At what age start showering?

Posted: Tue, Jan 05 2010, 1:00 pm Post subject: At what age start showering?

At what age to kids generally start showering themselves? I assume each kid is different, but around how old were your kids when they started taking a shower themselves?

Posted: Tue, Jan 05 2010, 1:04 pm Post subject: Re: At what age start showering?

Posted: Tue, Jan 05 2010, 1:10 pm Post subject:

Its funny, my 6 yr old didnt start taking showers by herself until this year, but my 5 and 4 year olds both take showers on their own. They close the shower and everything! The oldest always takes a bit more time I think.

Senior Member Joined: Dec 19 2009 Posts: 247

My 3 yr old just started taking showers by herself. I set the temp and she knows NEVER to touch the hot water, she calls me to turn it off when she's done, but otherwise, she washes herself! It's too hilarious. My 5 yr old won't come OUT of the shower. He loves it in there, talks to himself, plays bubble games, washes the sliding glass shower doors--makes my life 1000X easier when the kids wash themselves!

Senior Member Joined: Oct 28 2009 Posts: 109

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 11 2007 Posts: 3786

I thought I'd give it a try with my oldest, who is 3 yrs old. Thought he might get a kick out of it. Nope. He was terrified. Maybe next year.

Posted: Thu, Jan 07 2010, 2:31 am Post subject: re: At what age start showering?

Wow, some start young! My 8 year olds will often wash themselves with me on the other side of the curtain. I am afraid they will use way too much water and our bill will be extra high if they are totally on their own. Sometimes they are insistent about doing it themselves, often they ask for help. My dd takes her own shower after her weekly swimming lesson in the pool's shower room but I see it is hard for her to really wash her thick hair and get all the shampoo out. If someone else is around, she wants them to know that she showers herself.

I think 10-11 is normal but every kid is different and often certain kids just want their mommies and don't want to grow up too quickly. Both of my kids can get dressed themselves, of course, but often I will have to help them along, especially in the morning.

Posted: Sun, Jan 10 2010, 5:13 am Post subject: re: At what age start showering?

My 3 and ups all take showers on their own. Our shower knob turns on to the same temperature every time, so there's no problem with the water temp not being right. I do help with the 6 and unders' hair, though. Smile

Posted: Sun, Jan 10 2010, 5:21 am Post subject:

Since both my kids are terrified of the shower (don't know why, but if you heard the screaming that goes on when I rinse their hair you'd think I was abusing them), I think it will be a while yet! In the meantime they still bathe together...
_________________
Emmanuel Tzvi: 26 Shevat 5766
Shai Michael: 8 Cheshvan 5768
Yitzchak Meir: 19 Iyar 5770
Dvir Aharon: 10 Tammuz 5772

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 20 2005 Posts: 5262

my dd prefers a bath as its more fun and relaxing for her but I always wonder which uses less water because she doesn't really mind showers either.

Gold Member Joined: May 11 2009 Posts: 1292

my 5yo happy to wash himself. takes baths and showers.

Posted: Sun, Jan 10 2010, 6:53 am Post subject: re: At what age start showering?

Mine did it around five. Shampooing for the girls went on until around 7 after that they were on their own. Boys didn't have a shampoo problem.
_________________
"Olam Chessed Yiboneh", Tehilim 89.

Moderator Joined: Feb 28 2006 Posts: 4103

I think around 8 years old is a good age for them to start.

My 8 year old washes herself and she also bathes the 4 year old and the 2 year old.

My 6 year old is still too scared, so my 11 year old washes him.

It's such a help to have the older kids bathe the younger ones!!
Especially is the baby starts crying and I have to nurse her during bath time.
_________________
Boy (13.5), Boy (12), Girl (10.5), Boy (8.5), Girl (7), Boy (4.5), Girl (2.5) B"H!!!

Posted: Sun, Jan 10 2010, 9:43 am Post subject: re: At what age start showering?

ive been wondering what age I should teach my kids to wipe themselves after using the bathroom. is it normal that my 6 y.o. doesn't seem to be able to get himself perfectly clean?

Posted: Sun, Jan 10 2010, 10:53 am Post subject:

first you start them off with good hygiene - any age is acceptable to shower ... get a shower with an attached hose - this way they can be careful with getting water and shampoo in their eyes which is what they are afraid of ... teaching them to tilt their head when you rinse their hair ...

teach them to scrub/massage the shampoo into their scalp (which is also very good for the hair follicles) - wash behind their ears - in between the toes - not to mention their privates ... they will get the hang sooner than later ...

if you leave them to bath on their own - chances are they will just get wet and still be smelly ...

after the bath/shower show them to gently clean ears with q-tips, put on lotions, powder, brush/comb hair - they need all this to get them through life ... then you won't be running after them in prepubescent years with deodorant and begging them to shower Idea

_________________
don't wonder why people go crazy ... rather wonder why we don't
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NUTso but cute ~ things balance out Nervous

Posted: Sun, Jan 10 2010, 10:07 pm Post subject:

I think I started showering around age 6 or so. But I also got self conscious of my body at a very young age, so I think that's what it had to do with.

For my kids (IYH) I think that will be the deciding factor as well. Till then, I'll let them enjoy a bath.
_________________
I'm not trying to offend, but I don't care about being PC.

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48139

I think sleep away camp!

Senior Member Joined: Sep 24 2008 Posts: 236

My back has been killing me so I thought I'd try to get my almost 6 year old to take a shower. Its worked perfectly. I bought him baby shampoo so he diesnt have to be so worried about shampoo in the eyes. He is a pretty responsible kid so if I just remind him to wash everywhere he does it.

Executive Member Joined: Jul 13 2009 Posts: 328

my 6, 8, 9 yr. olds all shower, though sometimes they're in bath moods. My 5 yr old is just getting into it. My 3 yr old is terrified. I remember teaching my 4 yr. old brother though how to shower. I was in charge of his bath and I was to lazy to bathe him, so shower it was!

Posted: Mon, Jan 11 2010, 2:52 am Post subject:

gosh, I was like ten when I started showering! I was always afraid to get shampoo in my eyes.