Advice on Bathtime

Donna,

My son is almost seven and still loves to play with toys in the tub. Most nights though with school and bed time, we just shower but if I have the time he gets to bath with bubbles and toys. Even my eleven year old still enjoys it.

T.

Why should it ever stop being fun as long as they are getting clean? My oldest is 3 and she still has all her toys in there. She gets in, we wash her, and then she plays with her toys for about 15 minutes and then she's done. Covers all the bases :)

There's no hurry on that. I would say 12. It's a relaxing quiet time and they soak off the dirt. They'll outgrow the bath and toys soon enough. You didn't mention how old or boy or girl and how long. You can put a kitchen timer in there set to say 30 minutes and that will give them an idea of how long they have, so you're not the bad guy telling them to hurry up. Just make sure they're not letting the water run too long. But when the water gets cold, they'll get out. As long as they agree to wash their hair and face first, then play, you're good to go. Kids smell like chickens when they don't wash that hair, don't they? LOL

Why be in a hurry to end "fun." I mean, that is the joy of being a child. Time passes so quickly and childhood should be fun and treasured. Maybe you should try to have "fun" with your children or child during bathtime. One of the things I love about being a Mama is getting to be silly and have "fun" all over again. Enjoy the special time because no matter how tiring it all can be, one day you'll look back and you will miss these precious times.

NEVER!! lol At times my 12-yr-old still spends time in the bathtub. He's at an age where I really don't want to know he's doing in there (lol) but I figure he's alright since I take 20 min. bubble baths at times and I'm in my 30's. :) There's other times that he's so afraid he's going to miss something that he's in and out without cleaning properly so he has to retake his bath. So as long as your child is squeaky clean when he/she comes out, let him/her have all the fun they want.

I agree with Carrie H. My 10 year old still likes to hang out in the bath tub for play time (or maybe it's just alone time away from siblings!!) but if we're in a rush I tell him to get clean and get out. I think it's a preference thing for the child, too-- my 8 year old daughter usually prefers a shower, but my son still likes baths.

Donna:

My children are 9 and 6 and I still allow them to play in the bathtub with toys. Why not make it fun? Perhaps, because of this philosophy, I've never had a problem with getting my children to bathe. Don't get me wrong, on occasion when we are in a rush, I keep the toys out and they need to get down to business, but, for the most part, as long as they continue to do their part and squueze out all the water and put the toys in the strainer I keep in their tub, it's all good to me! (Also, I have them take their washclothes [after they are finished washing their bodies] and wipe down the tub as the water is draining to help keep the bathtub clean in between cleanings....so there is never a ring around the tub, and it always looks inviting.) Hope this helps!

D. C.

When they are too "old," they will loose interest. Don't sweat the small stuff :-)

NEVER! I am 38 and I LOVE my toys...candles, a good book, soft music! Bath time is fun AND a necessity. My daughter is 8 and she LOVES to take her toys in. She will sometimes be in there an hour (I often have to add hot water!) My 12 year old on the other hand enjoys showers now.

Let them decide when they are ready.

Donna,
I'm sorry to laugh, but my 11 year old still brings toys into the bath and so does my 9 year old! When I want them to get down to business, they have to take showers, not baths.

Hope that helps!

Donna,
I am 45 years old and still bath with rubber ducks. To me they are relaxing. When your child is ready to take care of business instead of playing he/she will let you know. Don't rush them away from playtime--they are children for far less time than they are adults and playtime isn't as fun or as often when that stage of our lives occurs.
If it is becoming a time constraint issue on your part--needing to get bathtime over with because of job, chores, getting the kids to be on time--then either start their baths earlier, or just cut down on the amount of toys you allow in the tub.
Hope this helps.
D.

Common! Who doesn't still have a duckie in their bubblebath?!

Just Kidding!

I would say once the hormones kick in, the baths are absolutely necessary. But you can always keep them fun.
=)

NEVER LET THE TOYS STAY
aDULTS TAKE TOYS TO THE BATH

Never! Why should bathing have to become a chore?

NEVER!!!!!!!!! But I did teach my daughter how to take a shower by herself when she was about 6 or 7 yrs old. Although at 10 yrs old she still loves her baths almost every other day.

40? Just kidding! I agree with what has been said but wanted to add that bathtime play is a great time for water play for the younger ones and and great place to use their imagination. Both of which are very important to development. And I understand if it's a time thing. Some nights are definitely quick bath nights because we've been doing other things but other nights my 3 year old is in the tub for a half hour splashing, squirting with his squirty toys and having battles with his robot toys!

Never.. Bathtime just turns into relax time. lol! Don't you still enjoy bubble baths? :O)

Probably nine or ten to answer your question. When they're old enough to shower which saves the hassle of bathtime toys, but not before then.

J.
p.s. My kids don't always play with toys, they are two and three. Sometimes I stick them in the shower to and they just play and scrub until I'm ready to get them.

HI Donna,
always a personal opinion, but i say NEVER...it should be their time, to relax, get away, enjoy their time...just as I do as their mom! whatever makes it enjoyable.....they love it and that's a GREAT thing...so as they get older and more "sitnky"....they will WANT to shower every night! thankfully and it wont be a chore...so keep buying the toys and fun soaps and tell then to enjoy themselves and make it fun...for necessity! have fun!

For me, it's always been about schedule. When there is time, even my eight year old still likes to take a long relaxing bath with a toy or two. But most night we are coming in from Little League games or church and there's no time for long baths so I say,"okay, hop in the shower, wash and get out in five minutes because your brother needs to get in."
If you aren't pressed for time, why ever make them stop? If you are, say, "tonight's a 'fast bath' night". My kids will even ask me, "Mom, is tonight a fast or long bath night?"

Donna,

There is no specific age. Your child will lose interest and perhaps even start wanting to take showers at the age of their personal maturity and desire. Let them have fun while they are interested.

We started having our 6 year old take showers at 5 with help but he is now able to do it all by himself. My 1 and 3 year old still take bath with toys! If your child is older and still plays in the tub, I don't think its a bad thing. Soaking and getting extra clean doesn't hurt. But if you are pressed for time, a quick shower and teaching them how to do it on their own isn't a bad idea either!

My son is a mature 5 and still loves his tub time. When we are pressed for time he gets a shower, other times I give him a choice mostly it is a bath though. He understand though that it is important that he takes one reguardless of what he chooses.

When my nine year old son turned three I started giving him showers which he loved. I feel it is whatever you are comfortable doing. You can still give toys just a different kind. Try the bathtime crayons or color foam which you can find at any target or walmart.

My 5 yr old still loves to bubble bath and play in the tub but I restrict it to once a week or only on weekends(because she has tubes in her ear).

Last night she asked me to buy bubble bath again and since it has been months, I will definitely get her into it if she wants to.

Last week, she played in the bath and I asked if she wanted her toys (I bagged them elsewhere) and she suprised me when she said 'no'. I think she will outgrow it soon but it is still fun like swimming in a pool. I think my son stopped at 3rd grade.