Babysitter giving bath

[Guest]

It's no big deal, just a small handful of squashy flesh.

[AnnaKay]

Lol, were you an eager beaver at that age to show an older boy your naked body?

Yes.

[Guest]

Lol, were you an eager beaver at that age to show an older boy your naked body?

eager beaver?
is that another word for slut?

[LindaPreston]

I wasn't in the bath, it was the boy! I was fully dressed, whatever next.

[AnnaKay]

I wasn't in the bath, it was the boy! I was fully dressed, whatever next.

I think the comment was addressed to me.

[Kalith]

I wasn't in the bath, it was the boy! I was fully dressed, whatever next.

I think the comment was addressed to me.

It was addressed to her, and I meant it to say would you feel confortable.

Either way annakay, I know I speak for many of my friends when I say six years ago we didn't want to talk to many girls let alone let them touch us dressed or undressed.

[MatthewBach]

I didn't hit puberty until I was 16. The latest I remember I was bathed by my stepmother was when I was 14 years old. She used to bathe me and my stepbrother (7 year old at the time) together in a large bathtub. One day I felt like having a shower alone and she said "fine, but leave the door open so I can come and check you." I started to bathe by myself, while she kept coming in daily to check I was doing fine for like two months or so (I never cared about this as I was still a boy and wasn't embarrassed at that time about being naked in front of her; I just wanted to bathe by myself) and then she slowly started to let go. Maybe she was a bit overprotective as she never pushed me to bathe by myself when I was younger, but on the other hand I never asked to bathe alone until I was 14 year old, and the moment I did she stopped. I call this a bit of overprotection, but certainly not child abuse.

[Guest]

I didn't hit puberty until I was 16. The latest I remember I was bathed by my stepmother was when I was 14 years old. She used to bathe me and my stepbrother (7 year old at the time) together in a large bathtub. One day I felt like having a shower alone and she said "fine, but leave the door open so I can come and check you." I started to bathe by myself, while she kept coming in daily to check I was doing fine for like two months or so (I never cared about this as I was still a boy and wasn't embarrassed at that time about being naked in front of her; I just wanted to bathe by myself) and then she slowly started to let go. Maybe she was a bit overprotective as she never pushed me to bathe by myself when I was younger, but on the other hand I never asked to bathe alone until I was 14 year old, and the moment I did she stopped. I call this a bit of overprotection, but certainly not child abuse.

I really don't see a problem with a parent bathing or sitting in on a bath to make sure the child is alright as long as the child doesn't have a problem with it. I believe after a child reaches about age 8 or 9, it is in their hands, and they can choose. It's certainly alright if the child chooses to continue with the original process, but most of the time parents want to push them along to do it for themselves.

[Manda Smith]

The only reason he's probably not wanting to be bathed is because he believes his thing is small. I'll be the first to tell you that my son's thing isn't very big, but I have taught him not to be ashamed of his body. I'm pretty sure your son can bathe himself now, but a good body image is a good thing for kids. If this is the case, tell him that it is normal, and that he souldn't worry about things like that.

[Guest]

The only reason he's probably not wanting to be bathed is because he believes his thing is small. I'll be the first to tell you that my son's thing isn't very big, but I have taught him not to be ashamed of his body. I'm pretty sure your son can bathe himself now, but a good body image is a good thing for kids. If this is the case, tell him that it is normal, and that he souldn't worry about things like that.

Well it is not normal for his "thing" to be small. Do like most parents and ruin his self confidence.

[Guest]

I have a 4 year old son who can bath himself i stand and make sure he washes properly but i started showing him how to wash himself when he was about 2 and a half my other son is 2 and a half and im now learning him how to wash obviously he cant do it yet but by the time he is 4 like my other son im sure he will be able to wash himself, both my boys love there baths. I think at the age of 12 he should be able to wash himself i feel its a bit degrading been bathed at 12. My son wont come downstairs without pants on if there is someone here and as i said he is only 4 years old. Talk to your son and tell him if he dont want to be bathed by the babysitter then he must wash himself, if he still cant do it cant you bath him before or after work? Please think about you sons feelings think how you would feel if you dad wanted to bath you at that age. i dont meen this in a nasty way i really wish you all the best, let us know how you get on.

