At what age can I leave the room when a child is in the tub?

Question

I babysit a 3 year old girl and her dad SWEARS I don't have to stay in the room and watch her, but I think she is still too young to be left unsupervised. At what age do kids usually reach the responsibilty of being able to bathe themselves and get in and out of the tub by themselves? I think 5 years old is around the right age?

Answer 1

I think 3 years is definatly too young. Each child is probably a little different depending on how independent they are. I think the ideal age is when the child begins feeling like they NEED "privacy" from adults. This typically happens around ages 5 -7 years old. Before that time, most children don't mind being naked or bathed in front of adults. It is safer to be within eye sight of a young child while they are in any type of water. It only takes a very small amount of water for a child to drown. I think you are doing the right thing by keeping an eye on her during bath time. She will give you cues when she is becoming uncomfortable with you being in there or when she feels ready to be alone in the tub. Good Luck !

Answer 2

5

Answer 3

I leave my three year-old with the door open and listen to everything and check on him every few minutes, but then I am never very far away (i.e. on another floor). I would wait until the kid can rationalise, communicate and understand the nature of water and get in and out of the tub on his or her own. Two is much too young and many three year-old probably can't manage.

The dad clearly has a different comfort level than you do. Basically, when you babysit you are responsible and you wouldn't want anything to happen while you are there. So, do what you think is best.

Answer 4

I am a mother of an 8, 4, and 1 year old. I still go into the bathroom with my 8 year old just to make sure she is washing correctly. Now I don't go into the bathroom every time she showers, but maybe 3 times a week. I would say about 10 years old is the appropriate age. I still have to bathe my daughter sometimes when she washes incorrectly. So please understand that with each child it is different. It depends on the maturity of the child.

Answer 5

3 is much too young, 5 is the youngest age a child should be left alone. Forget what the father says, that child is YOUR responsibility while you babysit, do what you feel is best. But I would not recomend leaving a 3 year old alone even 5 is pushing it but is usually ok.

Answer 6

My four year old son takes his own baths. However, I do make the water extremely shallow just to be safe. I was bathing him and he took the wash cloth and said, I can do it. So I sat there and watched the first time and now I send him on his way. I come in at the end of his bath, just to get the neglected spots (behind the ears, etc.) and that's all. I would say, watch the childs level of maturity and not their age. But overall, the kids let you know.

Answer 7

It does depend on the child. I have a 3 yo boy who I leave unattended for up to 5 min at a time. If he stops banging toys around and singing I go and check on him to make sure he's okay. He knows he can't breathe under water. He's 3 but he's not dumb. Every time he bathes he cleans up all his bath toys drains the water and even hangs up the Pouf he has been since he was 2. He even yells "I'm done" when he wants me to come dry him off. I think as long as you are in earshot and are very aware that you should be listening for the child, you should be fine.

Answer 8

I agree, 3 is too young.

5 is reasonable as long as you're close and can hear everything that's going on in the bathroom.
But if you're babysitting I would just stay in the room until the bath is over. Accidents can always happen and this is something you don't want on your conscience

Answer 9

DO NOT LEAVE A 3 YEAR OLD ALONE IN THE TUB. Her dad is a friggin' moron. You have more common sense than he does. I would tell your parents what he told you. (In fact, if it was up to me, I would make a call to Child Services about this idiot.)

Five years old is still kind of young. Children of all ages drown in tubs. Keep in mind that tubs tend to be slippery and people of all ages can fall and drown too.

Answer 10

6. If you're leaving a 3 year old in the tub unsupervised, you should be arrested. The father should be punched in the mouth and told to figure it out.