Bathroom rules

[waverly]

We made our decision not to add on the other full bathroom we need until 2019.  So we are all sharing a bathroom for another year.  

We've been pretty open about just using the bathroom when someone is in the shower or whatever.  But we know we need to come down harder on privacy now that the kids are getting older (5 and 7).  

So we have started on this topic, and it is going well/ OK.  But I think I would like some written rules to post on the door or something.  And maybe a schedule? I have only started on some topics verbally.

The obvious: Shut the door, wait your turn, flush the toilet, wash your hands, use the other bathroom (which is a half bathroom).  We have been talking more about privacy, and more about knocking on the door, and don't open the shower curtain if someone is in there, and locking the door.  But maybe it should be use the other bathroom if someone is in the shower.  Shutting the doors to their room when they get dressed. I try to model knocking before I come in.  But they are kind of goofy and play or read books when they are supposed to be getting dressed, so I still have to go in even if it is just to say put on your underwear.  

Any thoughts?  Anyone have a bathroom schedule? Bathroom rules?  Stories of things that worked growing up?  We had 2 full baths growing up, so I didn't have to share with anyone except my sister, so I don't have experience with this.  

Planning to do the bathroom summer of 2019, so at least we don't have to share with teenagers. 

[k3am]

I think you're overthinking it. What you're already doing sounds fine. I don't think you need a schedule other than the ones you probably already have - kids bathe in the evening, adults in the morning (or whatever it is you've been doing the last few years). If you're running into all 4 of you trying to shower at once, then maybe a guideline to ease that, but I'm not sure what/how you're going to schedule beyond that... "Sorry Timmy, you missed your 7:46 time slot, no brushing teeth for you!"

[twinmomma]

We put in a half bath about a year ago. Before that it was only the 1 full bath in our house on the first floor. It's a constant battle to get the kids to go upstairs and use the half bath when someone is in the full bath. We don't do a schedule or anything. We relegated kid tooth brushing to the half bath - then I don't have toothpaste all over all my stuff. I swear they bathe in it without supervision. Kids do baths at night, DH and I shower in the morning, and we constantly remind our kids that a second toilet exists when they try to butt in while someone is in the shower.

We basically suck at teaching privacy between our kids. They have zero boundaries with each other and I can't figure out how to enforce that more when they share a room and act like they're connected at the hip 90% of the time. But they're pretty good about understanding privacy with DH and I.

[waverly]

Feb 26, 2018 15:08:44 GMT -5 k3am said:

I think you're overthinking it. What you're already doing sounds fine. I don't think you need a schedule other than the ones you probably already have - kids bathe in the evening, adults in the morning (or whatever it is you've been doing the last few years). If you're running into all 4 of you trying to shower at once, then maybe a guideline to ease that, but I'm not sure what/how you're going to schedule beyond that... "Sorry Timmy, you missed your 7:46 time slot, no brushing teeth for you!"

Overthinking is kind of what I do.

We started doing this because DS opened the door on DH when the babysitter was there.  Despite multiple warnings to DS don't open that door DH is in there- he wasn't listening.   I don't know why DH didn't lock it because we usually do lock that door.  So we weren't doing so well a month ago, and decided we needed to up our game.  Especially since babysitters are scarce, and I would hate to scare one off.  And I am still wondering if we did scare her off since I've been kind of afraid to ask her to babysit again.  

[mae0111]

I have 2 girls, and they're constantly walking in on each other. It's pretty ridiculous, because we literally have more bathrooms than people living in this house. But whatever bathroom is occupied is the OMG-I-NEED-TO-USE-IT bathroom.

If one is in the shower, the other can go in and brush teeth or something. My kids seem to be against closing doors - it's a constant reminder - I do NOT want to watch you poop. They have finally stopped busting in on me, but have not gotten over camping outside the bathroom door while I'm occupied. So I've taken to using the master and locking both my BR door and the bathroom door.

Closing doors when dressing is another battle. I'm more focused on "stop running around the house naked" and "close your shades before you take off your clothes the whole neighborhood can see you".

[2chatter]

I have put this in the “it will happen” category. DD13 - totally into modesty and privacy and may actually beat the next sibling who walks into her room when she is changing.

DD10 prefers to be naked and sleeps in a pull up. Clothing is a constant battle. If permitted she would go outside to play in undies and rain boots.

DS6 - can’t stand to pee or shower alone. So often one of the three of us girls is with/near him. DH will do it when he’s home.

DS and DD aren’t permitted to shower together but that’s the line. They are running around the bathroom together getting in/out and DD frequently soaks in the tub and makes DS hold an iPad for her.

I often do wonder if I need to crack down.

[waverly]

At least I am not the only one.

[erinshelley21]

We also suck at teaching privacy and we are also working with one full bath. We have another full bath out in the detached garage, but we don't use it very often. DS basically needs someone to hold his hand while pooping and just the other day when I was peeing DH, DS, DD and the dog were all in there with me. Seriously. 5 living beings in the one single bathroom. I only close the door if I have to poop and even then I don't get privacy. Then I've got DH that prefers to pee out the back door no matter what the weather is like.

I wouldn't overthink it and honestly, doors getting opened while someone else is in the house is just part of life. That's the risk you take when you don't lock the door and you have children lol.

Growing up my brother and I shared a bathroom. He would almost always be in the shower when I was finishing up my breakfast and needed to brush my teeth. I moved my toothbrush and tooth paste to the half bath and just made that where I brushed my teeth all the time. I did hair and make up in my room so I didn't have to deal with getting interrupted or not getting in there when I wanted.

[ECB]

You’re even overthinking the babysitter. Why would your kid waking in in your DH scare a sitter off?! What exaclty did she see?

[waverly]

Feb 27, 2018 6:01:40 GMT -5 ECB said:

You’re even overthinking the babysitter. Why would your kid waking in in your DH scare a sitter off?! What exaclty did she see?

He grabbed the door so she didn't see anything. We just haven't had a babysitter is quite a few years, so I didn't want to mess it up.

[mommyatty]

I married a Finn. Finns are just naked people. They get naked in the sauna with multiple generations of people (usually family, but not always). And it’s not at all a sexual thing. They are totally blasé about it. So in our house the rule is the naked person chooses their level of privacy. Both kids and DH are insistent that they poop alone with the door closed. Which is funny since literally every single member of my family feels the need to come have intimate heart to hearts with me every time I poop.

My kids shower together and with both or either of us. Nudity just isn’t a biggie in our house.

[cosmowife]

Just tell your babysitter to lock the door

[kbw]

I grew up in a one bath house and we only have one bath. If someone is using the bathroom we obviously respect their privacy. But if someone is in the shower and someone needs to use the bathroom as long as the curtain is closed we don’t have an issue. Same goes for brushing teeth and things like that.