There is a lot of tension and different opinions when the topic is about bathing with your child. The topic itself is one that drives controversy. Before you proceed you need to understand that every family is different and as such, no one rule works for all. It’s all a matter of what you are comfortable with. You must also put your child into consideration before making any decisions that might affect them. So without further ado, here is all you need to know about bathing together with your kids and at what stage you should consider putting a stop to it.
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The Appropriate Age
You should be mindful of the time when you start to bath with your child. For a new-born, you should wait till the umbilical stump falls out and the navel has healed. Do not jump into the tub with your premature baby. The child would be prone to infection if the umbilical stump is yet to fall. Some parents prefer waiting until the child starts walking. This is okay too. Once your kid starts taking a shower you can let them join you for a little downpour. This could also be an opportunity for you to start teaching them how to bath themselves.
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Beneficial?
There are many benefits to bathing with your child. For 6 to 7-year-olds, one of the benefits is that you can start teaching your kid how to bath themselves. For a new-born, it could help you feel even closer to your baby. Some parents also use this opportunity to teach their kids to be proud of their bodies. You can teach your kids to be comfortable with their bodies and let them understand that bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Though as the child grows older you may want to start teaching them to respect other people’s privacy. Because they are now growing and developing.
Bonding Time
Bathing with your kid is a great time for bonding. You feel closer to your kid. Your little angel also feels safer knowing you’re in there with them. Also, if your new-born cries whenever you give them a bath, they may feel safer when they feel your body on them. You should make room for a lot of skin to skin contact for your little one. This encourages the child (especially the new-born) to get a feeling of your presence. They won’t be too afraid of the water if they know you’re in there with them.
Getting In The Tub
If you will be taking a bath with your newborn, you should always ensure to get in the water first. Do not put them in before attempting to get into the tub. You should also not be holding your child in your arms when getting into the tub. Put them in their sitter. Once you get in the tub and are settled, then you can gently carry your child in with you. Attempting to get in the tub while your child is in could be very dangerous. Your child could also sustain serious injuries if you fall with them in your hands while getting into the tub.
Use A Tub Mat
You should always use a tub mat when you want to bath with your baby in the tub. Especially your new-born. You need to do this to avoid sliding about in the tub. You may not get any injuries but your child could get an unexpected bump from a little slip. You will be holding them in your arms so you need to be steady to avoid any sudden sliding. Since the tub will be filled with lathered water you may not be able to keep yourself steady with support from a rough tub mat.
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Water Temperature
You should set the water temperature to match your baby’s bathing water. Do not check the temperature according to what you use to bath. You should always remember that your body and that of your little one perceive temperature a bit differently. The temperature that may be warm for you may end up being too hot for your bundle of joy. Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the water. It should be between 37o C to 38o C. Some people like to get in the tub before turning the water faucets. Turn the cold faucet first, followed by the hot one. Turn them off in the reverse order. Your baby shouldn’t be in the tub before you do this.
Getting Out Of The Tub
Getting out of the tub should be done the same way you got in. First, put your child in their sitter. Do not stand up in the tub. You should make sure the sitter is close to the tub so you can just stretch a bit and put them in it. You should also not get out of the tub holding your kid. The bathroom floor could also be slippery. If the floor isn’t slippery, you should consider that you are coming out of a bath; your feet could be slippery. You don’t want to put your kid in the way of harm.
Play Games
Don’t just get in there scrub and come out. If you were looking to just bath you would have taken your bath alone or bathed your baby alone. You should also be looking to bond as well. Playing a few bath time games is a great way to do that. There are a variety of games you can play to get your 6 to 7-year-olds excited. You could play find the soap, the floating game (where you get your kid to say whether an object would float or sink), and a lot of other exciting games. Take your time, you should not be in a hurry if you are going to bath together. You might consider doing this on days when you have time to spare.
When To Stop
It’s okay to bath with your kids for as long as both of you are comfortable with it. Some parents decide to stop bathing with their kids once the child reaches 7 years. Some bath with their kids until a much later age. But, it is advisable that you stop once the child starts getting inquisitive. Some parents stop when the child starts asking too many questions. Others stop when the child starts signaling a need for privacy. This could be by closing the door behind them whenever they want to use the bathroom. Pay attention to these cues. You should also consider stopping earlier for your kid of the opposite sex.
You Should Stop
You should also consider stopping once your child starts school. Regardless of whether they are still comfortable with it or not, you may need to stop bathing with your kid when they start attending school. This is because your kid may get teased if they should tell their friends they still bath with mommy. You wouldn’t want them going through that unnecessary stress and bullying from their peers. They would be spending much of their time with their school mates, and kids not knowing better may just bully them continuously for it. It’s just not worth it. It would be best for you to avoid this.
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