My children are 3 and 4 years old and take bubble baths together?

Question

My daughter is 4 and my son is 3. My question is, is that okay? At what age should I stop allowing them to bathe together? My husband says they should have never been taking baths together because they are the opposite sex. I work full time and it just saves me so much time, and makes my life a little easier.

Answer 1

I think 5 years old is the age that you need to stop bathing them together. Maybe you can teach your daughter to take a shower by herself. At this age, she should be able to do that, and its quicker than a bath allowing you a little more time to bathe your son.
I have a son, 3 and a daughter, 1. I plan on bathing them together until he's 4-ish. He likes showers, so I may encourage him to do more in the shower by himself.
It is definitely easier to bathe kids together! Tell your husband that if he's so uncomfortable with it, he can bathe one of the kids and you'll do the other!

Answer 2

I think you should let the children be your guide, when they start noticing and/or touching where they should not then stop, i took baths with my boys when they were baby's, and stopped at different stages with each one, I let them be my guide, when they started noticing things they should not, i stopped, each child is different, i think it's cute, i bet they are having fun in the water together, i hope you have taken photos so you can show them when they get older, your hubby is most likely worried because of the times, people are a little more uptight about such things now a days, but you can go to much the other way and cause children to be ashamed of there body's, you are mom, use your best judgment, you are there you will know when they should stop, you get a feeling

Answer 3

I don't see any harm in it up until now but I would think that 4 would be the age that you should start bathing them seperatly... Now that they are a little older you don't have to supervise them every minute of the day and you can have the cleaner of the two go first, wash them while the other gets their clothes ready... Then help the one that's not in the bath brush their teeth while they other gets a few minutes to play in the tub... Then you can switch... Get the first one out of the tub and dry them off then have them dress themself while you wash the other one... Then help that child brush teeth while your second gets a few minutes to play in the tub... It's a little more work but it should help for the next year or two until you can really trust your children to bathe themselves without so much of your help... But even now you shouldn't leave them alone in the tub!

You could also bathe one and make your husband bathe one and trade off each night, that would give you each one on one time with your kids.

Answer 4

There is absolutely nothing wrong with bathing the kids together. Tell your husband to take over bath time if he has a problem with how you're doing it.

My daughter's one and a half and she takes baths with her cousin who's a 3 year old boy. They don't notice that anythings different. As long as no one sees a difference you'll be fine.

Answer 5

We started bathing separately at this age due to safety. My kids would accidentally hurt or bump into the other child and that is just not safe in the water.

I can feel your pain about the time savings, but once we finally got used to 3 separate baths we adjusted. Now, the kids really look forward to their special bath time and the other kids get to read books with the non-bathing parent.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

I agree with you. At five, most kids already know there are differences, but it doesn't mean they have to be forced into such situations, especially with people that are not immediate family. I have a 5 year old boy and he used to bath with his cousins (girls) on occasion until the oldest was about three. At five, most kids really become aware and conscience of their own bodies and start acting modest and don't want people to see them. We were fairly casual about the topic in our home because we didn't want our soon to think there was something wrong with the human body. We didn't jump and hide or cause a scene if he walked in on either of us dressing or showering and by the time he turned five, he started acting a little modest on his own. Within your own home you can usually take your ques from your children, but it is definitely not someone else right to expose your child to anything you disapprove of. I would have a (calm) talk with the ex and just tell him you don't think it was appropriate ask him not to let it happen again.

Answer 7

You should speak to your pediatrician about the age, but I don't think a three year old is not near the age to be aware yet and I don't think your daughter is either but since she is the older it might be a precaution to ask about her on your next visit so you know when she should get a seperate bath. But it's a common practice for parents to bath very young children together.

Answer 8

I think it's time to stop it. My girl noticed the difference of daddy when the 3 of us took bath together and questioned 'what's this?' . I remember she was only 2 and a half at that time. Then we've never taken baths together.
To save you time, maybe your husband can take baths with your son.

Answer 9

My brother and I are a year apart and I remember when my mom would give us baths together. We're now in our 40's without any ill effects LOL! Nah, it's a good! I think I was 5 or 6 when she stopped bathing us together.

Answer 10

It's fine to bathe them together. Nothing wrong with them seeing the opposite sex in a natural, non-sexual way. I'd say it's okay to let them bathe together until one of them complains or wants it to stop. You could even ask (without prompting one way or the other) "Do you want to have a bath with your brother/sister, or by yourself?"