Any tips on how to get my 5 year old to bathe himself? I didn’t have this problem with my oldest. I had no resistance from him at all. But my little one WILL NOT. I’ve tried bribery, YouTube videos, reverse psychology (lol), I’m at a complete loss at this point. At most he’ll splash around and rub the bar soap on his stomach and say he’s done
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Hes 5. Why are parents in such a rush to have their kids grow up?
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Enjoy this time, next year they will not want your help. Relax mom.
I’m so impressed, you dream big! I’m not even that confident in my 10 year old. 
Sit with him and tell him what to do step by step until he has the routine down. Let him get some fun kids soap that he picks out. Reward a good bath time with a privilege that he won’t get otherwise.
Try the shower it helped with my boy
Bubbles always helps. Also those children squeeze soaps that they can use to draw on the tub walls with. Make it a fun bath time 
I personally think 5 is still young.
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My son is 7 and has really long hair I got him to wash his body but he figuring out his hair now but I still have to help every kid different my 4 year old daughter on the other hand no issues I still talk her through it when I need to but she’s got it figured out I started out by handing them the loofa soaped up and would name body parts off as they went like time for your chest time for your feet times for you but vagina penis ect and eventually they got to were they put the soap on themselves and wash themselves hair is only thing I do have to help with especially with my son he has hair down to his but crack so it can be hard to take care of a lot of hair
My mom did this for me and now I do it with my kids. Get them to stand up in the tub or out of the way of the shower… put soap in their hands and get them to lather it up really good. Now tell them to make a snowman of themselves… cover all your bits and pieces in the soap bubbles to make yourself a snowman. Then you get to melt the snowman away by rinsing all the bubbles off and they are back to themselves only now they are clean!!! Mine love it an so did I!
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Let him pick out the soap at the store, my 5 year old loves the colorful foam soaps, I spray it in his hand, he rubs it all over
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I just put bubble bath in lol let them soak lol
He’s 5… he wouldn’t even know how to bathe properly even if he did bathe himself. My son bathes himself he’s 5 but I still go in there and help him with the main parts of his body.
My daughter is 8 and still takes baths lol but her hair is to her butt so i wash that first. Pin it up and she does the rest. But im gonna start to teach her how to shaower on her own soon.
Kids are nowhere near the same! My first easy peasy, was bathing, and getting himself dressed by three. My youngest is almost 6 and just started to bath and dress himself. Don’t fret Mama he will get there!
I hand mine a wash cloth with soap on it and tell him wash your face, stomach, legs ect. And he does just that it took a few times to get the hang of it but he’s doing good now, after he’s finished I go back over one time. Good luck Mama!
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Sing a song bout taking a bath
Give him shaped colorful soap
This is the way we wash our hands
Wash our hands
Wash our hands
This is the way we wash our hands when we take a bath
Repeat and Use every body part. HANDS FEET ARMS LEGS STOMACH CHEST UNDERARMS NECK
FRONT AND BACK PARTS (however you call them )
You wash his back so he can feel that at least you did wash something.
Did this with all 5 of mine
By the time they turned 5-6. They didn’t want me to bathe them no more.
Cocomelon bathtime song worked with my lo
He’s 5. Wash him yourself, let him play and help.
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Give him a washcloth and a pump body wash. Show him what to do until he gets good at it. You do it also
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I do showers for my kids, their own loofah and some fun looking soap. My 5 yr old still needs help bathing herself though and be reminded to wash all body parts lol
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He is 5 give the boy a break and crack on and get him washed
Make him shower instead of giving him a pool to play in.
You help and teach him. He’s still little. Exercise some patience and encourage him. He’ll get there.
Ive showered with my now 6 yr old daughter. She’s been cleaning herself for the last year or so. I’ll just talk her through the areas to clean, she will watch how I clean myself and copy, make sure she gets all the important parts
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We supervise our 6 year old while he bathes so he can learn how to do it properly. We gave our son googles to go “diving” with and that’s how he rinses the soap from his body and hair. Make it fun for him, boys need a constant source of entertainment/excitement.
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I still help my 6 year old and both my 4 year olda
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Bath crayons, mark the spots he needs to wash really good (pits, booty,feeties) have him wash the colors off. Or lots of bubbles on the lufa, tell him to cover himself in bubbles!
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Every child is different, some more advanced than others, right now just continue to bathe him, he will be grown before you know it and you will want these times back, trust me, and he will get it soon enough mama
Hes 5. They still need help at that age.
