And just like that bath time with Monkey might be nearing the end

i really hope you'll find a way to feel more comfortable so you can bath/bond with monkey. would hate you to miss out on the special time.

Seriously, you find it "creepy"?
I just stumbled across this blog because it came up in a search about old wives' tales...predicting gender. I searched thru the postings list because I was curious if the author did in fact have a girl (no) & saw this post.
Yet another case of people understanding breasts & babies. Why do you think you have them?
They're fun for the hubby & best for the baby.
My daughter was breastfed until 21 months (down to 1/day by then). Now at 27 months) when she sees them, she says boobies & laughs. Usually wants to jiggle them. I know it is non-sexual & because she is completely comfortable with mama & I with her. I pity the folks who miss out on the funny stuff with their little ones. Too soon they'll be grown & screaming at you to shut the door, they're dressing -- as they should. But for now, it's all innocence. Quit spoiling the moments.

Okay, so I'm a little late to the party, but if I were you and I felt uncomfortable about the continued nudity, but I didn't want to miss bathtime, I'd just buy a bikini and bath that way. Monkey doesn't care whether he's grabbing tits or a rubber duckie - to him its just a new part of his world. Don't give up something valuable to both of you just because he's curious - just find a way to distract him to to communicate to him that some of your body is off-limits. It might take a little reinforcement, but he'll get there. My daughter is only a couple days of Monkey's age - and while it might be different for her because she's still breastfeeding, it only took a couple firm NOs for her to get the message that my nipples are not toys. She doesn't pinch or grab at them anymore.

On the topic of when the right time for him to stop seeing you naked is: that's up to you. I remember seeing my parents naked when I was eight or nine, and it didn't creep me out. I knew what the human body looked like and that was that. We stopped showering with my dad when we were toddlers because, um, one of us slipped and, um, needed to grab something to steady ourselves and, um, the poor man, seriously, the poor, poor man. But we periodically bathed or showered with my mom until we were much older. I think that's the sort of thing that is really family dependent. Some families are much more open about the human body and nudity than others and nobody is right or wrong - you'll know when its time.

"just think about how you want your child to feel about his body in the future and go with that now."

Indeed.

It's not creepy. It's in fact more natural than your 'creepy' reaction.

I remember when I put my navel ring back in when he was about a year old. It was a little tender and I had to direct him away from it. Or scold him nad he cried. I think distraction is a good way if y ou can. This might be a great toy to do so with. http://www.intplay.com/productdetails.aspx?gid=44&...

I think DeepSouthDoula is right on the money here.

Incidentally, I had the same experience this week, and my son is 10 months as well. We were in the shower together and I went to rinse my hair while I thought he was playing with his duckies and all of a sudden, both my buttcheeks are being cupped by the tiniest hands. I just had to laugh. Then later I was rinsing my face and I felt a little exploring finger sticking into the front-crack. I just didn't realize we has tall enough to reach me there! It was the funniest shower I've had in a long time. It'll be a challenge to redirect but the novelty will wear off. I find he gets much cleaner if we bathe together than if I dip him in the sink for a bath.

Whatever you're comfortable with will be fine, just think about how you want your child to feel about his body in the future and go with that now.

My little girl walked in on my husband when he was in the bath and warned him that there was a snake in the water with him! Needless to say, he found it awkward.

There comes a time when kids don't need to see their parents naked anymore. But you can still have a great bonding experience with them and the tub and you sat next to them just outside the tub. We still have a lot of fun this way (even if the bathroom does often end up soaked from splashing each other).

Love the blog.

So this has Bern bothering me for awhile and I just wanted to say that everyone has their own opiouns. A lot of you may not find it uncomfortable and that's totally okay. Whatever works best for and your family is your own deal. It's totally okay for Jane to feel uncomfortable. She is just expressing her own opiouns. It would make me feel akward too if my son started exploring my privates. Not that I think he's doing it for sexual reasons or whatever but it would make me feel uncomfortable. I was molested by my brother when I was younger so I feel very uncomfortable about things like that. And again I'm know he's not doing it as a sexual thing but I'm still very uncomfortable just with the whole situation.

It's best not to worry about that kind of thing just yet. Currently I'm working in a nursing home on the Alzheimer unit. Yesterday my crotch got grabbed twice, my butt squeezed three times one lady pulled me down into her bed with her twice and had one lady's face buried in my cleavage while I was transferring her from her wheelchair to her bed. Did I find any of it creepy? Not at all. They no longer know any better.

Babies start remembering more specific events when they're between 14-18 months old.

I had to comment on this one...
Yes, there will come a time when you have to stop bathing with your son. But it won't come for a while. I've always believed that you wait until the children are uncomfortable with the nakedness before you start to enforce rules about privacy. This also goes for boy-girl siblings. If you redirect Monkey from your nipples and gently explain what they are for, & that they aren't for playing & its not nice to pinch (just as you would with other body parts), he will get it and move on. If you want to wear a bathing suit in the bath, or a bikini top, that's fine, but not necessary.

