My daughters was nearly 2 and 3 and love taking showers instead of baths. I still sit in the bathroom with them everytime they shower but I was wondering when it was safe to leave them in there alone but check up on them every couple of minutes. I already have my hot water heater set to a very low temperature so there's no way for them to burn themselves. Any suggestions?
2006-12-19 11:37:55 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I don't leave them alone. I take the phone in the bathroom with me in case it rings and I don't even leave the room to answer the door. I just wanted to know what age is it appropriate.
2006-12-19 11:44:39 · update #1
2 is a bit too young to take a shower by themselves. You sitting in the bathroom is great - gives them a feeling of Independence but puts you in close proximity if something should happen. There is no set age but I would wait till about 4-5 to start leaving them alone for a few minutes at a time. Its really up to you. You know your daughters better than we do. Hope this helps. Take Care honey - and I hope you get your nursing degree what a noble profession.
2006-12-19 11:47:00 · answer #1 · answered by Kristin Pregnant with #4 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a mom of 2 girls, and I have also been a childcare provider for 2 years.
At age 2-3 I cannot imagine the child actually getting clean in a shower alone. I'm glad you said you stay with your child and do not leave her alone. I think taking a shower alone at this age is too early, personally.
At age 5-6, I think they're more ready to take showers alone, but must be checked on every 3-4 minutes.Another thing at that age is the shampoo factor. I learned quickly that a 5-6 year old doesn't EVER get all the shampoo out of her hair, and OFTEN mistakes conditioner for shampoo!! LOL!!
My youngest is 9, and we still have problems with her taking showers alone! Sometimes she has to take a 2nd shower to get all the shampoo out of her hair (it's really long & thick hair).
As far as being safe taking showers alone and without being checked on, I can't say. My 12 year old sometimes takes 30 minute showers, and when she does, I still crack the bathroom door open and ask if she's okay in there.
Sounds like you're doing a good job at checking on her, but there's no way I'd leave her alone. I just remembered something I had my daughters do when they were 6-7 years old and taking baths alone....I told them to sing LOUD while they were taking a bath. If I heard singing, I knew they were ok, and the second the singing stopped, I would run in and check on them. It works, and girls love to sing!
2006-12-19 12:11:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter has been taking baths/showers alone since she was 2 1/2, she is 3 1/2 now. I sit in there for the first few mins and wash her hair and help her wash her body, but after that I give her the toys and let her play by herself. I always leave the door open and can hear everything she does in there.
2006-12-19 12:23:15 · answer #3 · answered by allaboutme_333 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe an idea would be to let the child to take a shower by herself but also instill in her that you do not touch the temperature guage in any circumstances. Plus make sure you switch on and off the shower in regard to making sure no injuries occur. You can always use the time old trick of i need to get something from the bathroom, but also by knocking on the door until she accepts your entry will make her feel more 'grown up'. even if it to get some shower gel or anything. Acting like you trust her will mean she will respect you to keep to what you have set for her. Good Luck with her but only you know your daughter and if she is ready for showers by herself.
2006-12-19 11:45:49 · answer #4 · answered by passport_to_heaven1210 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when my little girl was 4 and she so shay when takin a shower she reconds that because i can hav a bath on my own and a shower she can so al i did with out her knowin is sit at the bath room door watchin her with out her knowin and naw she is 5 so while she has a shower or bath i leave the door open stil n i wil takin my ironin up in my room and keep checkin on her every 5 to 10 mins but a children are diffrent its like my sis to girls the oldest is 7 and she dont like bein left alone when takin a shower or havin a bath is al depends or your children.
All i do naw is wash her hair even throw she tries to do it her self and make sure she cleaned every were
2006-12-19 12:28:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son is two, and I don't leave him alone in the shower for more than 30 seconds, to find a clean towel... I'd say they are ready when they can wash their hair and bodies without your help, and lose interest in playing with the faucets, eating the soap, etc... basically, when they stop being toddlers. I'd say by kindergarten or first grade. Just make sure that the tub stopper is either hidden (if it's the rubber plug kind) or disengaged (if the mechanical kind) so they can't fill the tub with water when you're not in the room.
2006-12-19 11:49:45 · answer #6 · answered by Angela M 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My mom started us off at age 3. So your daughetrs are almost there. Nothing bad ever happened to us unless we slipped or something. My mom just greadually started to get further outside when we showered. She would stand out side the door until she trusted us fully. I remember she used to give us lessons when she bathed us on how to clean oneself perfectly and correctly.
Like a Health teacher!
I would say that you should ask your kids. Its important to know how they feel about it. At around age 5, they should be completley used to it, only asking you to come in when they need their hair washed or what-not. So tell them that they have a deadline, and by this date (you chose) they should be showering on their own.
Its a great method to teach children to do many things actually!
Good Luck!
2006-12-19 12:23:49 · answer #7 · answered by Dominique-Duh! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I let my daughter shower at 2 years old alone. With 2 kids there is more chance of pushing and playing and shoving. I never went far... the kitchen was right next door (next room) and I could her if she was singing. If she was not singing, I would talk to her... so I knew she was ok
2006-12-19 11:53:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO WAY. Never safe to leave kids that young alone with water and a tub. They are old enough to change the knobs. I guess every minute or 2 is OK, but make sure it's not longer than that!
2006-12-19 11:41:51 · answer #9 · answered by mom_of_ndm 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are a little young to be left alone....and certainly NOT if you have a latched door on your shower rather than a curtain...
...hey just sit and read with them in the bathroom and let them have their fun!
2006-12-19 11:46:39 · answer #10 · answered by Rada S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