Had the same issue with my 2 oldest one never had any problem. My youngest was in the shower(so we thought) stepped in to get his clothes he was sitting on the toilet playing on his phone with the water running
Put a squirt of Castile soap in the bath with him and call it a day lol
I wouldn’t worry about it too much!
They’re only 5…
Mine only bathed like once a week. lol
….well I still bathe my 5 year old lol. He does attempt to wash by lightly rubbing the soap around but then I finish him up. I think at this age they still need help with self care
I seen where a lady made flash cards of each body part he had to pick a card and whatever was on the card that’s the part he had to wash…. That’s where you put the privates and the feet last, so they will be picked last!
Let him pick a bathset from 5 below with body wash and a loofa and stuff and tell him this is his big boy kit for showering himself. And a reward chart for showering and washing himself. Then whatever prize you deem fit. I usually did dollar store bath toys or more stickers and tattoos. Good luck! 
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Just teach him and one day soon when he doesn’t want u on there he will do it him self, on days u dont want to, bubbles and tell him to rinse or he will b itchy
Shower with dad? That’s what we do
They see you showering every day
They’ll follow suite
Kids are different. I used to help my son until he was 6 to 7 but my daughter is more independent she already doing it by herself at 4 and wants to be alone inside the shower but I still stay in the bathroom coz am scared she might slip. He’s only 5 so still good to get help.
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He’s not ready. He will when he’s ready. Don’t try to force him to grow up faster than he wants to. Let him be little while he is little.
One day he he will be grown, bathing himself, and gone. You will be wishing he was that 5 yr old refusing to bath himself again one day
I kinda had to force my now 6 year old to learn quickly to shower I was going to have surgery on my thumb and couldn’t get my cast wet. I just keep the shower curtain slightly open so I can watch but grab a wash rag and I instructed what needs to be done
Give him a soaped up loufa.
He’s 5. I have 3 grandsons 7, 5 and 3 I still “help” with their bathing. I give them a scrubadub with soap on it and we go down the body together. “OK wash your neck, your body, your arms don’t forget your arm pits, your penis, where the poop comes from and legs”. I still wash their hair and their backs they do the rest even the 3 year old. My method may not work for you but it’s what worked for my own children and the grands.
I’m at 9 yo son trying to figure it out too😂
Why are you to lazy to bath your child that’s pretty young, be a parent.
Bathed my son till about 5-6 yrs old. They need to be shown how and what to do. My 5yr old could not wash his own hair and get the soap out himself.
you should explain the possibility of infection if he doesn’t clean properly
Considering he’s only 5, I’d say this is pretty normal behavior. I still bathe and shower my 7 year old twin boys myself because without guidance, it turns into playtime and a lot of water where it shouldn’t be 
Just keep encouraging him. It takes time!
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Kids can’t learn if you don’t teach them at that age they still need the assistance
Encouraging a 5-year-old to bathe themselves can sometimes be a challenge, but with patience and persistence, you can help develop their independence. Here are some tips to encourage your child to take more responsibility for their own bathing routine:
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Make it fun: Create a positive and enjoyable bathing experience. Use colorful bath toys, fun bath products with their favorite characters, or play their favorite music in the background. Make it a time for them to have some fun while getting clean.
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Set a routine: Establish a consistent bathing routine that includes specific times for bathing, such as before dinner or bedtime. Having a predictable routine can help your child understand and anticipate when it’s time for them to take charge of their bathing.
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Provide guidance and supervision: Initially, offer your child guidance and supervision during their bathing routine. Show them the steps involved, such as wetting their body, applying soap, rinsing off, and drying themselves. Be patient and teach them gradually, allowing them to take on more tasks as they become comfortable.
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Use age-appropriate tools and products: Consider using child-friendly products like liquid soap or body wash that are easier for them to handle compared to bar soap. Provide a small step stool to help them reach the sink or shower controls comfortably.
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Offer choices and autonomy: Empower your child by offering choices within limits. Let them pick their favorite bath products, towels, or washcloths. Giving them a sense of control can make them more interested in participating in the process.
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Break it down into smaller tasks: If your child feels overwhelmed by the idea of bathing themselves all at once, break the process into smaller, manageable tasks. Start with letting them wash their hands and gradually introduce other tasks like washing their face or feet.
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Use visual aids and charts: Create a visual chart or checklist with simple illustrations or pictures showing the steps of their bathing routine. This can help them follow the sequence and provide a sense of accomplishment as they complete each task.
