ANSWERS: 44
  • That's stupid. I guess then it's going to be inappropriate for me to bathe my son next year, even though I'm the only parent? I better hire a male bather.....It's dumb if you ask me.
  • I think it is quite ok at that age. Now if she was 12 I might disagree..LOL but not 5. I would also watch to see how she feels. My girls were probably around 8 or 9 when they became really aware around their dad.
  • Some people should mind their own business. That's absurd. A child should and could be bathed by both parents until he or she is able to do it alone, in my opinion.
  • I disagree as well..if that were the case..mothers should not bathe their sons..single fathers would have to hire outside help to bathe their daughters...No..I disagree..you are in the right
  • she's still a child a your a parent. that is stupid. ignore people like that. it's not like your a mother breast feeding a 7 yr old child!
  • Its only inappropriate when your girls tell you to let them bath by themselves... Ive got 2 girls 3yrs & 4 Mo & NOBODY can tell me what I should do to keep them clean...
  • Some people have had some nasty experiences that lead them to sexualise things that we wouldn't normally associate as such. That may be the case with this person. If your daughter doesn't care about you being in there, and as long as you don't sexualise the act yourself, I don't see any problems.
  • That, my friend, is complete crap. As long as your daughter needs your help, you be there to help her :)
  • I agree with you. This is between you and your daughter. And that idiot needs to mind her own bussiness. As soon as your daughter says she doesn't want you in the bathroom with her than you should stop. But at 5 she needs help to learn how to bath right.And there's nothing wrong with an opposite sex parent helping a child bath or dress. Woman do it all the time. I have two sons. One's two and the others 7. Not only do they bath together by choice, but I still kind of have to help my 7 year old wash his hair. And as a single mom what would I do in that situation? I can't have Jay do it. Not only is he dead, but he was uncomfortable to be around when either of the boys was au natuaral because of the stigma towards men being around naked children. So I still had to do it. Now, if it gets like my friend and her 11 year old who has to take showers with mom just to keep her from getting scared or to make sure she does it right then you have a problem.
  • The "parent of one of your daughter's classmates" is way out of line when she tries to tell how to raise your daughter. I think it's fine that a daughter gets bathed by a loving Dad. You'll know when it's time to stop. That "parent...classmates" is a buzy body, and most likely is tied up in her own or his own sexuality.
  • it's fine. pay no attention to nosey people
  • Geeze, she's only 5! She can't very well bathe herself that well yet, and she shouldn't be left in a bathtub by herself anyway. Some people just over react to everything.
  • Being a child development major this has came up many of times *sigh I don’t see anything wrong with a father bathing his daughter my father did it. I think the people who view it wrong have malicious minds but at the same time with so many bastards and chills predators in this world you don’t know what to think anymore *sigh
  • The parent has no say in your parenting method, each child is that parents responcibility. I dont think it is wrong at all, my own father would bath me. He'd kneel by the side of the bath and supervise, even play with the toys and interact in my childish bathtime antics. Without ATLEAST supervision, a child could drown, choke, or heaven forbid...forget to wash their hair! Keep it up!
  • Um. Your her father you have every right to. I do think it's inappropriate when she gets that age where she can bathe herself and you still bathe her lol.
  • I'm a father who is both of my daughters only parent, if I was wrong for bathing them, They wouldn't smell very nice.
  • This guy sounds like a weirdo himself, as other people have pointed out. You are in the right. Some families are very into modesty, some aren't so much, but there's no one right way to parent.
  • u can bathe ur daughter any freakin time u want. shes urs.i bathe my 5yr old grandaughter. tell the parent to mind their damn business.what the world doesnt have is good fathers, god bless u.
  • Just be glad you and your child have a normal healthy relationship where something as simple as a bath is not sexualized.
  • I remember when my older daughter (now 14) was young, about 3 or 4 years old, and I asked my mother "Mom, how old does H. have to be before I don't have to worry about her drowing in the bathtub if she's left alone ?" And my mom, with a totally straight face, said "Eighteen." It was funny then, and still funny to me now, but at least now that she's older, and I have a second child, I understand that she really wasn't making a joke. That as a parent, you always worry that even when they seem "big enough" to do something on their own doesn't mean they really are. It can't hurt to err on the side of caution, and be there with her. I think at 5 she's big enough to really bathe herself, with the except of her hair (most kids, especially those with longer hair, can't manage that for several years !) - but being in the bathroom with her to both ensure her safety and to make sure she's actually washing and not just playing seems perfectly fine to me. I would expect my husband to do the same if I didn't feel up for doing bathtime, and wouldn't think it was weird, so I doubt there's any difference in your case.
  • I agree with many of the opinions here. The only disturbing thing is that the other parent thinks of it that way. Parents are parents- kids need to be near small children when in bathtubs, etc so they stay safe. It's not practical for the same sex parent to only be the one to bathe a child. Also, people need to realize that not everyone is a child molester. It's sad that it's come to this. I think that person is 100% incorrect. Keep on parenting, Jtolb.
  • I agree with you. I believe it is alright to bathe or at least supervise bathing your children. The time to stop would be when your daughter is not comfortable with you being there anymore. I really wish people would let the PARENTS raise thier kids and not interfere unless neccessary.
