Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they’re asking about independent showers. Most of us have showered with our kids. When could they do it all start to finish unassisted?

I’ve never showered with my kids. Do you mean in the shower with them?? My kids started showering independently around age 6.

Not pp but I started showering with my baby around 3 months. I wash both of us in the same shower. She’s still a baby so obviously not independent. I think it will be easier once she can stand then I may be able to “shower her” without showering myself or at least not have to worry so much about her being slippery and what if I dropped her.

We started showers around age 4. I put the soap on and then he washed it off himself. Now at age 7, he usually soaps up himself (but has short hair so it's not as much of an issue), but occasionally I will still do the soap on him and then he rinses himself.

We still do baths occasionally, but showers are quicker.

For those asking how you wash hair - have them stand out of the stream of water and lather up, then tell them to close their eyes and stand in the stream.

Thank you for the inspiration to start teaching our 6 year old how to was her hair in shower. It means I get in with her for now, but it went so much better than I could have imagined. She’s even taking pride in brushing it herself after now.

Anonymous wrote:DS has been given a shower every night since he was about 20 months. DH generally does it and it’s faster and easier to shower him than bathe him. For fun he gets to take a bath and play in the tub on Fridays and Saturday nights.

I highly recommend starting nightly showers young. He never screams about getting his face wet or soapy and happily gets his hair washed every night. It’s a fast routine.

He’s a little over three now. I don’t know when he’ll do it on his own,

Showering during the week is definitely the way to go! For the poster asking how, you need a detachable shower head and a big enough shower so the adult doesn’t get wet. We are firm believers in daily showering/bathing and a shower gets it done during the week. On weekends our toddler can play in the bathtub for fun. Separating bathing and showering makes for an easy and consistent routine.

So glad someone recommended it at around 15 months!

My 9yo had been having showers since being an infant when we modeled her bathroom and baths weren’t an option lol. I would say she showered herself around 5/6 but I still supervised. At 7 she could go in and turn the water on and do it all herself. Now at 9 she showers most nights but still likes to play in the bath every now and again. I let her as long as we have time.

When I don't have a ton of time for a leisurely bath for my 4 year old, I have her take a shower with me. She still plays in the shower but I can make the whole thing go a lot faster, plus since I'm also getting a shower at the same time it's a big time saver all around. It is also facilitating her becoming more independent with washing herself because I can show her how to do it, and also it's easier for her to wash her body while standing. I still have to help with her hair, but she rinses it herself.

I'm sure at some point she won't want to take a shower with her mom and then she'll just do it on her own. We still do baths also but that's more of a weekend thing when we are less pressed for time.

Also, we don't bathe her every day. Especially in the winter because she's wearing more clothes so doesn't get as dirty. Usually 3x a week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they’re asking about independent showers. Most of us have showered with our kids. When could they do it all start to finish unassisted?

I’ve never showered with my kids. Do you mean in the shower with them?? My kids started showering independently around age 6.

I’ve showered with kids since they were infants. It got easier when they could stand. Used a shower seat or handed off to another adult (my mom or other parent). Still not independent in shower at 6, but hopefully will be within this year. They have difficulty rinsing hair, but we are working on it. Too wild to get hand sprayer unless we don’t mind ever having a dry bathroom again 😂

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8-year-old takes about 80% independent showers and has for about a year now. From turning on the water and adjusting the temperature to toweling off and getting into her bathrobe, the only part I help her with is applying the shampoo/conditioner to her hair. And she recently expressed the desire to start doing that on her own so we’ll give that a try.

My 6-year-old still needs 100%.

My 7 year old needs help with making sure conditioner is distributed through her super thick curly hair and fully rinsed out. I also brush it afterwards - I think this depends on the hair and the temperament.

Sorry same poster- if it has to be fast I do it. I don’t mind playing (my younger still does baths and it’s a nice way to wind down) but if you are having trouble do all the work (shampoo soap etc) first and then they play and when the bath is done pull the plug.

Anonymous wrote:My 8-year-old takes about 80% independent showers and has for about a year now. From turning on the water and adjusting the temperature to toweling off and getting into her bathrobe, the only part I help her with is applying the shampoo/conditioner to her hair. And she recently expressed the desire to start doing that on her own so we’ll give that a try.

My 6-year-old still needs 100%.

My 7 year old needs help with making sure conditioner is distributed through her super thick curly hair and fully rinsed out. I also brush it afterwards - I think this depends on the hair and the temperament.

Anonymous wrote:I think they’re asking about independent showers. Most of us have showered with our kids. When could they do it all start to finish unassisted?

I’ve never showered with my kids. Do you mean in the shower with them?? My kids started showering independently around age 6.