Bathing a 8 year old?? Did I do the right thing?

Question

I had a babysitting job earlier tonight. I have babysat for the girl for about 8 months periodically, but always in the late morning/early afternoon hours The mother of the girl told me that I should give her daughter a bath at around 8-8:30 or so. I figured she meant to draw the bath, and maybe put bubbles in. When the time came I found out that she meant to physically bathe the girl. The daughter told me that her mother washes her. Although I am a young female (age 21) I felt very uncomfortable doing this for a child so old so I put soap on the loofa and told the girl to do it herself.

I can remember bathing by myself at about 5. The girl is 8 years old. Is this normal? Did I do the right thing?? Would you expect or even want a babysitter (same s*x) to physically bathe your 8 year old?

Answer 1

u did the right thing at 8 they should be doing it there selves

Answer 2

When people are 60 and 70 they have younder people to come in and wipe there butts. change there diapers and eberything....you gotta do wa u gotta do...u were told to give a bath...and what did you do..give bath...nothing wrong....think of what your doing,  dont think of how ur doing it

Answer 3

um yea i think she should be doing that herself. shes a little too old.

Answer 4

I would have done what you did, let her bathe herself. It's just awkward to have to bathe someone so old. My baby is only a few weeks old, so of course someone has to bathe her, but by the time she's 8, I'll expect her to bathe herself. If a babysitter wanted to bathe my 8 year old, I probably wouldn't call them back, but you did the right thing by not washing her.

Answer 5

i think you should let the 8 year let him bath himself

Answer 6

I can see how you are uncomfortable. Maybe you should mention it to Mom. I think you handled it properly. Personally I would not expect a babysitter to bathe my child if he/she was over the age of 5, BUT I would be more comfortable with you being the same s*x as my child.

Talk to her. There's no harm in it. If you are to afraid to bring it up, keep doing it the way you are.

Answer 7

you did the right thing ,and i would never ask some to wash my child of that age, my daughter started washing her self at 4

Answer 8

My 2 year old nephew washes himself, as long as he isn't too dirty. Ijust have to do his hair. If he had a rough day playing, then he might use some help. I think the girl should be quite capable of doing it herself and no, I wouldn't want a babysitter bathing my eight year old.

Answer 9

I think you absolutely handled it correctly.  Even my three year old does a decent job of bathing alone and I would not ask a babysitter to wash her by hand.  Sorry, but that's just a bit weird to me.

Answer 10

You absolutely did the right thing. If the mother has any question as to why you had her do it herself just tell her the truth, that you feel as if a child of that age should be washing themselves. (and no worries I and most of the world agree) If she wants to do that , well that's her business, but I surely wouldn't do that either. Good judgment on your part.

Answer 11

An 8 year old should be bathing herself! You did the right thing.  No way would I want a babysitter bathing a child that old.

Answer 12

I think you did the right thing. an 8 yr old is perfectly capable of bathing herself. shes going into 3rd grade for pete sakes. i would only bath an 8 yr old if they were mental and didn't know what to do. the oldest i would go to bathing a child is 5. unless they're mental. or if they were handicap.otherwise they are capable. You did the right thing. and anyways there is always a time for somthing new!

Answer 13

did you condition her hair?

Answer 14

yeah you did the right thing! at 8 they should wash them selves, at the very most maybe have some one help with shampooing and conditioning if needed (so they dont get suds in their eyes and stuff) but washing is some thing they should do for them selves!!

Answer 15

If she's an only child, perhaps her mother is prone to babying her.  In the future you will probably ask to what detail do you mean, if / when something like this comes about. Live and learn, there are all kinds out there.

For me personally, the child at 8 should be able to accomplish a bath on her own.  And if that wasn't the case, as her parent, I would not request the sitter to do the bathing, I would just let it go til I was able.

Answer 16

This kid's plenty old enough to be bathing herself.

Answer 17

she is old enought to be taking a bath or showwer alone with supervision for safetly but its up to the parents.  You can tell them you are not comfortable bathing their daughter given you have only been sitting for a few months.

Answer 18

I agree, 8 years old is pretty old for those kinda things. Girls can start puberty when they are 8 years old! At first I was thinking maybe the parents just wanted their daughter to have help while they were away, but if this girl mentioned that her parents physically wash her all the time, that's a problem.

I remember bathing myself when I was 5 years old, and then bathing myself without anybody watching me in the bathroom when I started grade school.

You did the right thing. I too wouldn't be comfortable bathing an 8 year old, someone who is only 5 years younger than me ( I'm 13 ). A 3-4 year old would be more resonable. I wouldn't mention it to the parents, however, because they may have their own rules or plan. Just don't accept any babysitting jobs from them that are around 8pm! Lol then you won't have to bathe her.

Good luck:) I would be a little suspicious too  :?

Answer 19

8 years old is way too old to be bathed by an adult.

Answer 20

Your feelings are normal.  I would never want anyone to bathe my kids except me or my husband.  By 8, she can do it herself.

Answer 21

I would feel weird, too. I started bathing myself by the time I was 6.

~Maybe you can talk to the mom & tell her how you feel.

Answer 22

you did a good job.

Answer 23

Yes, you did the right thing. She should be able to draw the bath and bathe herself at that age. Regardless, you are same s*x, you are not family and any type of allegation could be made and it can happen with same s*x or not. You did right.

Answer 24

I don't even wash my own son that is turning 6 years old. I think once they are old enough for kindergarten they should be washing themselves.  My son won't even leave the door open when he takes a bath because he says he is to old for people to be seeing him like that.

Answer 25

My Son is 6 years old I lather the washcloth for him and set the water temp for him but that is it. I walk out the door and leave him be. At 8 years old they are old enough to do their own washing. You did the absolute correct thing.