Share the Bathwater!

Benefits
Environmental Benefit: ★★★☆☆
Conserves water, and the energy to heat it and later treat the wastewater.

Money Saved: ★★☆☆☆
Most places you won't save a lot of money with the water, although you are also saving money on the energy used to heat it.

Lifestyle Benefit: ★★★☆☆
Isn't it more fun to take baths together? Great social/play time for the kids. And not just for kids . . . also a great idea for their parents after the kids have gone to bed! :-)

What We're Doing
Our kids until they are around 10 or so have enjoyed taking paths together. Also, we don't bath them "every night" as I understand some folks do which seems awfully unnecessary! If they get particularly dirty they might get a special bath, but usually it's just about once a week. We have also discovered that you use considerably less water when two or more are in the tub - since the extra bodies help to bring the water level higher! Just make sure not to throw the baby out with the bathwater!

A Little Humor

"Sponges grow in the ocean. That just kills me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn't happen." — Steven Wright

The Bathtub Test
During a visit to the mental asylum, I asked the director how you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalised.
"Well," said the director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub." "Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup." "No." said the director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"