what to do with baby/toddler when you want a shower - Parenting Issues Message Board

LookingForHealth · 02-03-2003, 11:09 AM

"Although it really is never safe to leave a baby unattended, you can take steps to make it somewhat safer for you to take a quick shower.

First, if you have more than one shower in your home, use the one that gives you the best visibility of the rest of the bathroom. Clear glass doors and walls typically provide much better visibility than curtains or opaque glass.

Second, make sure your child is restricted to the bathroom area. You may need a safety gate or door latch for a toddler, while something like a bouncy chair, Exersaucer, or playpen may suffice for a younger child.

Third, prevent your child from getting at choking and poisoning hazards by latching your cabinets and keeping medications, appliances, and jewelry out of reach. A plugged-in hairdryer, curling iron, or electric shaver can seriously burn, shock, or strangle a child very quickly.

Fourth, prevent access to the toilet with a toilet latch.

Finally, be quick.

Remember, while it's never safe to leave a baby unattended for any reason, if you really need a shower and no one else is available to supervise, taking these steps will make it much safer for your child."

rainflower · 02-03-2003, 09:11 PM

I cant resist this since I was one of the few people who take showers with their children...
Good Grief...take them in with you. Babies are never too young to get used to water in any safe supervised manner. I know its not the relaxing experience but if you have no one else to watch them then go for it. When my sons were toilet training I sat them on the toilet with a book and they talked with me and sat there until I was done...two for one!!

Blastoff9600 · 02-03-2003, 09:27 PM

I am a part time single mom(air force wife in other words). So I spend alot of time with it being just me and our sons. Our oldest is six now so he takes showers or baths by himself for the most part. Our youngest it 2 and he takes showers with me when I need to take it during the day or a time when he is awake. Most times I just wait until after they have had their baths and are in bed. I then hop in the shower.
I have done the shared shower thing quite often. A neat things my kids love is getting one of those bath seats that they can sit in. I then have the shower on but the tub plug in so that it can fill up some while I shower. This gives my son some water to play in so I dont have to hold him the whole time.

bruised · 02-03-2003, 11:52 PM

When the kids were babies I would have a shower and they would be in their crib.When they were toddler age I put a gate up in the hall with toys and shut the doors and kept the hall light on.Never had any problems.Same with house cleaning.Their rooms were child proof,so I would put a gate on their door and have it open so I could hear and check on them.I knew their room was safe so it never bothered me.Those gates came in handy.But I usually have the door open to hear now,and d has shower with me because she's the curious cat now and gotta watch her.

mommyof5 · 02-04-2003, 10:32 AM

I have taken them all in the shower with me from about 18 months. It actually worked really well for me because bending over the bathtub really hurts my back( I have a sciatic(sp?) nerve problem). When they were younger I brought the exersaucer right in the bathroom (it's 9 by 12 feet) and when they were even younger I put them in their infant car seat. If they were still in cribs, I would take my shower during their naptime, I just brought the baby monitor in and blared it.

mommyof5