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Positive reinforcement: Praise and encourage your child’s efforts when they show initiative and attempt to bathe themselves. Use verbal praise, high-fives, or small rewards to acknowledge their progress and motivate them to continue taking on more responsibility.
Remember, every child is different, and it may take time for your little one to develop the habit of bathing independently. Be patient, consistent, and supportive, and eventually, they will become more comfortable and confident in taking care of their own bathing routine.
He’s still in the age range of needing assistance; so…help him. TEACH him how to bathe correctly; we aren’t born with that knowledge; it’s learned. But; it’s also COMPLETELY NORMAL for kids to still need help older than 5, I was helping my oldest with the whole routine until he was 7-8; at that point it was more just me popping into the bathroom and reminding him what parts to wash and ensuring he got all shampoo/conditioner out of his hair.
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5 is still to young to bathe themselves. I hope he is being supervised
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I know grown women and men who can’t bathe themselves right🤦♀️
Maybe try kids foam soap or soap crayons for him to use on his body to make washing fun. Play wash the body part and say in a single song voice this is the way to wash your arm wash your arm wash your arm etc. And demonstrate or help him by hand over hand. Boys are too fun for sure. 
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He’s still really young.
Adjust your expectations so you’re not getting frustrated.
Also, he’s NOT your oldest so don’t expect him to stick to someone else’s pace of hitting milestones.
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They make so many fun little things to put in the bath. For my little we had just gotten him this colorful confetti that is actually soap and it colors the water too. We sprinkle it all over him while he’s in the tub and he thinks confetti is falling on him and just loves it. There is also colored powders that are soap and they smell really really good. You just sprinkle those into the water as well. It just makes it a little more fun. We play music and danced around all silly when he was in there singing ScrubaDub the kid is in the tub lol. Also at one point we made a chart for things like bath time or pouring your own drink or brushing your teeth, and then that weekend I would take him to the Dollar Tree and he would get to pick a couple of things out or I started stashing stuff and let him pick out of a box. It was a good incentive. There is also songs and videos you can play. Good luck! It is definitely tough to get these little turds to do stuff sometimes
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i try to buy new soaps and washes fun bubbles i also use some wash in the water sonif hes not washing really well atleast i know hes soaking in soapy water lol. washing my 6 yr olds hair is the hardest but he likes to lay back now and put his own head in the water
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The only thing that helped was buying my 5 year old a scrubby that the soap goes into. He likes lathering it up and scrubbing himself ONLY with that for some reason. I sit in the bathroom with him and we go from top to bottom. And I him once he’s scrubbed THEN I will put the toys in the tub.
I still bathe all of my kids. My youngest is 5 and if I left him alone in the tub, he would just play and soak my bathroom. Lol. I still help my 8 year old in the bath with washing her hair. They all go at their own pace.
Clean your cracks or no snacks!
My daughter is 6 and I have to still stand in there and say “Don’t forget your neck! Don’t forget your pits! Don’t forget your feet!”
So the answer is, he’s 5… you still have to do your part and teach him.
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See if your older child will take a bath at the same time!?!
I still wash my daughters hair and she is 11 
her hair is long and if I allow her to do it, it would be a rats nests lol
At age 9 my son would go in for a shower and just turn the water on, then sit on the bath mat for what he felt was an appropriate length of time. His hair was always dry after shower number 1. Then he picked up that mom checked to see if his hair was wet so he started just getting in the shower - no soap of any kind. It took awhile to get him to wash. At age 13, I still think it’s hit or miss sometimes. Sometimes I have to make him go back and wash his hair again bc he did such a lazy job of it that it’s still dirty.
Consistency is all you can do. But 5 is VERY young to be expected to wash himself without some assistance - even if it’s just telling him what to wash next.
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In your place, I’d wash him myself or sit by the tub coaching, and tell him he’d get private bath time when he could wash up properly to my satisfaction.
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Age 5 - they are still so young . Help him out. Make it fun!
Also don’t compare what the first child did to this one. First child was alone and had 1000% of the attention of the parents. Where as the family starts to grow your focus is little more all over.
Let’s our kids be kids. And it’s our job as a parent to teach them and guide them.
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5 is a little young to expect self sufficiency. You could try a bath time checklist with a reward at the end
Bath bubbles, action figures and a wash rag should do the trick.
You do his naked and tenders then leave him to play.
What do you mean “bathe himself” lol he’s only 5.
Just continuously, patiently show him, how to wash every part and it will eventually become habitually. When he can do everything on his own, you let him shower himself 
Most kids learn by practicing the technique by themselves -goes for everything. Each child is different and it may take a couple years to perfect. I’m big on personal hygiene so bathing/showering properly is high on my priority list of what I teach my kids.