[Guest]

If your son can't wash himself at 12, then he is retarded.

[David B.]

I grew up in the UK in the 80's and while I have never been bathed by a babysitter (apart from a grandparent at age 6 or 7), my Mum is the only other person to have given me a bath.

From the age of around 9 or so I was left to bath myself and was reminded by Mum every now and again to wash well and yada yada. Well like some boys I started off okay but a couple of years down the line a tended to have a 'quick' bath and only do a few spashed here in there hardly touching the soap. Well, one day after school when I was 12 and still pre-puberty, Mum noticed that I looked a bit dirty behind my ears and she asked me if I was washing myself properly and using soap, so I lied and said, 'yes.' However what I didn't realise is that Mum had checked to see if the soap was wet for the last week or so and noticed that it was hardly wet or used!! Well I was now in for a surprise when she confronted me with this hard evidence. She told me to go to my room, undress completely then goto the bathroom by which time she would have the bathtub ready. Once I arrived at the bathroom, Mum looked at my naked body (I wasn't embarrassed because she'd seen me naked before) and told me that I needed to be given a good bath. I think I said, "Aww!" but Mum ushered me into the tub none-the-less. Once in the bath Mum proceeded to bath me all over and get her dirty child squeaky clean!

Since then I can tell you that I bathed myself thoroughly and kept my self clean since then and particularly during puberty. So although I'd never admit this to my mates, I was glad Mum gave me a bath that day because it rang home the importance of cleanliness in time for when I started puberty around 13.

As for a teenage babysitter giving a boy of 12 a bath. Not sure - maybe the 17 year old but only if she was the boy's sister. Somehow I don't think it'd be appropriate otherwise.

David

[AussieAdam]

I have replied to this post when it was in its infancy however there is another slant to this that has not been considered.

We live in an age where people are ready to sue at the drop of a hat. We live in a compensation culture.

Apart from the fact that most 12 year old boys would rather have their bits cut off than washed by a 14 year old girl, imadgine that nightmare scenario......babysitter gives 12 year old boy a bath.
12 year old then decides they want another half hour on the play station playing baby eating zombie carnage ( or anyone of the cute games avaialble today ).

Babysitter says NO, theres a big row.....12 year old smart ass then says....''Im gonna tell my mum that you wouldnt leave my willy alone when I was in the bath'' '' Im gonna tell her you tried to get in the bath with me''

It would never happen?.......There are so many cases nowadays where false accusations of abuse are made out of spite.

So apart from the moral issues there is every reason why in todays society a 12 year old boy or girl should be left to wash their own bits or allowed to stink and grow crusty

[David Ba.]

bloody hell! if you must have someone wash your 12 year old boy, i would say the 17 year old. but like another person said, he is probably going through puberty, he will be shy about all that as it is, than letting some girl washing him, jesus!
tell him to learn to wash properly himself or you will be taking all luxeries away from him.
if i had a kid of 12 i wouldnt let anyone else wash him/her!

Wow - what a topic. Some of the comments are interesting here. I haven't been bathed by a babysitter (although I've been seen nude a few times by the 21 y.o. girl we had when I was 12) but it sounds like various ethical issues would be raised if a teenage girl bathed a 12 y.o. boy so I think the boy's Mum would be the best bet to bathe him.
Now I think in certain circumstances it is okay for a boy of 12 to be bathed but only by his parents. While reading these posts I can relate to Nicholas' experiences as I have aspergers syndrome and had a slight mental handicap while growing up. I began puberty a bit later than other boys at around 13 - and Mum continued to bathe me twice a week until I was about 13. I think when Mum noticed I had a growth spurt and started to grow more pubic hair around my penis she suggested that I take over myself. But - like Nicholas I had no problems with Mum bathing me.
I think I would have felt uneasy about being bathed by our sitter but I would have been okay with her sitting in the bathroom while I had a bath at 12. This was probably because she'd seen me naked before and I knew her a long time as she was a friend of the family.