Bath Sharing - How Old is Too Old?

This is a question that has been hotly debated in the media recently…

How old is too old for a child to share a bath with their parents?

Lauren Libbert was recently the subject of a This Morning phone-in, where she was criticised for letting her 10 and 11 year old sons share a bath with her.

“If they’re happy with it, we’ll have a bath together maybe once a week. It’s something we all enjoy.

I’ve a tiny bathroom but we’ll all scooch together and have a bath together and my boys are very comfortable with them being naked and me being naked.”

The viewer phone-ins and parenting forums blew up with outraged parents who wholeheartedly disagree with Lauren, leaving statements such as;

#thismorning You can follow up the two SONS in ten years time, in therapy because of still bathing with mum at 10 and 11 – This isn't right for daughters let alone sons!!!

— JK (@JusLord) March 27, 2018

During the segment, life coach and dad Ben Edwards stated that bath sharing with pre-teens was ‘wrong and can lead to confusion’ as they’re at that age where they’re going to be figuring out body parts.’

In response, Lauren stated that if and when her sons want to stop bath sharing, she’d happily listen. This Morning host Holly Willoughby questioned Ben, asking if he could be “over-sexualising’ the bath sharing situation and ‘taking away the innocence of a parent-child relationship.”

Ben then responded, saying; “…it’s just where does that line come? A little girl is going to have changes that they might not want to show their dad!”

Whilst many viewers expressed their discomfort with the idea of Lauren sharing baths with her pre-teen sons, lots of viewers took to the phones and social media to share their more understanding perspectives…

Nothing wrong with it! Been brought up that way since I was little and I don't feel "embarrassed" or "sexual confusion", etc. I think the discussion was over thought. #ThisMorning

— Richard Conway (@wickdaman) March 27, 2018

 It’s a difficult topic, one rife with many opposing opinons – what is YOUR opinion? How old is TOO old in your eyes?

Personally for me, I’m happy to continue until Max states he’s not comfortable with sharing a bath with me… nudity is natural, and whilst boundaries are important, it’s also important to listen to our kids and what they’re happy with!

Love from Katie. Xx

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