S/O Baths

[sweetptater]

When did you let your kids start bathing themselves? I've tried to let DS do it a few times, but he just can't seem to figure out how to rinse all of the shampoo out of his hair. I also don't know if I trust him to wash himself well. On the other hand, he's 7 and to be honest, I'm SO sick of bathing kids. It's bad enough that I still brush their teeth for them. 

[twinmomma]

We're kind of getting there now at age 5. They can't wash their hair themselves, but I trust them to wash their bodies well enough on their own, with some prompting from me. We use a loofah with body wash, so I feel like it's easier for them to "see" that they've washed their bodies because of all the suds.

[justcheckingin73]

My 7 year old can bathe himself but sometimes I will help him wash his hair if he uses product in it. The stuff we have is so sticky that sometimes he doesn’t get it all out. He also uses a pouf and bath gel to wash with and I think it helps get him more clean than when he used bar soap. Like I mentioned in the other post I’m usually up there with him so I will tell him if he needs to rinse more. 

[2chatter]

DD was probably 10 - but she has a very oily scalp (and medicated shampoo from the doctor). I still force her into a swimsuit and deep clean her hair every once in a while and she’s almost 14. She looooooves that.

Middle DD was probably 7. She just got it and did it, but also needed reminders that, for real, she has to wash the front half of her head every single time.

DS has been the best - I sometimes think it’s because we figured out this parenting thing but realistically it’s kid dependent. I just have to tell him where to rinse - front right, front left, but he’s on his own other than that. He’s almost 6.

[phdmomma]

We are working on that now. DS (6) has just decided that he wants to take showers, but holding the shower head, not having it spray on top of him. Last night I washed his hair (well put the soap in) and then he did the rest. I think that he's clean enough. With DD (3) she is still taking baths, I typically wash her hair and give the rest of her a quick scrub, and then she likes to try to wash. I'm trying not to be too picky about how DS washes himself, because I am tired of having to do multiple baths, as they are getting too big (and DS is kind of old) for them to go in the tub together.

[waverly]

DS still needs help with his hair and he is 7. I switched from a tear free kids shampoo because it was leaving a black residue or dots in his hair to a dandruff shampoo because he also had dandruff. And it would hurt his eyes to get it in there. Maybe I'll try having him do it in his own in a few months, but for the meantime I was just trying to solve that black residue mystery.

[HeartofCheese]

So long as we're talking about supervised washing, my DD has *just* (as in the last 2 baths) started washing/rinsing her own hair and scrubbing her own body. I give guidance and will help get some of the soap out of her hair, but she's pretty adamant she do it herself. She'll be 4 in a few weeks.

My DS is showing no signs of any independence...he's 5. But he brushes his teeth on his own! But he won't dress himself. But he's started wiping his own butt! But he still needs me to put his shoes on him.

[sandandsea]

Ds is capable at 6 (with pointers) but I have the boys bathe together because it’s easier so I’m there. He’d stay in for hours though.

[cc111]

My daughter is 4.5. We started letting her shower by herself once or twice a week 1 or 2 months ago. Rest of the time my husband sprays her down. We have the shower handle on the wall so all she needed to do is put soap on her hair/body and rinse them all out. We use bar soap so it's easier for her. Although they do get slippery.

[leap]

Between 5 and 6 for both of mine. DD2 just turned 6 and I will still check her hair to make sure it is well rinsed before she gets out of the shower, but she shampoos and washes on her own. DD1 has been doing everything for at least 2 years without supervision. I will go in the bathroom when they are in the shower and remind them to wash their hair and bodies, but that's it.

[sweetptater]

Jan 19, 2018 9:24:38 GMT -5 HeartofCheese said:

My DS is showing no signs of any independence...he's 5. But he brushes his teeth on his own! But he won't dress himself. But he's started wiping his own butt! But he still needs me to put his shoes on him.

Girl, don't even get me started on the butt wiping thing....

[akafred]

I think by 5 she was washing herself. We only do hair once a week unless there is something nasty in it. Starting around age 6, she was putting shampoo in herself and rinsing it herself with me just making sure it was thoroughly rinsed. Conditioner she still doesn't fully have the hang of, but good enough, again with an adult helping make sure it'a fully rinsed. It honestly usually is at this point so maybe I should back off that.

[k3am]

At almost 5, DD still insists she doesn't need to wipe her butt after pooping. So we don't trust her to wash herself in the bath without supervision...

[jlaok]

DS was about 6 when we started. I use the shampoo/conditioner/body wash in 1 so he can do hair and body at one time. I used to watch him to make sure he got everything well enough but now he knows how to do a good job. DD has super thick hair and it takes forever to rinse so I'm not sure when she'll be able to shampoo/condition herself. She is starting to bathe her body herself, she's 4.

[186momx]

DD is 6 and does it all on her own. She uses adult shampoo and I will add conditioner once a week or so. She started doing body on her own at 4.5 or so and I turned over hair washing when she started K as she wanted to do it herself. I think this is really kid dependent my one friend can't believe that DD can shower without help and that she has to do it all with her 6 year old and that her 11 year old still needs help washing her hair.

[kbw]

DS just started it before his 5th Birthday. He still struggles with his hair at times. He had his own special wash cloths and own bottles of shampoo/soap which helped him knowing what was his.

[librarychica]

The 6yo can bathe herself and she can bathe her sister too. I do the hair, though, and I do the teeth at night most of the time. Also for some reason DD1 refuses to dry herself off though the 3yo does it. 🙄