August 20, 2006

  • Bathing Children

    One issue parents can differ on is the issue of allowing their children to bath together. 


    At what age does it become inappropriate for brothers and sisters to bath together? 


     

Comments (164)

  • when they’re born

  • About 4 i’d say.

  • Like 4 or 5 I think.. maybe even younger.

  • thats just wronge

  • whenever they learn to breathe

  • 5 or 6

  • Hey! I was in the top ten!!! COOL!!!!!

  • *sigh* I guess 2 or 3 would be about right

  • Yeah, probably about 4 or 5.

  • 3 or 4 years old

  • ugh! I’d never let my children bath together…I just wouldn’t

  • First page? Oh my…

    5 or 6.

  • Whenever they realize that boys are different from girls

  • 3-4, I think…

  • Brothers and sisters…It never is in Alabama. Oh come on, that was funny…

    I think that after 2 years of age, it’s no longer appropriate.

  • when they start realizing the differences

  • 19 and 21

  • I am with Xcholo on this one. 2 yrs should be the limit.

  • I’d say by 3 years.

  • At what age does it become inappropriate for brothers and sisters to bath together?
    i’d have to say around 79 or 80. that is VERY inappropriate. not to mention gross

  • I don’t know because I never had a brother, I only had a sister who was way older than me.

    I’m trying to think of this from the parental point of view(although I also, don’t have children)…but if I had a busy life, and it was a way to get things done faster, and depending on the age differences, I would probably keep them both bathing till they were both too big for the tub.  I started taking showers when I was about 7 years old…so perhaps after 5, for the two children.  Why waste water?  I’d want my children to be comfortable with thier bodies and as well as understanding that we all have these parts, and that we should not be ashamed of them.   It would lead the children into understanding that even better than someone being sheltered from nudity and other things.

  • i dont think it should be allowed at all .. even when they are only 1, 2, 3 or 4 ..

    just like letting a boy && a girl share a room .. wrong ..

    let them take their own baths .. and sleep in their own rooms

  • after their born

  • 3

  • Around 3 I guess… They begin to realize their differences.

  • 3-5

  • 3ish

  • BEFORE they start asking about each other’s different parts

  • 4-5. I guess. – The kids I babysit are still bathed together, and they’re 4 & 2.  That doesn’t bother them, the parents, or myself, so I guess I’d be okay with letting my own kids do it.

    I had a sister, so it was different for us.

    *A*

  • 5

  • when one of them asks “hey, what’s that?” or “why does sister not have one of those?” that’s when you don’t bathe them anymore..

  • 3

  • 2 or maybe 3 at the most, i know it went longer in my family. it’s rather disturbing now that i think about it, but hey, they’re siblings. it’s natural i guess.

  • and i also agree with CabinNtheWoods. very good point.

  • We’ll see. Right now our eldest is 7 (boy) and youngest is 3 (girl) and they occasionally bathe together either in the shower or bath. We have never made a big deal about nakedness. The USA puts entirely too much emphasis on it.

  • i have a brother only a year younger than me and my parents never bathed us together. it was always separate! probably because if we bathe together then the water would be 2x dirty and then we’d be dirtier than we were before! i don’t know. actually, we never took baths, we just kinda took showers. hahha, i don’t know. i figured showers were faster. shampoo, soap, done!! very fast & easy.

  • I don’t know. My friend has a 5.5 dd and a 3.5 ds and they bathe together.

  • I think bathing boys and girls together is a little weird, but I would say when they are potty trained. That’s about the age they learn the name for their parts and have to start realizing differences.

    My fiance has twin boys though and I think they will probably be bathed together until they can bathe themselves. It just makes it easier on us. He also has a 5 year old girl who takes a bath by herself (supervised). It is a hassle in itself to have to drain the tub and fill it again to have to bathe her, let alone if we had to fill the tub three times. Plus, how easy is it to bathe one child while the other runs around? Probably a lot easier for a family with 2 parents. What about a single parent? Or a parent who happens to be home without their partner and needs to bathe the kids? Having them in the same bath helps to keep them both in one place to watch them both.

