At what age/grade did you feel that your trio was capiable of taking a shower/bath on their own and trusted that they were really washing themselves completly as they should be? (Erica has long hair, and with conditioner, I am always worried about getting it all rinsed out and the boys are so relaxed on what they consider clean)



~Chris
Bradley, Erica and Adam (9-2-01)

My kids started to shower themselves in Kindergarten. But I would lean in and wash their hair and direct them on soaping up. This year in First Grade they are pretty self sufficient. My DD has very long hair and washes and conditions herself. She does a pretty good job. I do have to check on them and redirect when they start playing to get them back on the task at hand, cleaning their bodies! LOL Also I use those little Soap Buddies. It's a bar of soap wrapped in a little sleeve thingy. It's not so slippery for them. They all actually do a really good job soaping up their bodies. I also have a nail brush in the shower that they use for toes and fingernails.

Terri~
12/21/01 at 33 weeks

My girls are pretty much the exact same age as your trio. I go help them shampoo/conditioner because of their long hair but mostly they do it by themselves. I usually just do the 'lean in' to check out if their hair is still slimey or not.

Khrissys3girls

Mommy to Lindsey, Kaylee, & Carly born 8/30/01 at 31 weeks
AND John Thomas born 1/17/06 at 39w3d

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Mine started at four, my girls have long hair and they just let me know if they need help. I always poke my head it to make sure every thing is okay.

~Dionne
Mommy to Jessica, Alexa & William 02/20/02 31w6d

The summer between kindergarten and first grade is when I taught my trio how to shower on their own. The first two or three showers was all instructional - how to turn on the hot water, how to adjust the temperature of the water, the proper amount of shampoo to use, how to clean EVERY part of their bodies, etc. My girls have very long hair, too. The first week or so I had to "re-rinse" the girls' hair, but now, all three are very self sufficient (they're 10). I couldn't believe how much time I "gained" once they were able to shower themselves! I sometimes miss giving them a bath, though... We all grow up!

Good luck!

Edited to add: To this day I do NOT allow them to lock the bathroom door while showering. They are allowed to keep the door closed, but just in case of any kind of emergency, the door is to remained unlocked.

Trio Di Mio
BGG born @ 36 weeks

I have an "open door" policy too, they all have their own bathroom so everyone showers/or takes a bath at the same time (every night right after dinner). I just do my patrol rounds to make sure there are no shenanigans going on.


~Dionne
Mommy to Jessica, Alexa & William 02/20/02 31w6d

Our guys started in 1st grade with lots of direction. Now they are 8 and are independent with it. Of course they are boys with little hair so that is not an issue (They may not even be washing it and I would not know! - ha ha - they do smell good though so I assume we are ok!)
Suzanne
Proud mommy to Seamus, Brendan and Casey 4/17/00