Sitting with children in the bath?

Question

I have a 3 and a half year old and an almost 5 year old. I was talking to another parent the other day who was really rude when I told her that I don't sit with my kids while they bath. This is the time I use to tidy up, and get their PJ's ready. I can always here them talking to each other (they are loud in the bath) and I will always check on them. They know to always sit in the bath, they don't stand unless they have to get out. I would never put my children in a dangerous situation, I just know that I dont have to sit there as they know all about the dangers in the bath. What to other people think? Was the lady over reacting, or should I be in there at all times with the kids. Please keep in mind that the bath always just has water that comes to their lower chest, no higher.

Answer 1

You my dear are foolish and flirting with disaster.  Kids can drown in in inch of water or less.  I guess ya can't fix stupid.

Answer 2

My wife thinks you need to keep them on a short leash at all times (personal I think SHE is the one on the leash but I digress).  It depends on the kid is what most of these answers boil down to, do you trust the kid to not drown is the question you should ask yourself and then go from there.

Answer 3

well, I'm the mother of an almost 2 year old little boy, and although he isnt old enough to bathe alone, my sisters children do. One is 3 and the other is 6. they are PERFECTLY capable of being alone in the bath tub and washing themselves. they do not stand or anything crazy and i have never thought twice about them being in there alone. I know where you're coming from. stick to your guns babe!

Answer 4

No, I think that's fine. As long as you can hear them playing and talking, and you check on them, then I don't think it's an issue. My mom used to come in and check on me when I was in the bath when I was little.

Answer 5

My children are 4 and 6 and No i don't sit in there either.  Just like you said I can hear my kids. They are both very loud and I do go in there alot to check on them, I also have a pretty small house.

Answer 6

From everything I've ever read, children under the age of 5 should not be left without adult supervision while in the bath.  I have always followed that pretty closely.  If you need to run out and get their pj's, then do it, but I wouldn't spend more than a minute or two out of the bathroom at one time, not until your younger child gets just a bit older.

Answer 7

i am not a parent.

however, every other weekend i keep my 5 year old nephew. (custody agreement, joking lol).  i just put him water and he washes on his own.  i don't watch him and the door is unlocked. i don't know i must be a bad aunt.  

Answer 8

I was in the bathroom with my 2 girls in the tub.  I was curling my hair and I looked away for a minute.  My older daughter was screaming and pointing and my other daughter had fallen over drowning turning purple.  I never left the room.  What I thought was a minute really must have been much more.  Your kids are so valuable to you and you know them best.  They are able to pick themselves up when they want.  But if the little one hit her head and went under, you have only a few minutes to react.  If your 5 year old didn't notice and yell for you, then she may drown.  A five year old shouldn't be responsible for your little one.  We're not trying to beat you up here, maybe just better safe than sorry.  You can't believe anyone about what you should do, in the end you are accountable.  I know I've been tied to the tub myself with 4 kids, but I lived through it.  Sometimes you have to just do your thing regardless of what others may think about it.   And to one it's a bus, one it's a bath,....

Answer 9

I think the lady was overreacting.  

Answer 10

My elder 3 bath while I am in the laundry. The younger 2 (of the 3) are 3 in a few weeks, and I can hear them. The laundry is right there next door.

I don't even tell people how I bath my kids, it's got nothing to do with them. I once said I still dry all my boys (5months - almost 5yo) and she nearly had a heart attack. lol!

Point is, we all parent different. What works for me, might not work for Bob down the road, or Macy up the road. It works for me.

I would have told her to be careful she might not be able to see with her nose in the air!

Answer 11

I let my 4 year old have a bath by herself, I have since she turned 4 and told me she wanted to do it by herself.

I run the water for her, not too deep. and leave the door open, I walk by the door several times and pop in to "get" something and check up on her.

Answer 12

Here is my opinion... They are your children. If you know they will be fine then so be it. I don't see a problem with it but I love bath time and watching my son play so I always stay in there anyways. I think as long as you can here them and your not away for to long it will be fine. Don't listen to what other people say it will just make you angry. People are always quick to judge and offend someone, just smile and love your kids. Who cares what other people say.