  • I think it’s nasty, no matter what age. Mind you, I remember my baby sister pooping in our tub. That’s enough to turn anyone off of shared baths!

  • I dont think that they should ever be bathed together. It gives the wrong idea.

    Morgen

  • I like the “When they relize boys are different from girls” opinion

  • when the boy starts getting an erection lol

  • Huh?…..  I ….ah…..”save the oceans!!!….”?????…..”HEY SIS!!…”

    “Ahhhh  they say on this blog that it is wrong for…….ahhhh…..us to take a bath together!!”

    wow….how’d of thought?

  • Around three or four, yeah.

  • 3 sounds about right

  • when the fun ends

  • If you’re Angelina Jolie…never.

  • 5 or under

  • If you’re in the south, twenty.

  • when they know about sex,becaues then that bath will get pretty warm

  • I think it all depends on their age, and like others have said, when the realize there are differences. But I think when they are small is perfectly fine and normal.

  • i dont think it should be allowed at all .. even when they are only 1, 2, 3 or 4 ..

    just like letting a boy && a girl share a room .. wrong ..

    let them take their own baths .. and sleep in their own rooms

    Posted 8/20/2006 at 5:23 PM by xbittersweetxdreamsx
     
    Lol are you serious? Little kids sharing rooms? *Rolls eyes* Not everyone has the means to buy huge houses where everyone gets a nice big room to themselves.
     
    And I would say after about 2.

  • Kidding…. of course….  but what is appropriate in this country is not always appropriate in others…..

    If it’s not right for them to bathe together … then what about Roman bathe houses….  etc…

    It was fine for the Greeks…. Chinese…. Romans…. Europeans…. etc….  even the cowboys out west…. oh yah…  and the did it in Chicago (ie. Capone 1920′s)…..

    The only thing here that warps a childs mind in this case is the parent throwing a complete fit over the whole naked body thing….

    a child will tell you when it is the right time….

    There is nothing wrong with our bodies….. only that we are always trying to hide them….  Woman tend to be embarassed……  when i totally approve BARE A**ed….lol 

    And hell….. Men shower together and so do women…. ever go to the gym…. ackward?….yes….  mine is bigger than his….. or … OH MY GOD…..Look at him…. or…. Look at her implants!..

    The real question should be …. are you embarressed to show your body?

    I mean… let’s be real here…. children know there is a difference before they are a year old…. didn’t anyone see “FREE TO BE, You and Me” in grade school?

    LOL…. two babies knew the diff. in the nursery in before they even went home…..  hell, my 2 and 3 yr olds new of the brown man at Lowes when I had keys made…… funny thing was…. I asked a 60yr white woman if she could direct me to get keys made….  she said sure….and guided me and my 3 children (one was too young to talk)  … pointing across the isle….  she says that “Boy” would help me…. then said “Hey BOY!!… these people need keys!”….  Damn… “Human rights are great here at Lowes”…. he didn’t seem to mind….. then my 3 and 2 year old yelled out…”Hey Dad!…he is Brown!”……  ARGGGGHHH!  He was very good about it… and talked to the kids…. haven’t had a problem since…

    My point is…talking openly about it…is better than keeping it inside!….  you’ll live longer…. the kids will be better off… and won’t need a Psych when the get older….

    BE HOnesT!

  • I guess 3. It sounds so gross, but then again alot of people have young siblings do that.

  • 4…5…but I bet my kids won’t bathe together.

  • Pre-K

  • My sister and I took baths together until I finally asked my Ma when I was like 10 “How come I still have to take a bath with Sally,she farts in the tub!!?” My Ma said “You don’t”…that was news to me.For boys and girls I would think after 3 .

  • 3-4

    xX-Nicole-Xx

  • about 3 or 4.

  • 2… they shouldn’t be able to remember it. I can remember things from when I was 3 but I remember nothing from when I was two.

  • Yes, around three or four. Why is it wrong?

  • well, at daycares, we encourage the parents to seperate siblings when they start to potty train. this is the time when they obviously have to become more aware of their own body and when they are able to ask questions.  

  • 4/5, whenever they realize the differences. however, me and my sister used to shower AND bathe together until i was about eight and she was about six. water conservation!

