live with myself if he did hit his head hard enough to knock himself out and drown because I wasn't there. If he can hit his head while i'm sitting right there, then there is NO WAY ever i would leave him unsupervised, chores can wait as far as i'm concerned.