He’ll get it eventually just keep showing him every day. Make it fun and casual, don’t make it a huge deal. Bathes/showers should be fun for kids and eventually relaxing for adults!
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My son is 9 and I still have to bath him😭
Colored foam soap … instant rags that are tiny and expand in water . Dollar tree use to carry those. Bubble bath
It’s too young to expect them to do a decent job. I’d pop them in a shower and wash their hair and vital parts. The rest will get soapy anyway. Mine just hated baths.
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Try timing him to see how fast he can wash his arms or feet and turn it into a fun competition, all little boys want to do is compete😂
What about the bath paints and markers ? They’re all washable and they can draw all over the tub while they’re in there , or the color changing water tabs
Evey child is different just because one child does doesn’t mean the other child will do he obviously isn’t ready yet they usually still need help at the age of 5 get them to choose they own shampoo and body wash at the shop and sponge make it fun etc they will be ready when they are could take months or longer…
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He’s to young. You should be giving him his bath.
He’s 5! He’s not that independent yet!!
First both of your kids have their own personalities. Just put your son in the tub and let him be. Tell him he really should wash himself to get the dirt off & ask him if he wants you to help him & go on from there
He’s only 5 
not all kids are the same
I would stand there put liquid soap on a loopha have him wash then put a glob of 2 in 1 on his head have him wash ans rinse you will still have to stay there
My 4 year old( almost 5) “bathes” herself. She does her hair and body and afterwards I go and do it correctly . But it gives her that feeling of accomplishment. So him just doing his tummy is a start lol
He’s 5? Lol help him? My mom still had to help me at that age, and when I was 7 and moved into showering she still had to come in and help me wash the soap out of my hair 
my 5 year old will sometimes wash, but I always rewash and help, because he’s 5. When my husband is showering, if my son makes his way in there hubby will pull him into the shower and hand him his paw patrol loofah and teach him how to soap it up and wash, after about 4 or 5 times he got the gist of it and now just needs some extra help
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My gosh, that is too young. Comeeeee on.
Is this for real? He’s five. Even if he was ‘washing’ himself, he probably wouldn’t be doing that good of a job anyhow being five. Wash your kid and stop wishing for him to grow up faster.
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I still bath my 7 year old daughter…
He is only 5😂, that’s still very young tbh…
Why don’t you wash him first then tel him to don it to be extra clean and to smell extra nice, then form there just only you wash him every other bath time aswell as him and the other bath times you don’t wash him tel him to wash himself?
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He’s still at the age where he needs assistance. Help him wash.
He’s 5🙄 how about you continue to help him
We’d do a silly song-like wash that stinky nose, now stinky toes don’t 4get your elbows? Did you wash that stinky bum and always scrub that lil tum…You know just some thing fun. Have him make up the words. I’d sing it from the hallway, then their room listening to their vrs. Then of course when he’s drying off ask him do your elbows and behind your ears smell clean??? Lol
I took showers and baths with my children to demonstrate exactly how to wash and what to do and made it fun.
Use little marker stamps and put them all over and give him a loofah and some soap and see if he can wasn’t them off. Make a game out of it, and if he doesn’t get them all the worst that happens is he has a stamp on him
Wait til he’s 11, 12, 13. Real problems, stinky pre teens
I bathed my daughter till she was about 8 she just washed her private parts. Maybe try that… .?
What do you mean??? Wash the kid ffs hes 5
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Hes only 5 lol 
He’s only 5 I sat with my daughter till she was 7 to make sure she is washing correctly
My 7 yr old abhors getting wet. He is fearful of showers. Won’t take them. No way. No how.
Last night he had a slime war with his brother. After he cleaned up the mess he asked me if I could use the shower hose to gently spray him off. 
I may have just discovered the trick.
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a five year old is unable to properly bathe themself
My twin boys are 12 …do I bath them…no…but I still have to smell them after the shower to make sure they shampoo and body wash…they can usually get one right…either body wash and no shampoo or shampoo and no body wash…I had one yesterday that washed his hair with body wash…I would like to tell you it gets better, but it doesn’t…lol …I think you’re being to hard on yourself and him
I still help my 8 and 6 yr old. My 8 yr old mainly with just rinsing her hair. But at 5 I wouldn’t expect a kid to bathe independently. Show him how to do it step by step and keep repeating the process.
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I still have to remind my teenage boys that if they didn’t use soap, the shower doesn’t count! 
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