  • My parents tried to get me and my sister to bathe/ shower together to save time when I was in my early teens. That’s a no. It’s weird to require that of kids that are old enough to want to cover themselves up in front of other people.

    Thankfully, neither my sister nor I was ever made to bathe with any of our brothers.

  • 4 or 5, if different sexes, round it up to six if they’re the same sex-baths are terribly dull once you stop having someone to throw the toys at you and scream about you accidentally ripping the barbie dolls’ heads off….

  • One year old… I don’t know, I think this is a matter I will only know of when I have kids.

  • My parents bathed my brother and I together up until I was five or six. I wasn’t scarred in any way. Really. Actually we had fun together making shampoo sculptures and stuff. =P I don’t see anything wrong with it. After six or so it had to stop on my request, but I can’t say I was harmed.

  • probably around 6 or so.

  • I stopped bathing with my brother when I was 6.

  • I’d say around 4 or 5.

  • they shouldnt bath at all together

  • Y’know… I bathed with my girl cousin when I was in 4-5th grade once without feeling any sexual tension or awareness thereof >.>

    I believe that cultural differences and how much these kids “know” have something to do with this, though.  On a general consensus, though, I think it’s okay up to something of first or second grades.  You, however, probably won’t be able to stretch it up to middle school years.  Unless, of course, you are quite a late bloomer in terms of sex educations and such–and so is your brother/sister.

  • I’d say around three. 

  • 2

  • I bathed with my brother til I was about 5 I believe.

    Nothing is wrong with that when you are little.

    I never took a bath, ever since I was 2 I used the shower, that’s true.

  • I am assuming that this is supervised bathtime……when they realize there is a difference.  Unsupervised……not at all!

  • And yes, I do believe I grew aware of my sexuality quite late -_-

  • Three to Five… then thats it.

  • Bath together or bathe together? When the older one is about 4, he or she will begin to complain about it. Then it’s time to stop.

  • Hmm…good question. I got nothin’

  • …I had to bathe with my siblings until i was like 6or 7….

  • actually i was 9

  • 5

  • I’d say two or three.

    We’re not born as sexual creatures. Those attitudes develop later and are shaped by the surrounding influences in our lives.

    If a three year old knows how babies are made, I’d wonder who explained it and why they would need to know at such a young age.

  • When they get sick of being around each other. 

  • i think like 5

  • Live and let live. Who are we to judge . . . and all the other crap

  • when they feel uncomfortable

  • And the Japanese never stop, it doesn’t seem to be a problem for them. I guess us American are more prone to incestuous thoughts than they are. All that bs said I would say 5 or 6

  • to bath together? don’t u mean bathe?

  • yes, he means bathe… damn it.

    my answer: as soon as you can afford the water bill for more than one bath full of water.

  • Whenever you make enough money not to be worried about saving bathwater.

  • Hah! … ThePres’Cafe said similar……. gosh.

  • no older than 3 or 4

  • I think it’s fine until they start to feel weird about it…and that comes at different ages.  I don’t think it’s a good idea to make a girl and boy bathe together if they haven’t been doing it all along…When I was around 7, I visited my dad and my stepmom made me bathe with my stepbrother (of only a about a year) who was a few years younger than me.  I was always really conservative about my body, so I just kinda stayed balled up at one end of the tub with my back to him.  I didn’t like it at all…but I think I would have been OK if he’d have been my real brother and we’d bathed together since the beginning.  I want to raise my kids where they feel comfortable in their own skin and aren’t afraid to ask questions and talk to me about personal things. 

  • Dan, you’re starting to freak me out. You must be thinking about things to be putting them on your blog.

  • 4 or 5 idk something around there

  • 2

  • 6?

  • 3 years old
    then they get to big for it to be practica

  • My sister and I bathed together
    until we were about 6 & 7
    I never had a brother
    but even if I did
    I don’t think we would of bathed together
    and I don’t think
    I would let my son and daughter bathe together
    maybe.. until they were old enough to realize their differences(3 or 4..?)
    but I doubt it

    <><Renee’

  • I’d say 4 or 5, but I’ll probably never be a parent and I don’t have siblings…so I can’t answer without bias.