Answer 13

I have a 15 year old and 6 year old and the 6 year old i never leave in the bath alone did you know it can take 30 seconds for a 5 year old to drown in a bath and that is from only an inch of water.

its up to you what you do with your kids but if your 5 year old slipped and hit their Head it takes 30 secs to drown

well said Meghan

Your out of the room how on gods earth would you know if your kids stood up i would never take the risk i love my kids to much to even think about leaving them unsupervised a moment of madness leads to a life time of regret,

I know a lot about this 6 months ago my friends 4 year old son drowned she is a regular on here in pregnancy a top contributor in fact but she went into the room next door and her son drowned in those 30 secs i did not want to mention it and do you know what CPS said it was an offense to leave a 6 year old in a bath alone unsupervised she got charged for it

Answer 14

Everyone's mentioned the risk of drowing, but nobody has mentioned the danger of hot water.  The water coming out of the faucet could be 120 degrees or more, and it would be hot already because you filled the bath with it.  I would think there are risks involved, and kids are unpredictable no matter how mature we think they are.  I'm not being critical, or saying what you should or shouldn't do, everyone has their own parenting styles.  I just think it's good to be aware of everything that could happen, like scalding because one of them turned on the hot water because they wanted more bubbles, or they thought the water was cold, or they wanted to play with the water coming out of the faucet.  Alot of parents think their kids would never go with a stranger either, but peolpe have done studies on these types of kids and parents...when presented with finding a puppy (while the parent watched from somewhere else to see what would happen) the kids went with the stranger everytime.  That's why kids get hurt alot, because they aren't capable of thinking about consequences yet.  

Anyway, just thought I'd throw out another risk with the hot water.  If you feel safe with them in the tub alone, then it's entirely your call as the parent.  It's up to us to protect children.  If you feel your kids are safe, I can't think of anything anyone can say that will make you think differently, and that's fine...they are your kids afterall.  Just be aware of risks involved and do what you can to prevent anything from happening.

Answer 15

It's very stupid to leave your children in a bath unsupervised for any length of time. They can drown even in a small amount of water. Not a smart decision on your part

Answer 16

My son is only 5 months so Im not there yet.

BUT I have a younger brother who is 13 years younger, and when he started taking baths, my dad and stepmom never sat in with him. My brother is also very mature for his age..maybe because all of us (me and my other brothers) are sooo much older than him.And their house is very tiny too so you can also hear EVERYTHING!!

But as long as you have a well behaved child, and you check up on them, I see no harm.

EDIT::

OKAy  I did not mean they never sat in with him,.obviously!...I meant lol once he was about 4 I would say.

If i could only type as fast as i think!

Answer 17

I would NEVER, EVER leave a three year old in the bathtub alone.  If you check on them EVERY minute how are you able to tidy up and get things ready?  It's so not worth the chance to get 10 minutes of cleaning done.

Answer 18

u check on them and u can hear them don't worry

i let my 7 year old have the bathroom all 2 himself he nos how to wash the only time he needs me is when he wants to get out even then he will give it a shot on hes own (with me watching)so don't listen to people that say u cant leave them  

Answer 19

I agree with you my daughter is almost 4 and I let her take baths by herself our routine is first she eats, I wash up her brother 10 mths I never leave him alone i don't even take my hands off him. Then she bathes while i'm washing the dishes. I talk to her the whole time she's in there and then I was her up when she finished playing and wash her self. I don't put a lot of water and i think she's fine. I would never put her in any danger just like i'm sure you wouldn't either. Everything isn't for everybody and if you try everyone's parenting style you will never get anything done. Do what feels best to you if you need advise ask and weight your options. You know your kids if you fell they are safe then I bet they are.

Answer 20

I have to agree with the other parent.

I think they need to be watched.  It only takes a second.  Find another time to tidy up.

Answer 21

just remember that when kids drown they never make a sound and they can do it in an inch of water. I still sit with my 3 and a half year old when he takes one. I am not trying to be mean or rude but which would you rather have a dirty house or a loss of a child? Try cleaning when you put them down for bed. and use bath time to sing songs and play.

Answer 22

I think its perfectly reasonable to allow them to sit in the bath by themselves.  Kids need to grow up and learn to do things on their own.  As long as you are checking on them regularly, they are safe.

In any event, a normal five year old should not allow himself to drown in a small tub of water.  If he does, it is clearly natural selection at work.  :)

Answer 23

It only takes 1 inch of water for a child to drown.  A child the age of 5 does not truly understand the dangers associated with the bathtub.  Children much older have drown without being supervised.  I won't even bring up the capacities of a 3 year old.  Being old enough to go to school is not old enough to supervise themselves in all situations.

Yes, you should be supervising them.  You should be in the room.  You can take that time to tidy up and clean the bathroom, not other rooms in the house.  You say you would never put them in a dangerous situation, yet you do it all the time.  I don't think you realize how dangerous bath time can be if they don't have an adult in there watching them.  Besides, they are still to young to know how to properly clean themselves alone.  

Answer 24

I think you would be wise to stay in the bathroom with them--better safe than sorry!  Some freak accident that no one envisioned could happen.  Far better to lose those few minutes than to spend the rest of your life wishing you'd been there.