  • It's your child and you should wash her, it would be different if it was your niece or grandchild. It's alright for a mother to bathe her son so of course it's all right for you! It also gives you some great bonding time! as long as you and your wife are fine with it then it should be fine with everyone! P.s. how did you start talking about this!!!?
  • Thats stupid. I am a single father and my 5 year old daughter lives with me and my parents. So there is no mother around for her to be bathed by and I am in charge of her so most of the time I bath her myself.
  • thats nthe most ridiculous thing i have ever heard! there is nothing wrong with that. it is ur daughter. ur allowed to bathe ur own child.
  • Your daughter will develop her own modesty in her own time. As soon as she says "no, daddy, I'll do it myself," you can stop. Until then, you have every right and responsibility to care for your child.
  • It's perfectly normal and fine for a father to bathe his 5 year old daughter. My husband does it and I see nothing wrong with it. However, there are a lot of sick people out there. But your a loving dad and you are doing nothing wrong and there will come a time when your daughter will tell you to get lost, politely! Don't worry about it.
  • she is very wrong.. until the child is old enough to bathe herself it is perfectly acceptable for you to bathe her!
  • Thats ridiculous. I would have argued with her too. I only get access to my daughter once a week. So am i supposed to stop bathing her in a couple of years??? madness
  • when my daughter was 5 i used to help bath her. mainly because the thought of leaving her on her own scared me in case something happened. one day she told me she can wash herself now she's 7 so i run her bath and i leave her to have some privacy. your child will tell you when they want to do things themselves. this other person is probably one of those who can't show affection and anyone who is close to their child is a potential paedophile. screw her
  • The other parent sounds like a pervert. It's they who have the issue, not you.
  • Don't worry about what that prude said, she's your baby & there is nothing wrong with a daddy helping his daughter take a bath no more then they are a mother helping her son. Like some of the other ABers said when shes ready(just like lil boys) to bath her self by herself she will tell you. All it takes is 2 inches of water for a child to drown in & not to mention kids at that age tend to not clean their selves because they are to busy playing. We as parents have to remind them & sometimes supervise them if not we would get critisized for having dirty kids so don't worry about what he said, you keep helping your daughter as long as she needs it.
  • My nephew already bathes himself and he is five. Maybe she was suggesting that she was already old enough to bathe alone? If you feel she is not ready try to encourage her.
  • nothing wrong with that. i bathe my 5yr old son. we are PARENTS. i can"t believe the way this world is today
  • I would vehemently disagree too! If she were 15, it would be inappropriate. But she's 5, and it's a GOOD thing she is comfortable and happy with her daddy, not a bad one. As long as you don't expect to bathe with her or to bathe other people's little girls, you're totally in the clear and that other parent is paranoid and has an unhealthy attitude.
  • ew thats gross, i can remeber back to when i was 5 and i would have been freaked out if my dad gave me bath.
  • I think you are doing the right thing...if your child still needs your help to bathe then you are obligated to help her...I have a son...does that mean as a single mother i should call my ex over to bathe him? The only thing I disagree with (as I am going through this right now) is that my ex allows his girlfriend to bathe our daughter. It's not because of who she is but because I feel he is not takin responsibility for his daughters needs...(she is 3). in his case he is having our daughter cared for by anyone but himself, and that I dont find right...you are taking an active role in the care anf well being of your daughter and that is all that should matter...now...once your daughter reaches a certain age (say 10 and up or so, unless other issues are at play here) then she should be able to take her bath without any assistance unless she asks for it...then it is up to the parent that is available to do so.
  • It is most certainly okay for you to bathe your 5 yr old daughter. If you were a single parent would they expect your child to go unclean strictly because you are a male? Until a child can be left unattended in the tub they shouldn't be in there alone and what difference does it make if you are a man or a woman? Obviously the individual who suggested this has some serious hang-ups about their youth and while that's too bad for them, they really shouldn't project it on to practical strangers. Don't fret about this matter another moment. You shouldn't be made to feel like some pedophile just because you are the man.
  • You are right. The classmate's parent is wrong. 'Nuff said.
  • There seems to be this huge concern over protecting our child which has become something of a witch hunt. ALL men must be molesting children and perverts. Why is it that dads have to be so damn careful about what they do with their children? I feel it must take some of the love and joy that daughters and dads share away. I would have told this women she has a dirty mind and frankly if she thinks thoughts like that perhaps she shouldn't be bathing her own child.
  • Oh yeah, just let the kid go without bathing, that would be better, huh?! No matter how hard you try to avoid it, there are idiots everywhere! Pray for them, and bathe your daughter.
  • You are caring for your child where it the problem with that, every child progresses differently and some children need more supervison and care then others but when she feels confortable to do it her self then she will say so, what if you were a single dad? then what would the parent say? don't bathe her? That is crazy, There are too many people out there anymore who are trying to disrup too many things, sure there are bad people out there but don't make what that one bad person did change the laws and force people to change thier lives because of it.
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  • I only recently stopped bathing my daughter and shes 6. I let her do most of her washing, aside from washing her hair. But I dont just leave alone. Shes far too young for that. Some people just love to stir up contreversies over nothing.

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