  • if i had children, i don’t think i’d EVER let them bathe together… but that’s just me…

    i suppose if you had two girls, they could bathe together… or two guys, but never a guy and girl, that just doesn’t seem right at all to me.

  • I think about four is when it should stop.

    Eva.

  • I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that most of these folks who are saying ages like 2yr don’t have children.  They don’t remember (from when they were little) that their bath/shower wasn’t always the private experience that they now know it to be.  I’d say the vast majority of kids are bathed by their Mom until at least school-age.  Both of my oldest 2 kids started taking a shower in about first grade.  Until then, Buddy often took a bath with a younger sister (or two).  And tonight, he took a bath with his baby brother.  The easiest way for me to bathe the little one is to hand him to someone, wash him, and get him back out.

    Of course they all (except the 6mo old) realize the difference between girls and boys, but they’re little kids.  They don’t care. . .at least not the little ones.  My son has recently started dressing behind closed doors, but the 4yr (girl) old has no desire for privacy yet.

  • I don’t think brothers and sisters should bathe together no matter what the age of the children.

  • 4 or 5 before they start getting too curious.

  • Maybe around 4. I don’t see why some people think it’s so weird..when you’re little, it doesn’t make a difference.

  • shouldnt there be an ‘e’ on the word ‘bath’?

  • 5 or 6.  Kids don’t really pay that kinda thing much attention.  Adults are the ones who bring it to their attention.

  • don’t know…prolly 5ish…
    didn’t have a bro growing up…so i wouldn’t know
    Kelly

  • It’s always inappropriate in my opinion.

  • probably 2

  • 2, maybe. Actually, I don’t think it’s a good idea to begin with, but hey.

  • you mean there’s a cut off age? shoot –i was gonna adopt a sister…

  • I have twin sons and i think after when they turn between 2 and 3 years old i’ll start making them bathe seperatly.

  • I also have a 5 year old daughter and i never let her bathe with her brothers

  • Whenever they become aware of the differences, then it becomes inappropriate.

  • I would say let them take their own baths most of the time.

  • NEVER!

  • when they are old enough to become attracted to the oppisite sex…. or something.

    I agree with sensorymoments!

  • I remember bathing together with three of my siblings.  I remember that my yougest sister was always the caboose, because she had to stand in the shower the longest after the water had been turned off.  I guess the pecking order was by age.

    But after the shower (we didn’t have a bath tub) we would sometimes get to use the hairdryer (usually we blew the hot air on ourselves) or we got to put powder on.  That was fun, and it wasn’t inappropriate either.

    The real reason is why people stop bathing children together.  Not that I think everyone should bath together until puberty, but this phobia is completely inane.

  • well..i took baths with my brother and sister until I was about 7.  But then again, my parents were too poor to pay the water bill at the time, so we had to save water in whatever way possible.  I didn’t enjoy bathtime at all though.  So maybe 4 or 5.

  • they should certainly be stopped well before they become teenagers.

  • Well….I took baths with my little brother till I was about seven and he was about five or six. Maybe it was just the way we were raised, but neither of us really cared about each other’s parts, and, really, it was more fun to have a bath partner. Then we could have soap wars and throw bath toys at each other. I remember I was actually SAD when we stopped sharing baths. Mom said we were too big to both fit in the tub.

  • 2 because they start learning about human anatomy.

  • I was an only child until I was nearly 5. Before I started school, I ran around in just my panties outside and inside. But we live in the south and in a very rural area, so there really wasn’t anything wrong with that. But, as far as the bathing thing goes (I agree with most of the people commenting), as long as they are close in age, I see nothing wrong with them bathing together until they start to realize the differences between them, which is usually around 4 or so… give or take a few months depending on the child.

    People are so radical about some things with children… just let them be… they’re kids for God’s sake!

  • I say realize, because all kids NOTICE the differences…. but REALIZING the differences between boys and girls and starting to get curious are two totally different things….

    It’s just easier to bathe two or three kids at once…lol

  • 4 or 5

  • I was thinking the other day after watching Big Daddy that I would do exactly what Adam Sandler did.. bathing suit for the child. Im sure it chages when you have kids, but I think kids should never bath together

  • I have 2 sons, 6 and 8. I only recently started bathing them one at a time. The 8 year old bathes himself of course. However the 6 year old… I still have to wash his hair. lol

    Since my children are the same gender, I’m not sure…….

    )0(

  • Hi, my name is Stephan. You don’t know me, but I’m taking a survey. Would you be more afraid to go on a death-defying rollercoaster or go on a blind date with someone you hardly knew? Please comment me back. And that means you, Mr. Theologians Cafe. You never comment anyone back.

    -Stephan

  • 1?

  • I don’t think brothers and sisters should bathe together. Sisters and sisters, or brothers and brothers, that’s fine. But even then, maybe stop after 3 or 4.

  • It depends how large the age difference is between them, I think….

  • Hello!

  • somewhere around 5-6 

  • I would say about 2.

  • Me and my brother used to bathe together. Why is everyone acting like its all weird. I never though it was strange. It was just easier. Especially because my mother had ten kids. (I am the youngest) It was easier on her just to pair us up.

  • I’d say around 2 or 3.

  • I’d say around 5.

  • After they are born.

  • It’s neeeeever inappropriate. :) Though for the record, I’d never bathe with my sister. Eugh.

    Well, maybe if they’re opposite sexes. That’s a little weird. But two brothers or two sisters? I think whenever they feel like their relationship doesn’t allow it. If they want to keep bathing together until they die, they can go right ahead.

  • about the time they are ready for potty training I’d say…so 2 or 3

  • When your little boy asks why his sister doesn’t have a weiner.

  • only when they know it’s not nasty, later would just be weird .^_^

  • 2. I wouldn’t want to have memories bathing with my siblings.

  • when theyre old enough to realize the differences between each other.

  • 3. thats a definite.

  • Well.. my brother and I stopped doing that around.. 6 or 7 maybe? I don’t know. It was sometime before I was 9 ’cause I hit puberty at that age. I knew there was a difference before we actually stopped taking baths together, but it didn’t really matter, ’cause he’s like my twin.

    But I think maybe 3-5 is a good time to stop that, maybe before they/one of them starts school.

  • 4?

  • i used to bathe with my lil sis until i was like 5.my lil nephew too…but i think we stopped till i wasl ike 4 with him.

    But i would say 4 or 5 cuz that is when kids start skool.

  • When I had childern   lol   seems like ages ago 4-5 when they start asking questions or noticing that sister was missing something.

  • at like 3 or 4
    i measn, i did at one point
    not exactly fun but it was ok

  • around 2-3 i’d say but hey i don’t have kids.

  • Around 3, 4, or 5.  Whenever they begin to notice the differences…

  • as soon as the children don’t feel comfortable doing it. look, i was bathed with not my brother, but my male cousin up until i was eight, and im not mentally scarred for life or anything of that nature. i dont think it has much of an impact on younger children, i personally know for a fact that anything up until 9 years of age, i really don’t remember much detail at all, and at that age i new there was a difference, but i didn’t understand the difference between boys and girls. i would definitely put a limit on it at the age of nine, after that i started to comprehend the physical differences and felt selfconciousith my cousin, i told my mother this, and i never bathed with a fellow family member since then

  • I would say about five, because that’s when they really become aware of what the different parts are [even if they think they're just to pee out of], and the curiousity to venture and touch arises.

    My brother is eight years older than I am, and we would occasionally bathe together until I was about five. [No, he didn't ask me to, I asked him, 'cause you know. Little sisters love their big brothers and all that.]

    Yeah.

  • It also depends on the age difference between the children, but I’m assuming they’re relatively close.

  • only if you are trying to conserve water….and, parents, please don’t video tape ur kids naked in the bath tub and play if to them when they are older in front of people of the opposite sex :(

  • i bathed with my little brother when we were little and i can remember some of it but when kids are that little they do not think about the dirty aspect of it. even up to the age of probably 7 they would not remember that part spasificly. but personaly i would never do that with my kids, not that i have kids.

  • never

  • 6…

  • 2 years old

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