I let DD and DS1 bath alone with the water at about waist level, the door must be open and I call out to them every 5 mins or so to see if they're ok. I remember loving a bath on my own at that age (and most especially now!!). They are almost 8 and 6. DS2 (who is 3 3/4), I won't leave alone entirely, but I am in and out, usually washing dishes whilst he bathes. I can see part of the bath from the kitchen sink, so I am happy with that. My boys usually bath together though, and I feel better when they do, there is less space for them to drown or do dumb things! And when all three of them are in there together, they're like peas in a pod and can barely move, so that's even better, lol.

As for washing, they have some natural soap there for them to use, but I don't specifically wash them or insist they wash themselves. I wash their hair once a week. Unless they're really dirty (hair or body) I don't worry too much about actually scrubbing them down. They will sometimes wash themselves with the soap, and they like to do each other's backs (lol, so cute to watch them take care of each other!).