Most parents are aware of the dangers of leaving young children unsupervised in the bathtub. The greatest risk occurs in very young children. As infants and toddlers, kids can slip in the tub and drown in a matter of just a few minutes. A tragic reminder of this came recently, when a 13-month-old boy drowned as his neglectful mother played Facebook games.
The drowning victim's mother explained her criminal behavior by saying that the toddler enjoyed bathing alone. Any responsible parent knows that this is an unacceptable excuse, but it does beg the question: Just when can children bathe by themselves? Personally, I err on the side of caution when it comes to bath time safety. My own 3-year-old daughter can't be alone in the tub for more than a second or two. Your own standards of bath time safety will depend upon your child's own development and maturity. Here are a few things to consider by age group.
1. Babies and toddlers can not be unsupervised at all. Before age 3, your child can not bathe safely without supervision, even for a few moments. Even toddlers over 2 years can slip or stumble in the tub, leading to serious injuries and eventual drowning. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these slips and stumbles can occur in just a few moments while you rush to answer the phone or doorbell. For this reason, it is critical to keep an eye on your bathing child at all times until he is at least preschool-age.
2. Preschoolers still need help. When your child is 3 to 5 years old, you may be able to leave her for a moment or two while you get a towel or a pair of PJs from the other room. Depending on her developmental level, she may even be able to stay in the tub unsupervised for most of the duration of her bath -- but she will still need for you to check on her every few minutes and to remain within earshot. Preschoolers also usually need help washing themselves and their hair; most are not able to do this correctly themselves.
3. "Big kids" need assistance, too. Even "big" kids, 5 to 7 years old, may still need help running their bath water and washing their hair. Fine details of self-washing, such as scrubbing behind ears and between toes, may also require some parental assistance. Depending on your child's own stage of development, she may need you to run her bath water until age 7 or 8 until she is able to determine an appropriate water temperature. However, most school-age kids are safe bathing independently.
4. Older kids need privacy and independence. By the time your child is 7 or 8, she'll probably want some privacy in the bath tub and will benefit from this step toward independence.. And, as long as she's able to groom herself without help at this point, there's no reason to be present during her bath times. Nevertheless, it's a good idea to knock on the door every now and then if she's been in the tub for a long time or is being unusually quiet.
5. Special needs kids may take longer. If your child has a physical or mental disability, it may take more time for her to be able to bathe herself. Children with autism or mental retardation may have sensory or cognitive issues that make them more prone to drowning and other bath-time hazards. For this reason, they may not be able to safely bathe alone until later than their peers. If you're concerned, chat with your child's pediatrician or occupational therapist for help determining your child's ability to bathe independently.
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