When did you let your preschooler...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our dentist recommended letting DC brush his teeth first with me brushing them afterwards until he was 7. As far as bathing, I may leave my 5 year old in the bathtub to BOLT into the adjoining room for a towel, but that's it -- I don't think bathing is a matter of letting them do a poor job just to let them do it on their own -- it is a safety issue. I may be overreacting, but I would be afraid he might slip and drown. He is also very interested in the faucets and I can easily imagine him turning on the hot water, either for the bath or the shower.

I assume then that your child doesn't sing and talk the entire time they are near water. If my child ever was quiet, I might have similar concerns. Until then, I just listen to make sure my child is still making noise, and I therefore assume she's not drowning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our dentist recommended letting DC brush his teeth first with me brushing them afterwards until he was 7. As far as bathing, I may leave my 5 year old in the bathtub to BOLT into the adjoining room for a towel, but that's it -- I don't think bathing is a matter of letting them do a poor job just to let them do it on their own -- it is a safety issue. I may be overreacting, but I would be afraid he might slip and drown. He is also very interested in the faucets and I can easily imagine him turning on the hot water, either for the bath or the shower.

I assume then that your child doesn't sing and talk the entire time they are near water. If my child ever was quiet, I might have similar concerns. Until then, I just listen to make sure my child is still making noise, and I therefore assume she's not drowning.

I guess he sort of talks to himself nonstop in the bath, but I sit on the closed toilet and read a magazine. I may be being overprotective but I don't feel he has enough common sense yet.

[Anonymous]

Brushing teeth: I think as soon as you observe your child brush his teeth properly enough times to be confident he will do it right most times, then you're fine.

Bathing: totally different, IMO. I would equate allowing a preschooler to bathe alone (the way OP phrased it--not in the next room, which means out of earshot) with allowing a preschooler to ride in a car without a car seat/seatbelt (setting aside the legal argument--just the purpose behind it). Neither activity is inherently dangerous. In fact, the child would be totally fine and safe 99% of the time. But by wearing the seatbelt in the car/staying within earshot during the bath, you are FAR more likely to prevent the rare accident that could end in tragedy. Again--I'm not talking about reading in the next room; I'm talking about not being NEAR the bathroom. IMO, I think the age a child can safely bathe alone (w/out parent in earshot) probably correlates with the age they no longer want tub toys. At that point, they are just in there to get clean and get out. That means less goofing off, and less chance to slip and bang the head.

[Anonymous]

5 to both. My son actually brushes his own teeth and turns on the shower/bath. Washes himself-we help with his back and hair sometimes but for the most part he does everything himself. Also gets out of the tub, dries himself off and gets dressed without help. Has been doing so since he was 4.5. Just went to the dentist and everything looked great so, so far so good. We do wander in and out of his bathroom though. My other son, almost 3 insists on brushing his own teeth and we let him-actually does an ok job. I brush again of course but he really does do ok (for 3)

[Anonymous]

We let our 2.5 year old twins bathe while we meander in and out of the bathroom. I put away clothes, get towels, etc. They talk (I can tell who in who) and splash around the entire time. If it is quiet I go in. We don't go more than a minute without at least walking past the door.

But we do still help with teeth brushing.

[Anonymous]

I have a 4.5 year old DD. I brush her teeth myself and when I'm finished, it's "her turn." I expect this will go on for another year or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you're going to have to take the word "preschooler" out of the heading on this question. The recommendation on toothbrushing is age 6. My oldest is 3, and I don't intend to stop helping him any time soon. We just moved to kids flouride toothpaste, so I need to be extra careful watching him. We let him do what he thinks is good enough, and then help at the end.

With baths, I'm just at the point where we will run up and grab a towel if we forget one. I don't see us just tossing him in the tub alone any time soon.

No need to be an ass about it. And, if your child can't handle brushing his teeth by the first grade, you may have bigger problems on your hands.

there is only one person being an ass here. Actually the recommended age because of dexterity is 8 yrs old. As far as tubs go, 18. heeeheh. when you think they will not drown. Each child is different on that level. My 6 yr old is fine in the tub by herself, but she wasn't last yr. My almost 4 yr old, no way would I leave him in the bathroom by himself.

[Anonymous]

8 years old? Somebody call CPS on me. My son wanted to start doing it at age 3. Sometimes I helped, sometimes I didn't.

At 4 1/2, he's still going strong and the dentist told him that he was a great brusher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:8 years old? Somebody call CPS on me. My son wanted to start doing it at age 3. Sometimes I helped, sometimes I didn't.

At 4 1/2, he's still going strong and the dentist told him that he was a great brusher.

the ass is back

[Anonymous]

Here's my anonymous question-- at what age do you let your child be wholly responsible for using toilet paper when they go to bathroom?

[Anonymous]

4.5

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's my anonymous question-- at what age do you let your child be wholly responsible for using toilet paper when they go to bathroom?

Haven't gotten there yet (we're at 3.5). As soon he stops asking for help AND as soon as his underwear starts staying clean afterwards, he'll be on his own. I can't wait!

[Anonymous]

I think we would have stopped brushing his teeth at 5, but we had a neighbor who did that and ended up with several cavities by 6 or 7-- dentist said they really aren't capable of doing a good job-- so we try to do the "he brushes, then we brush" thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's my anonymous question-- at what age do you let your child be wholly responsible for using toilet paper when they go to bathroom?

My DC wiped his own bottom soon after being toilet trained but then insisted I wipe his bottom from about 3.5 to almost 5. No idea why.

[Anonymous]

TP question -- son just turned five, he's doing it himself, with mixed results...we may have to start intervening again!