Showering/sleeping/nudity and toddlers

[FlyballJRT]

DS is 3 and still sees both DH and I nakie regularly, mostly because we still sleep that way (DD is 10 months and at night a shirt is just more trouble than it is worth!!) I keep thinking we're going to have to put an end to it soon, but it doesn't really seem to bother him at all, or us, so I guess we're not in a hurry.

[Elisha44]

I think if you are asking then you are starting to feel a little uncomfortable so it may be time to stop. But if you're not then I think it will be soon before they don't want you to see them naked any more and until then keep going because you will miss that time when it's gone.

[joy7s]

I have three dd's and they stopped showering with dad at about 2. They still shower with me.. my oldest 5 is getting a little old for me but I haven't stopped yet she's asking questions so it may end soon..

[EmmyLou0331]

I think it depends on the family member the LO is showering with. I personally think 4 is a good time to stop showering with your LO (just my personal opinion). Sometimes things need to stop because they clearly cross a line; for example DSD is 6 and still showers and takes baths with her Grandmother, Grandfather and Mother. And sleeps with her mother in a twin size bed. I co-sleep but personally think that 6 is too old and crosses the line.

[HadassahSukkot]

Personally, what you asked/said in your op, would be indication for me that it was time to stop showering together and encouraging modesty... and explain about being older, and learning how to do things alone now (shower/bath) and asking for help for the parts you couldn't do yourself - as well as what kind of touching is good/bad for other people than mommy/daddy to be doing.

[Toby_99833]

Originally Posted by shelbell I don't have a hard and fast rule about age, it's more a matter of comfort. If you or your child feel uncomfortable then change it, if not, go with it.

This is what I think, but if I HAD to pick an age I would probably say 5 just because that is when little ones were no longer allowed in the opposite sex's locker room when I taught swimming. Kind of a lame reason, but I said "if I HAD to choose".

[jewelzbird]

I think you can phase out being naked together, but never make it weird or a big deal. they are not sexual beings and you don't want to create an issue. You sounds pretty cool about it so I doubt you will. I would not change anyhting until school starts around 5 if I were you.

[Chey]

haven't read the replies but will give you the low down in our house.

DD stopped showering with DH when she was about 5. DS stopped showering with me when he was about 3.5. DD is 6 now and she still comes in the shower with me and DS is almost 5 and still showers with his dad regularly. I would never let my kids shower with anyone else though....that's a little weird to me.

We've never slept naked in bed with our children, however we do go down to undies when it is too darn hot, and DH always sleeps in his boxers.

We do however not hide our nudity from our children. If one of the kids sees me changing I make no real effort to cover. I will hold a towel over my lower half, as will DH but we aren't prudish about it. DS still sees my breasts, I don't see it as an issue, plus I am nursing right now too.

We go to the pool a couple times a week and use the family change rooms as well (private rooms for the whole family with an open shower).

We are discreet but not uppity if one of the kids sees us without clothing. We just don't make a big deal out of nudity and neither do our kids.

[Chey]

The main reason we stopped it was because I didn't want one of my kids mentioning it to someone else not knowing that in other families they may not feel the same way, so we just started using more discretion without making a bit deal out of it.

[MW69842]

My daughter sees us both naked on a somewhat regular basis (if she's awake/around and we're dressing, for example) and we also sometimes take baths with her, because she really gets into coloring on the walls and wants us to join in.

We've never showered with her though - she freaks out about the shower and plus, I am afraid of getting water in her ears and somehow messing with the tubes that were put in 6 months ago.

She is starting to ask questions now - as much as a 2-year-old can. She has never seen a man naked and that won't happen 'til she's much, much older.

I'd say around 4 or so.