Hi there - I'm a doula in Austin, TX (http://www.getbabied.com) and a mom to a curious 1 1/2 year old named William. I just wanted to let you know I am really getting a kick out of your blog! As for the boob and bath thing, my son does this too. He points, pinches, and cracks up. It makes sense, really - boobs are pretty funny! :)

Perhaps I chose the wrong word (creepy) to describe how I was feeling. I know that my boobs are not looked at by Monkey as anything sexual... I guess it just makes me feel a little awkward when he goes to explore the more, um, private areas.

I do enjoy the bonding time spent while us both are in the bathtub, but I guess I just worry about when is the right time for Monkey to stop seeing me naked.

Lol..great post, made me laugh. I have a 3yr old and a 1yr old and for me privacy is a rare thing around here. They follow me into the bathroom and everywhere else. I know they'll reach an age where I probably shouldn't be changing in front of them but right now, it seems like there is no option !

Maya is seven months old and sometimes when I'm breastfeeding her she will pull off and suddenly grab my nipple and laugh. I'm not sure if she laughs because my face contorts in pain or because nipples must look kind of funny from her perspective, but OUCH!

Hi Jane,
I must admit I am some what suprised by this post....

Why on earth would that freak you out so much that you fing it creepy. Monkey is simply exploring his world. If you were still breastfeeding I do not think you would think anything of it... I is natural for him to curious I would nit let this worry you at all

I am still breast feeding so I still do not consider my boobs my own, they are Paiges for a little while longer

11.5 months and still breastfeeding here, so the boobies get groped more than a little ;) Kinda like any other kid plays with their bottle or cup...I'm not worried. We did pretty much stop mommy/baby baths though, mostly because I cramped his style. He'd rather flail around and splash and explore without having Mommy getting in his way.
His favorite body part to explore of mine and Daddy's (and occasionally his own) is the belly button. If he sees ours, he's drawn to it and MUST POKE POKE POKE. It's hilarious!

LOL. Yeah that would be the end for me too. I've gotten in the bath with him a fee times but he's way too squirmy for me to hold him. I still use his infant bath tub even though he's 4 months old. He barley fits in it but it works.

He seriously does not care if that protruding thing is a nipple, it's just fun to grab! You just need to calmly say "no" when he pinches it like you do with everything else you dont want him to learn/do.

To continue to bathe together will keep that bond between you strong as you are both enjoying it so much. Also for the sake of him not developing body issues later in life it's very good for him to grow up around comfortable naked people. I think children can be rather old before bath time with parents should stop. I think my mother stopped walking around in the nude when I was old enough to be embarrassed - and that was right before puberty hit for me.

First I want to say that I have followed your blog since your pregnancy. I know your story and love visiting your site.

But...this post kind of bothered me. First...I really wish women would stop using the word "creepy" when talking about breasts and babies! How about "uncomfortable" or "awkward" instead. Creepy makes it sound like what you are witnessing or doing is in some way wrong. Bathing with your son or daughter is not only easier like you mentioned but also a great way for them to learn about the human body and the differences between girls and boys. It's also great sensory input for them and for you.

My son was not breastfed but I did exclusively pump for a year. My daughter was breastfed. I bathed with both until they were old enough to be in the tub by themselves. If they started going after what my son called "bellybuttons" then I would just redirect him. They now take baths together. My son will sometimes take a shower with me or my husband.

Just the other day my son came in while I was getting dressed and saw me naked. He pointed at my chest and said "Boobies"! He then said he wanted to play with them...LOL! I had to very gently tell him that they were not to play with. He asked what they were for so I told him, "Boobies are for feeding babies". He said, "Oh yeah! I remember." and started playing with his puzzle.

All this is to say that there is nothing wrong with babies wanting to play with what is right in front of them. If you enjoy taking baths and it's easier for now then just figure out a way to redirect him. You can place a wet wash cloth or hand towel over them if you want or wear a bikini top. Remember that he's only a baby and he may not understand why all of a sudden his bath routine has changed. Or he may not even notice. Just know that I long for the days that I could cuddle with my babies in the warm tub. They grow so fast!

Again, I love your blog! But seriously ladies....Please stop saying "creepy"!

It's a fairly normal thing that should be discouraged like anything else, not reacted to in horror. Maybe you could wear a bikini top while bathing with him?

Chloe is ten months old and still breastfeeding and she finds comfort there and when she tries to pinch YIKES it hurts but you have to stay calm and say no. Works on her. A side note. Reason I mentioned her still breastfeeding was just to give a reason why she finds my breasts intriguing not to say breast is best. Oh and I give Chloe baths the same way. She's a total water baby.

Im breastfeeding my 9 month old and sometimes he stops to pinch my nipple. and while it is creepy, and most ofthe time pretty painful, im sure they dont look at breasts as sexual toys, but more as a natural feeding "station". they are supposed to be intrigued by our breasts so they will breastfeed.

My little dude does that all the time, even though there is a bra and a shirt between my boobs and his pinchers! I think he thinks the yelp that comes out of mommy when he does it is funny. He also "motorboats" me, which the hubbs finds hilarious. The odd thing is, he's been weaned for 4 months now. I guess it must be a guy thing to be interested by boobs at any age ;)