Chrissy Teigen caused a divisive debate online after being criticized for sharing a selfie where she's naked in the bathtub with her daughter, Luna, five, and son, Miles, three. The fans thought it was inappropriate for the supermodel mom to still be bathing with her kids at their age.
Some fans called out the celebrity because her children were "too old" to be sharing a bath with their naked mother. Her other followers also criticized her for sharing a private moment on the public platform and advised her to keep some things to herself.
However, some followers saw nothing wrong with the selfie and pointed out that her son wouldn't likely have sexual thoughts if he saw his mom in her birthday suit. Some of Teigen's celebrity friends also posted in the comments and said that they loved the bathroom photo with the kids.
What Experts Say About Bathing Kids
Teigen, known as the queen of clapback on the internet, has not yet responded to the criticisms, but the debate on bathing with kids has been a hot topic for parents for years. Dr. Richard Beyer, a psychologist from California, said that conventional wisdom dictates that it's no longer appropriate for children to be bathing with their parents once they reach school age or about five years old.
The expert said that five is generally the time for kids to experience bathroom autonomy, meaning they should be able to take care of their personal hygiene without any assistance during this phase. However, he also said that it's wrong to stigmatize nudity in front of the children, and they should not be made to feel that this is a big deal.
Dr. Adam Spanier, a pediatric professor at the University of Maryland, said that there is no simple answer to when is the best time for parents to stop bathing with their kids. Families follow different cultures and approaches, and he believes that the real answer lies in the comfort level of the children and the parents.
He also believes that children will not be traumatized if they see their naked parents in this situation. Spanier, however, cautioned that a child beyond eight years old, who might still prefer to shower with their mom or dad, could have some underlying fear that should be looked into.
Many experts agree that bathroom time with parents allows the kids to learn body parts. At two or three years old, most kids are curious about these things, and it would be a good opportunity for parents to also teach them how to clean up after their bodies well while they are bathing together.
Take Cues from the Child
For some parents, taking cues from their children could be the best signal for knowing when it's time to stop this activity. Some kids might say they want to bathe alone explicitly, or they will start shutting the door when they use the bathroom.
As much as parents can normalize the naked body with their children, other parents also believe that it's best to leave kids above five years old to themselves in the bathroom since people normally take a bath alone. On the other hand, some mothers said that their time in the bathroom is their me-time; thus, they would not want to have a three-year-old in the tub with them anymore.
