Pure Parents

Question:

My son is 18 months old and we shower and bathe together occasionally. I heard (read) that there is nothing wrong with it until they start really noticing things and poking areas that they shouldn’t, and they say that when you feel the time is right, then stop it. My son could care less about bathing with me, and in this heat, I could use the cool down as much as him. He also bathes with his daddy, which I think is wonderful. always welcome.

Response:

I would have thought that the time to stop is when they get too big or start getting embarrassed. Way past 17mo! I disagree with the posts saying you should stop once they start noticing the differences. Children are curious and observant – it’s their job to notice differences! Boys and girls are different, mummies and daddies are different – to a three year old it’s no big deal, just interesting. But whatever you feel comfortable with… Anna

Response:

Hi everybody! A situation came up today, that I wanted to get some opinions on and figured I’d formally introduce myself at the same time.  For those of you who know me from m.k.b. or from setting up a.p.a., my apologies for the repetition.  I’m mom to Sean, who is 17 mths old.  He was born 7 1/2 weeks early and had some breathing issues, but is completely healthy now!  He is finally just about caught up developmentally and just a great, busy, wonderful kid!  We are an attachment parenting family.  We did kangaroo care in the hospital, did the sling thing – I exclusively pumped for Sean for 15 mths and he never had to have any formula.  We also do the family bed and primarily are holistic in our health care. So that’s us! Now to my question.  Since I’m a stay at home mom during the day, and Sean and I usually both bathe in the morning, we usually bathe together. A friend of ours commented that I should stop doing that now, cause he’s getting to old to be in the tub with me.   I have to be honest, he’s so busy playing he barely (excuse the pun) notices my presence until I pour a cup of water over his head to get the shampoo out!   Is this really an issue at this point?  It’s so convinient to bath together, I’d hate to give it up!  It’s also fun play time for us! TIA for your opinions! Smiles, Maria

Response:

Keep on joint bathing for as long as you and Sean are comfortable doing so. If you become uncomfortable with him "noticing" you, then that would be the point in time to entertain separate baths.  Some would say that a boy could If you are open, honest, and tactful, it might never be an issue until Sean is somewhere around 3-4 by which time physical size will make a bath together impossible and you probably will have graduated to showering anyway (a more discreet position than sitting in a tub).  Ultimately it’s for you and your spouse to decide.  Happy Bubbles!

Response:

>Now to my question.  Since I’m a stay at home mom during the day, and >Sean and I usually both bathe in the morning, we usually bathe together. >A friend of ours commented that I should stop doing that now, cause he’s >getting to old to be in the tub with me.   I have to be honest, he’s so >busy playing he barely (excuse the pun) notices my presence until I pour >a cup of water over his head to get the shampoo out!   Is this really an >issue at this point?  It’s so convinient to bath together, I’d hate to >give it up!  It’s also fun play time for us!

I think its an individual decision — do what is comfortable for you and your family….my son, who just turned 3, still occassionally bathes with me,less and less often as he gets older, but still once in a while — like you said, he’s so busy playing and splashing, he really doesnt seem to even notice I"m there!!   Margi

Response:

Hi, Maria! I don’t see why you should stop bathing with Sean as long as you’re both comfortable in the tub together.  If he isn’t noticing the differences, why bother?  And maybe when he does notice, it’ll be a good opportunity to tell him a little about it.  Just my opinion, but he seems way too young to care and you don’t want him to be ashamed of his body, or embarrased by yours. Of course this is all easy for me to say, since Mia is only three months old.  :-)  I love taking a bath with her, btw… there’s nothing sweeter than a squrming, naked, soapy, grinning baby! — Jessica http://www.primenet.com/~ramboj – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi everybody! > A situation came up today, that I wanted to get some opinions on and > figured I’d formally introduce myself at the same time.  For those of > you who know me from m.k.b. or from setting up a.p.a., my apologies for > the repetition.  I’m mom to Sean, who is 17 mths old.  He was born 7 1/2 > weeks early and had some breathing issues, but is completely healthy > now!  He is finally just about caught up developmentally and just a > great, busy, wonderful kid!  We are an attachment parenting family.  We > did kangaroo care in the hospital, did the sling thing – I exclusively > pumped for Sean for 15 mths and he never had to have any formula.  We > also do the family bed and primarily are holistic in our health care. > So that’s us! > Now to my question.  Since I’m a stay at home mom during the day, and > Sean and I usually both bathe in the morning, we usually bathe together. > A friend of ours commented that I should stop doing that now, cause he’s > getting to old to be in the tub with me.   I have to be honest, he’s so > busy playing he barely (excuse the pun) notices my presence until I pour > a cup of water over his head to get the shampoo out!   Is this really an > issue at this point?  It’s so convinient to bath together, I’d hate to > give it up!  It’s also fun play time for us! > TIA for your opinions! > Smiles, > Maria

Response: