I still give my eight year old daughter baths. At what point have you found that kids can really bathe themselves well? At what age can girls with long hair shower and truly wash the hair and rinse it?

By Marcia on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 11:25 pm:

My 8 year old still needs help with her hair. Actually, I watched her do it the other night, and she didn't do a bad job. Until that night I've always done it, but I might start letting her do it now. I'll just make sure she rinses well enough.
My 11 year old has been doing her own hair for a couple of years. She's much more indepenent in all ways.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 12:15 am:

I can't remember! They are 12 and 14 and I haven't been bathing them for a while!

By Tink on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 12:38 am:

My six year old washes herself but I still help her wash her hair and rinse it. I've wondered what other parents have done also. Thanks for asking!

By Ladypeacek on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 12:48 am:

My dd is 8 and she takes showers now, not baths, but by her choice. Once a week i bend her over the bath with our sprayer and get her hair real good though, but only because she has a skin condition and has to use medicated shampoo that i don't like her to use on her own.

By Kaye on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 08:06 am:

My kids are 10, 8 and 6 and I don't bathe any of them. I guess I haven't for at least a year. My youngest will get the weekly hair wash from me, but the rest of it they do. I started when they were three or so, watching them do it. I kind of take this philosophy, they don't get that dirty, even just getting wet will clean them, by time they "need" soap and really clean they will have figured it out.

By Debbie on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 08:57 am:

I have a 6 yr old and 3 yr old ds. They usually take a bath together. I run the water and then they get undressed themselves and get in. I will go in when they are soaping up and help my 3 yr. old. He is starting to do it himself. I just usually help with the rising. My 6 yr. old pretty much does it himself.

By Texannie on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 11:18 am:

I get tickled everytime I see this title cause I read it as stopped bathing them PERIOD! LOL

By Mommyathome on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 01:44 pm:

My oldest is almost 6 and I (well...most of the time DH) still bathe her. She's just getting to where she can help (I mean *really* help) with washing her hair.

By Cat on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 02:48 pm:

My 8yo is on his own and has been for between 1-2 years. He doesn't want me anywhere near the bathroom when he's in there! lol He prefers baths.

My 10yo is fully capable of bathing himself and does most of the time. However, there are times (maybe once a month) when he wants my help and I help him. Hopefully he'll get over that soon (along with the seperation anxiety!). He prefers showers.

They both like me to start the tub/shower for them.

By Coopaveryben on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 03:25 pm:

I was about to ask this question the other day. My neighbor lets her 4 year old shower with his brother and lets him do everything....it made me wonder if I am holding on too long. I have a 6 year old and some nights he will do it completely on his own...well with me saying, did you scrub your knee's, neck, ears, and smelling his hair to make sure he cleaned it it good. Then there are nights when he is so dirty from playing outside all day I just come in and scrub him. But I never remember a time when my parents helped me.

By Bobbie on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 08:42 pm:

My girls are 7 and they have bathed themselves since they were 5. I started them at about four washing while I sat in the room talking to them (making sure they did what they were supposed to). When I knew they understood the concept then I started backing off on that. I would go in at the beginning of the bath or the end just to make sure they knew I was going to be checking in and they needed to make sure they were washing. Then I just stopped going in all together but I would give them a list of spots to make sure they got before they went in and I would double check with them when they got out. Now they are big girls and they shower (start the water and everything on their own). They do a very good job on their own. I handled it the same way with my older two. I am the mom that is always pushed towards independence though. I am the mom that was fine with cleaning up the spilt milk because I knew with time the would master pouring. I have the added bonus though, with the girls they have a big sister (14) that they look up to and they want to be like her. So they shower, dress, spray body spray or put on powder because it makes them feel big like their sister.

By Momaroze on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 10:40 pm:

Around the 6 year mark. I still wash my ds's hair, he is almost 7. They are all different, maturity etc...

By Mcrosby57 on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 11:24 pm:

I have two boys, ages 20 and 17. I stopped bathing them when they were about 8 or 9. Helping in the last couple of years ment helping with getting the water the right temperature, motivating them to get in and out in a reasonable time, and then cleaning up after themselves (hanging towels, dirty clothes in the hamper, splashes wiped up, etc.). I did help my sons quite a bit more when there were broken arms and casts to work around, even when my oldest was 17 with his last cast. I told him then that the next broken arm or cast needed a wife.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, May 1, 2004 - 01:31 am:

Oh yeah, for a long time, I had to turn on the water for my youngest(12). She did everything else herself. Then she finally figured out how to work the knobs to get the water going herself and now she can do it herself. Other than a reminder here and there to pick up her towels when she is finished. She still needs reminders to go take a shower, though! ONe of these days, she will care and motivate herself. My 14yo is completely independent in keeping herself clean.

By Missbookworm on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 02:25 pm:

My children (almost 13, 9 and 5 today) WAHHHHHHHHHH My youngest is 5..lol I'm not ready.

They all bathe themselves (mostly) I still wash my dd's hair and soap her up once in a while but not all the time. My two oldest prefer showers and my oldest is completely independent in the shower ALTHOUGH sometimes I have to tell him to get in there lol...when did I stop with the boys...hmmmmm soaping em up I think probably around 5 or 6...I'd do a check at that age to make sure but that's about it. I still have to admit I clean their ears and with the youngest two clip their nails still although my dd 5 just gets the clippers and does it herself alot. She's so much more independent at 5 then the boys are must be a girl thing lol

By Bobbie on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 10:36 pm:

Catherin, how ya been?

By Janet on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 04:47 pm:

I can't remember about my older dd, probably around 7 or 8, when she began to take showers by herself. My 8 yr old dd still likes me to help her, although I don't always (I'm trying to get her to take care of herself more). A lot of times I'll just "keep her company," as she puts it, but there are times when I really want her to be clean, and that's when I give her a good wash! She does pretty good in the shower by herself, so I let her most of the time.

By Eight_Kids on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 09:39 pm:

I am basically still doing everything for my 6yo. I think she washes herself and I could get away with doing just her hair, but she is my baby (my last baby)and I just don't let go of anything. LOL!!! The rest of them do okay by themselves and the youngest next ,to the 6 year old, will be 12 on Thursday! I sort of like doing it most of the time,but I think that's just cuz this is the last one I will have.

By Janet on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 11:04 am:

I know what you mean about the baby...it's hard to let them grow up, isn't it? Just so long as we aren't still washing them at 16 (as if!).. LOL