In order to save some time and money I will often bathe our 8 year old and 11 year old boys together. My 11 year old has a pretty long skater style hair cut and it is often difficult for him to maintain so I do wash the kids hair for them. I usually get the bath started let them play for about 15 to 20 minutes and then come back in and wash their hair. We've tried to get him to wash his hair on his own, but it was really starting to stink.
They both have the option to bathe or shower alone, but lately i've been pressed for time and they don't want to wake up early in the morning. Is this still okay at this age?
2006-12-15 11:02:13 · 40 answers · asked by Tina W 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
As long as they don't have a problem with it, I think it's perfectly fine. I would, however, start making your oldest bathe alone before he's 13.
As for the hair washing dilemma, my advice would be to cut his hair if he refuses to maintain it. Teach him how to *properly* wash his hair, and tell him if he can't keep his hair up to your standards of cleanliness then you will cut it. Sounds harsh, but kids usually wash their own hair (no matter how long it is) around the age of 7 or 8 and an 11 yr. old shouldn't need help from mom when it comes to bathing.
2006-12-15 11:07:45 · answer #1 · answered by CelebrateMeHome 6 · 5⤊ 5⤋
The 11 year old is too old for this anymore. Puberty will be arriving shortly if not coming on already. His body will start to change and he'll need his privacy away from the questions or remarks of his 8 year old brother and the hair washing of his mom. He may not tell you right away he's feeling uncomfortable because he's having fun playing. He's at the age where they're still really little boys mentally but their bodies are changing so he's torn between . Get him to wash his own hair even if he doesn't do it right. he'll get it eventually. time their showers if you ned to. let them know they got 15 minutes to scrub scrub scrub and get out!!! Once they get into a routine it may go easier for you
2006-12-15 17:29:22 · answer #2 · answered by Ella727 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dunno.To me it sounds like they are a bit too old to be batheing together.I have 4 kids 3 boys ages 6,4,3 and a little girl 1year and am 33 weeks pregant and none of our kids bath together.As a matter of fact the boys take showers and our daughter takes a bath.My 6 year old washs himself and all and once a week I will go in a wash him just to make sure he is doing a good job.Plus why are they playing?Plus if your 11 year old can't wash his own hair cut it untill he learns to take care of it himself.
2006-12-15 14:13:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yea I would start trying to get the 11 yr old to shower by himself and for the first few stand there and show him how he needs to wash his hair.. In the next year he should probably be on his own.. he will probably want to be anyway. Heck you might want to try the 8 yr old as well. All of my friends with kids have them shower. Less water than a bath too! We have friends with kids anywhere from 5yrs old taking showers on their own. Our 3 yr old has just now starting taking them too (supervised of course).. He will get the hang of it after a few times.
2006-12-15 11:16:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well as for the playing, the ages are fine for tub playing. I mean dang they are still KIDS. I have 4 girls and my 11 yr old will NOT take a bath with her 7 yr old sisters, but will take one sometimes with her 10yr old sister. If I am in a crunch for time, she will ask if she can give her 7yr old sisters a bath(yes they have issues) to help me out but not get in with them anymore.
As far as hair washing goes, tell him to start taking more showers and practice washing all that hair. If not he will have to cut it shorter until he can learn to maintain long hair. Maybe he can shorten the hair and learn to wash longer hair as it slowly grows back out..
Good luck,
2006-12-15 14:54:18 · answer #5 · answered by ccdispatch911 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all really a matter of your own opinion. If you think that it's still okay, go with that. If you feel like it's beginning to be inappropriate, then they should be seperated. If course, they are both boys so I dont' really see what the problem would be. The main thing is to get your 11 year old to start taking care of himself, he is coming of the age where he is going to start wanting his own privacy, so he should have a basic grasp of how to cleans himself before that time. I'm sure that if either of them was uncomfortable about it, you would know.
2006-12-15 13:32:37 · answer #6 · answered by Silly Billy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
one kid takes a bath a night (the 8 yr old) and the 11 year old takes a shower in the morning -- so he's in 6th grade and doesn't shower? my 5 and 6 year olds take showers and wash their own hair -- they even use "big people" shampoo. they're not babies, stop treating them like it and they will stop acting like it
2006-12-15 19:21:26 · answer #7 · answered by SOXFANS 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At 11 years old, a kid is fully capable of washing his own hair. If you do it for him at 11, when does it end? At that age he's old enough to stay home alone for Pete's sake. If his hair is too long for him to take care of himself, make him get it cut. At 8, a child can bathe himself unsupervised, even if you do probably need to be in the house in case he needs something. An 11 year old is nearing puberty if he isn't there yet; it's NOT normal or even OK for you to be bathing him, or to take a bath with his brother. Be a parent; make them get up earlier, or you can have them do it at night. Being a parent also involves teaching your children how to do things for themselves so they can function in life.
2006-12-15 12:37:45 · answer #8 · answered by cartmansmom 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
i asked my pediatrician about that also -i have 3 boys. he said they should stop bathing together at the age 7. my two younger ones still bathe together but i have my 7 yr. old taking showers - i'm still helping him with turning on and off water, getting it at a comfortable temp etc. but it actually saves time and when we have longer he can take a bath all to himself and play with whatever he wants!!!!! i think they should bathe separate like everything else they just got to get used to it and in a routine. maybe have them take them before bed.
2006-12-19 07:35:19 · answer #9 · answered by jam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is time to seperate them. Put your foot down about his hair. My four year old washes his own hair and showers by himself. I still check to make sure he's clean, but he's four not 8 or 11.
2006-12-17 13:52:32 · answer #10 · answered by dustbucket40 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds a little weird. You should put your foot down. Seperate baths before bed at night. Your 11 year old should want to be more independant. He shouldn't need his mommy to wash him. Is their father around? Maybe it's time for a talk.
2006-12-15 13:50:46 · answer #11 · answered by honeybear 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