In general, I would say that by the age of 8 or 9 years-10 at the latest-most children have developed enough of a sense of personal boundaries and body space that they no longer want to shower with a parent or bathe with a sibling of the opposite sex.
However, the parenting and child development experts do seem to mostly agree that parents bathing with children is normal and healthy up until the child begins to show discomfort or the parent themselves begin to feel concern.
For example, Dr. Jenn Berman shared this advice with Parents Magazine: "Generally siblings of opposite genders should start bathing separately around the age of seven or whenever they start grabbing at each other, becoming preoccupied with each others genitals during bath time, or one asks for privacy."
Many experts say that 5 or 6 is a good age to stop. Others say that parents should start being more modest when the child starts to be more modest, which is also usually around 6 years old.
These findings may seem surprising if you've never had an 8-year-old, but there are some reasons a child's eighth year can be especially challenging from a parent's perspective. Eight-year-olds can be stubborn, slamming doors and rolling their eyes, in their attempts to establish their independence and individuality.
In general, I would say that by the age of 8 or 9 years-10 at the latest-most children have developed enough of a sense of personal boundaries and body space that they no longer want to shower with a parent or bathe with a sibling of the opposite sex. But Dr. Rosenblum's query raises broader issues.
Basora-Rovira reminds parents that under the age of 12 months, there should be absolutely no bed-sharing. The AAP updated their sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) guidelines in 2016 to recommend room-sharing for the baby's first year, but to avoid bed-sharing due to accidental suffocation risks.
There is nothing intrinsically harmful about dad and son showering together as long as it seems easy and natural to both of them. It may simply be part of their daily routine just as two people would stand side-by-side brushing teeth.
There is nothing wrong with bathing your little ones below the age of 5 together. It is when they start to clock 6-7, or when the older child decides they're too big for bathing with the 'baby,' that you need to consider putting a stop to the co-bathing routine.
It could be as late as nine or 10 years old, although some kids are ready by age six or seven. Children with special needs will likely be older when they're ready to transition. Paediatrician Sanjeev Luthra from Brampton, Ont., says a child's readiness largely depends on their exposure to independent hygiene.
Co-sleeping is not recommended, but a 7-year-old child sleeping with parents is considered normal in many families and cultures. The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) warns against co-sleeping at any age, especially if the infant is younger than four months.
Dear Concerned: It is not appropriate for parents to co-sleep with adolescent children, partly because adolescents need and deserve some privacy, as they engage in the developmentally important process of figuring out who they are and what they're about.
Recent studies indicate that near-epidemic proportions of children are co-sleeping with parents today. According to Parenting's MomConnection, a surprising 45 percent of moms let their 8- to 12-year-olds sleep with them from time to time, and 13 percent permit it every night.
Though there is not one set answer to this question, most people agree that a son does not need to keep sleeping with his mother once he has started going through puberty. This can start anywhere between 10-12 years of age.
Sleep: what to expect at 5-11 years
At 5-11 years, children need 9-11 hours sleep a night. For example, if your child wakes for school at 7 am and needs approximately 10 hours sleep per night, your child should be in bed before 9 pm. Some children fall deeply asleep very quickly when they go to bed.
It is natural for babies and children to want to sleep with their parents, or very close to them. It is a primal response. Look at young dependent mammals – they all sleep next to their parents/mother.
As kids grow up they might want more privacy and need their own space, especially if they're sharing a bedroom with a brother or sister. While it's not illegal for them to share, it's recommended that children over the age of 10 should have their own bedrooms – even if they're siblings or step-siblings.
After 12 months, there is no proven risk of harm. There is no evidence that bed-sharing produces children who are more spoiled or dependent. Proven harm to parents. Several studies have shown that more than half of the children who sleep with their parents resist going to bed and awaken several times during the night.
Early childhood co-sleeping is associated with increased risk in multiple preadolescent behavioral problems, including anxiety, depression, withdrawal, attention, and affective problems, even after controlling for individual differences in early childhood behavioral problems.
Bathing alone, however, can be risky because of drowning dangers, and it can take just a few seconds for even older kids to slip and drown in only a few inches of water. Because of this, many experts suggest waiting until your child is at least 8 before allowing him to dunk in the tub alone.
Children ages 6 to 11: Guidelines for bathing
If your child is in this age group, taking a daily bath is fine. However, children in this age group may not need a daily bath. Children aged 6 to 11 need a bath: At least once or twice a week.
Bathing advice for children over the age of 11 (or when puberty starts) Once puberty hits, daily showering is essential due to new hormones flowing through the body bringing along unwanted body odor and acne. Your child should also wash their face twice a day with a gentle noncomedogenic face wash.
Children younger than 6 years old should NOT be left unattended in the bathtub. They should also not be in the bathroom alone if there is water in the bathtub.
Use fragrance-free soaps and lotions to avoid drying out your child's skin. Keep baths brief. Your child doesn't need an hour-long bath. Instead, shoot for about 10 minutes.