Advice request from more experienced moms
Since I typically get more hits after the weekend, I figure now is the best time to ask these questions.
1. On Madeleine
She has expressed a desire to bathe on her own. She's been washing herself, except for her hair, while one of us washes Rachel since she was four. I know she's pretty thorough. Her hair, though, is quite long and thick and we've always washed (and conditioned) it.
My question is, when should we let her try to wash her own hair? We still use tear-free shampoo for all of them. Should we look into one of those hand-held showerheads to make it easier for her?
UPDATE 6/19--she did just fine in the shower, mentioning how it "tickled." I provided assistance with the hair, but I'll bet within two weeks I'll be unnecessary. Hooray!
2. On Rachel
She's been potty-trained during the day for months now and nighttime came about the same time. When should we start leaving the pull-ups off her? This issue hasn't come up before; Maddie still needs them. The Boy started staying dry about the time he potty-trained too. Then the day before his third birthday we went to a hamburger playplace and the next day we went to a pizza playplace; all of the running around brought on diaper rash. The doc told us to leave off the pull-ups at night (he was staying dry anyway) and we haven't gone back.
Rachel is still in the crib so changing sheets isn't a HUGE project, not to mention everything is waterproofed. I'm seriously thinking this weekend. Advice?
Labels: kids
11 Comments:
My girls were dry day & night week before they were 2 & the boys week before 3..Hope this helps. i let my 6 year old with long hair shower & wash herself inc hair..
God bless
In foster care classes we are taught to teach children 5 and up to shower.
Reasons: Kids that young shouldn't be taking baths alone but they are old enough to need privacy.
Our foster daughter was six with long hair. After showing her once how to turn on the water and what shampoo and conditioner were she didn't need to be shown again. They learn quickly.
I'd recommend detangler spray for her hair as it will still be tangled no matter how well you teach her to condition. She's still a little girl who will sing and dream while showering. The detangler spray is a wonderful thing.
All my boys were showering at 5 also.
I forgot an important detail..
A non-skid pad on the shower floor or sticky anti-slip decals.
"Orange stuff" is a must at our house! The Boy has had Rachel's hair dripping when he combs her hair, but I'm willing to pay that price.
You say 5-year-olds should shower; that's opposed to baths, right? *sigh* She doesn't like the water coming down on her head. I suppose she'll have to get used to it someday, right?
Well... tonight is a "hair-washing night." We'll see how it goes...
I don't really consider myself an experienced Mom since each one of these little angels sends me for a loop every day and I never know what to expect next. However, I will tell you what we do here....
My five year old likes to take baths by himself and we let him. I just get the bath water ready and help him get in and away we go. I check on him periodically. He usually gives me a shout for a 'hair shampooing check' and then I come in for a final rinse. He still feels like he's doing it on his own and I'm satisfied that he's clean! I've done this with the previous two and it's worked out well.
Oh and I suppose the lake on the floor is a big indication that he's thoroughly been washed :-)
As far as pull-ups go, I'd give it a whirl....she may very well surprise you. If you don't mind the accidents to start off, I say go for it girl!
Yes, I meant shower instead of bath. Some of the kids do have to get used to the water on their backs first and then ease their head backward so as not to splash their faces so much but they do figure out what is comfortable for them.
If all those other kiddos in foster care can do it our Maddie can do it. Tell her I have faith in her. :-)
My almost 6 year-old niece showers by herself. My sister kind of transitioned it with shampoo and conditioner checks. A coincidence, maybe, but since she's been doing her own hair, she's been asking for haircuts to keep it between her chin and her collarbone.
We let our supply of diapers run out and then ditched them at night. But Echo was staying dry most nights even before we made the leap to potty training. She has very small accidents sometimes, but I think they just wake her up, because usually the sheets aren't even wet. I'd be more worried about what Maddie will think than about Rachel having accidents. I'm even considering ditching Echo's rubber sheet, but I'm just not that confident yet.
Showers are definitely easier especially with long hair.
If she does not have a hair-wash every day, let her bathe solo on the days when she doesn't. Maybe once a week, introduce a shower on a non-hair-wash day. She may like it better with a hand-held shower, as you mention. It will give her more control.
As for the pull-ups, some kids need them. Some kids don't. Let the little one give them up if she is ready. No fanfare, just give them up. There is no need to hold her back just because an older sibling still needs them. It's just a way in which they are different, like one may have long hair or brown eyes or whatever.
I suppose I should clarify about Rachel. She's been wet about 4 times since the end of March; it's just with the warm weather, I imagine pull-ups are uncomfortable.
I'm just not looking forward to late night sheet changes, I guess.
Maddie was okay with her brother going without 'em; she reasoned it's because he's a boy.
When Jenessa was six I let her shower by herself, however, her hair was down to her bottom (she sits on her hair now!) so she would call me in for shampoo and conditioner checks.
As far as pull ups, we only had to buy one package. She got used to the idea quickly.
Did you attempt the shower last night? If so, how did she like her new adventure? :-)
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