My daughter is 7. I was just wondering....what age is appropriate for a child to start washing themselves?? I feel like she is too old for me to clean her more intimate areas but too young to get completely clean on her own. Your SERIOUS answer is appreciated!! Thanks!!!!
2006-08-24 14:33:55 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
Well, let me just add this....my daughter does KNOW how to shower on her own. And yes, she showers, she does not take baths. I just know that when she does shower on her own, her hair just never seems clean. She has a lot of hair. Should I let her do all the body cleaning on her own and maybe go in and do a go-over of her hair??
2006-08-24 15:00:32 · update #1
well honestly i think that if they are old enough to understand the importance of feminine hygene than they are old enough to thoroughly wash themselves, if you can explain it in the easiest way to understand and make sure that she understands how important it is, then and only then is it okay for them to do it themselves...and you know you can explain the best way to wash herself and you can stand by and supervise without letting it get uncomfortable for you
2006-08-24 14:44:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
my kids(now 7) have washed themselves since they were 3. Hair is a different matter. We wash it once a week after swimming at the pool. My son does it himself but my daughter will be 21 before i let her do it by herself LOL. It is long and curly. How we do it is I give her the shampoo and she washes it and rinces then I put on the conditioner and comb out all the knots. This is the part i feel she wouldn't do properly as i can hold her hair while i comb so it doesn't hurt her. She would not be able to do this and I don't think she would get all the knots out and that will just end badly 9 one of my main memories of childhood is the massive knots i ended up just leaving for the too hard basket until they were horrific,i won't put her through that.) I also still do her hair as it is tied back every day as it knots very easily and also to avoid headlice. I know she will have to do it one day but until she kicks up a stink about me doing it i will continue. My son does his own so it is not me trying to hold on to her it is about the knots...ALL ABOUT THE KNOTS!!
2006-08-24 16:29:49 · answer #2 · answered by Rachel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well she is growing up and in a couple of years she wont want you in the bathroom with her at all. So start cuting down on the time that you are in there with her. When i was that age, my mom would let me clean myself, and take the whole bath by myself, then i would call for her when i was ready for her to wash my hair, and she would come in and wash my hair for me. After her doing that for a while, i started washing my own hair and she would check when i was done to make sure that i got all the shampoo out. After she was sure that i could get it clean on my own, she let me to bathe on my own.
2006-08-24 15:17:07 · answer #3 · answered by kdancergirl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is exactly what I used to do. We recently ot her hair cut and now she does it all. My daughter is 7 too and it is hard for them to get their hair clean when it is long. I would let your daughter do it on her own, including combing it out when she gets out of the shower. Trial and Error. I would just go back and make sure it is completely rinsed out. Don't rewash it because then she thinks what she did isn't good enough. She's had you wash her hair for 6 years or so, she knows what it feels like when it is washed properly. But rinsing is hard for them..at least it used to be for my little one.
2006-08-24 18:37:19 · answer #4 · answered by Cortney & Nathan 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could always wash her hair in the sink and then let her go take a bath or shower to do the rest. I had really long hair as a girl and it was difficult to get it clean and rinsed completely. Once I was 10 I begged to get my hair cut so I could wash it myself.
2006-08-24 15:42:47 · answer #5 · answered by smsain 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all you should never leave your child unattended in the bathtub no matter what their age. The only time you can leave them unattended is in the shower. As far as letting her do it on her own, thats fine. Just give her reminders of what she needs to wash. Ask her from time to time if she needs your help also. Sometimes its hard for them to rinse the shampoo and conditioner out. My 6 year old daughter is pretty independent in the tub but I always make sure I'm in the bathroom somewhere either washing up for bed, brushing my teeth, doing my nails, etc.
2006-08-24 14:39:03 · answer #6 · answered by supermom05 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At the age of 3 is good time to train them to go potty and take bath by themselves. My kids are 2 1/2 & 3 and they know how to conduct their business. Even my 2 1/2 stoped couple weeks ago using diapers when I told him that he was a big boy already and was time to grow. Wow! You know how much money I am saving now? I don't have to buy diapers or wipes no more. Teach your children, they listen and learn but always keep an eye on them just in case.
2006-08-24 14:41:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son's 9 & has been bathing & showering on his own for 3 years now. At first, I would hang out in the bathroom, sitting on the toilet, lid down of course, thumbing through a magazine. I then moved out to the bedroom to my bed's edge. Now I can let him go shower alone with me in another room. He's fallen a few times getting out & so have I. I bought better non-slip mats for the shower & new rugs. I have the rugs lined up from the shower to the carpet in my bedroom, step from one rug to the next til you reach the carpet. His tub/shower combo has a rusted showerhead so he uses my shower now. I don't stay in my bedroom anymore to give him privacy & he does the same for me when I'm in the shower.
2006-08-24 14:44:52 · answer #8 · answered by Belle 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I read that until they are five they should have the ability to bathe on their own. So I'd say teach her how to do it then sit in the bathroom with her to make sure she's washing herself correctly. Signs that lead to not getting clean...really short baths, no soap in the water, and also check the roots of her hair to make sure she's really washing it good.
2006-08-24 14:40:29 · answer #9 · answered by .vato. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my son is nine and has been being baths alone since he was seven before that we went over how to wash our bodies. At first when he was 5 we just watched as he washed. After a while we started to level him for shorts periods of time. Now he is up to showers, we still have to watch his hair since he likes to skip it.
2006-08-24 14:43:37 · answer #10 · answered by Skadi and shadows 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well you say she does good but has a hair problem I think all girls that age do.You can try washing her hair in the sink or tell her to wash it twice once when she gets in and once before she gets out bcuz it sounds like she just needs practice or get a tear free shampoo and have her wash her hair at the beginning and leave it till she is done and then wash it out. I have tried both and they work pretty good and another one is to tell her to sing a song and keep washing till she is done singing.
2006-08-24 16:29:29 · answer #11 · answered by blueseawale 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