thread: What age did you let your child bath by themselves?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    ~~Off With The Fairies~~
    1,746

    What age did you let your child bath by themselves?

    So, I am curious...

    At what age did you let yr child bath by themselves?

    As in, you could walk out and leave them to wash, play, pull the plug and get out etc?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jul 2006
    Melbourne
    4,895

    Well DD is 4.5 yo and baths, plays and pulls the plug out herself. We wash her hair and help her out (although she can get in and out herself) we do check on her regularly.

  3. #3
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Apr 2006
    Winter is coming
    5,000

    I think DS would have been around 2 for leaving in there, closer to 3 before he could get out by himself. DD had her baths with DS and we left them in together from around the time they were 3 and 1.

    Obviously we can hear them from the lounge etc etc

  4. #4
    Senior Moderator

    Nov 2004
    Chickens.
    4,989

    When mine are in the bath, I sit on the computer (in the study) but I still have my eye on them - they're in my direct line of sight.

    Mine are 8 and 6.

    I will let them shower alone, but not bath - well they are alone in the room, but I can still see them.

    They're more into showers now anyway, which is much better if they want privacy.

    I personally know of a nearly 2 yo who was left in the bath and drowned in less than 30 seconds. It was awful.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    ~~Off With The Fairies~~
    1,746

    I won't let our daughter (4) bath on her own still. Either hubby or myself are in there with her the whole time.

    She showers on her own, well kinda! She usually climbs into the shower when I climb out, so while I'm drying off and getting dressed etc she has her shower.

    So sad re the 2 yr old drowning Divvy it can happen so damn fast

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    1,256

    Hmm DD 4 and in bath with 2 yr old DS (she is now 5 and he is 3.5). I still wash their hair and help DS out. I'm always cooking and the kitchen is right next to the bathroom so I can hear everything and pop my head in every few minutes (usually to tell them off for putting water everywhere)

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Follow Early Kids On Twitter

    Oct 2007
    Eastern Wheatbelt WA
    3,282

    DS1 is 5 and doesn't bath himself. I can walk out for a few seconds but not leave him totally unattended.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - Sorry for any mistakes!

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Apr 2007
    Perth, Australia
    744

    Most water safety guidelines states that you should be within arms reach of any child under the age of 5.

  9. #9
    BellyBelly Member

    Sep 2010
    North West Victoria, Australia
    3,003

    I know I won't be leaving DD til she's over 5. Drowning just happes too fast.

    I know of 2yos who bath completely un assisted. It scares the hell out of me.

  10. #10

    Jul 2009
    Out North, Vic
    8,538

    I still don't leave the girls, I might run & get their clothes but I literally run

    They are in the shower alone sometimes as DD1 likes a big girls shower but I am in the walk in getting dressed, never further than that.


    Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Nov 2010
    Perth, WA
    3,172

    I think DD was 4 and a bit before I was ok with being more than a few metres away while she was in the bath. Would only let her get herself out of the bath in summer because the little beggar wouldn't get out! She'd stay in there for hours if I let her, still does.

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Add teresa on Facebook

    Mar 2009
    wagga wagga NSW
    1,489

    DS is 2 on thursday and if i have time before the bath i get everything ready otherwise i duck out quickly to get his pjs organised by in saying that the bathroom is directly in sight of his room. i can always hear him playing and splashing about in there. but 99% of the time i am in the room with him the whole time. its very rare that i dont get time before baths to get everything organised and if i am not in there then DH is.

  13. #13
    BellyBelly Member

    Feb 2007
    3,734

    I stay with them if they are in the bath - they are 4.5 and 2.5.
    They do go in the shower together with me in the next room.

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Add STARRYSKY on Facebook Follow STARRYSKY On Twitter

    Aug 2007
    adelaide
    1,989

    I have in the last 6 months or so started the leaving the room, but I am directly across the hallway in DS room, he is in my direct line of sight, I just tidy up, get his stuff ready etc..

    Most of the time though, I have a shower while DS is in the bath (we do mornings LOL) he is 3 and a bit .

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Mar 2011
    Brisbane's Southside
    988

    I didn't have this problem because we didn't have a bath until DD was 5 so she had showers with me up until then. I let her have baths by herself as soon as we moved into the new place - she has showers by herself too now.

    I wouldn't have felt safe leaving her in the bath by herself until recently - I've also heard of horrible stories of kids drowning in the bath


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  16. #16
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber
    Add sushee on Facebook

    Sep 2004
    Melb - where my coolness isn't seen as wierdness
    4,361

    DS will be 6 in April and I probably started leaving him to bath himself about 6 months ago. The tub usually has no more than 5 inches of water at the bottom and he sings the entire time he's bathing so I can hear him. Whenever he stops singing, I go in there and check on him.
    Last edited by sushee; February 7th, 2012 at 11:09 AM. : apparently I can't spell or make sense

  17. #17
    Registered User
    Add MummyDuck on Facebook

    Nov 2007
    Melbourne
    1,065

    We do dd's hair and teeth (as per dentist instruction - until 8 lol) but let her play alone - I sit in the bedroom (ensuite type walkthrough bathroom).

    Dd knows not to stand up unless calling us and is swimming alone under water now at her lessons so we feel ok about leaving her for a few minutes. I call out to her every couple of minutes to make sure she is ok although I'm only literally 3 steps away.

    Dd is 3.5


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