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AIBU?

to ask how often you wash your child

79 replies

blinkyoullmissit · 30/04/2016 18:04

under 2 years in particular.
Only because my ds (10 months) has developed some nasty eczema, passed down through me.
It irritates him immensely when he's had a bath as I know this happens after I've showered.
He's being bathed every other day at advice of GP and having creams put on twice daily (if not more if there's ever a chance he's bare legged or armed).
He's not a grubby child. He can't walk and has just started to crawl but the only dirt ever on him is from food he's eaten and that's contained to mouth area only.
He went 2 days without a bath and the redness went down and he was a lot happier and less irritable.

OP posts:
Foodefafa · 30/04/2016 18:07

My DS is 20 months and has a so far undiagnosed (grr) skin condition that gets worse after every bath.

I bath him twice a week and damp flannel him the rest of the time. I can't bring myself to bath him every night when all it does is make him obviously suffer Sad

ScoutsMam · 30/04/2016 18:07

Bath him twice a week.

Just wash his face and bum with plain water and cotton wool every morning and night.

OwlinaTree · 30/04/2016 18:07

My son has a bath Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. He doesn't have eczema, but his skin does get very dry if I use soap, so I just wash him in water but use shampoo on his hair, a SLS free one usually.

He seems fine with this arrangement.

SummerHouse · 30/04/2016 18:08

Once a week. I am a sloth.

OwlinaTree · 30/04/2016 18:09

Oh he's just 2, but been doing this for ages!

Timeforabiscuit · 30/04/2016 18:10

Mine had a nightly bath, but as part of a misguided attempt at bedtime routine!

In your shoes I'd carry on spot cleaning when actually dirty and maybe a bath weekly if he can tolerate it.

Are you using anything in the bath water?

blinkyoullmissit · 30/04/2016 18:10

thank god! I felt like such a bad parent that I didn't wash him every other night like GP said.
I might stick to twice weekly. His skin is so much better when not bathed regularly

OP posts:
LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 30/04/2016 18:11

Every day but with Aveeno bath oil and Aveeno cream used several times per day or his skin flares up.

Lilaclily · 30/04/2016 18:11

Same as owlina : dh takes them swimming Sundays so they have bath and hair wash Sunday
Tuesday they have a bath
Thursday they have swimming lessons so have bath and hair wash after

blinkyoullmissit · 30/04/2016 18:12

He has oilatum (if that's even how it's spelt) as my DM suggested it as she used it on me when I was little! Not sure if it is actually doing anything tbh

OP posts:
dailyfailrag · 30/04/2016 18:15

DS has eczema which seems to flare up in winter. At that age I restricted baths to once a week when he was going through a flare up, with just a quick flannel wash before bed. They don't get that dirty or sweat much, and as long as they have clean clothes on they tend to smell ok!

Cumberlover76 · 30/04/2016 18:15

Do you use any bubbles/soap as many can irritate? Perhaps try the Weleda baby calendula range, they sell it in boots amongst other places and it is very natural, very soothing and smells lovely. it was the only thing we used on DD. It's a bit expensive but lasts ages and is well worth it IMO.

Treetopchallenger · 30/04/2016 18:17

Do you put anything In The bath water? You could just use water and use an aquias cream before you bath him to protect his skin.

JuniDD · 30/04/2016 18:18

We did do nightly to try bedtime routine but her skin is dreadful so gone to once per week. I am glad summer is on its way, last year it was much better once the central heating went off. She's 18 months.

ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay · 30/04/2016 18:21

Every other day is too much. My ds is 15 months and he is properly bathed twice a week. The other days he has a thorough face, hands, and nappy area wash with warm water. Anymore than this and his skin is very sore and dry

OfficiallyUnofficial · 30/04/2016 18:21

Once a week.

Bum bath another day (waist high water no hair)

Will increase in summer or if they get particularly grubby/sweaty.

When third DD was 10m she hated baths (still does) and could go two weeks with spot cleaning no bath Shock wasn't worth the trauma and this "bath every day" bollocks pressure isn't more important than happy grubby kids 😄

EponasWildDaughter · 30/04/2016 18:27

Until a couple of months ago only once or twice a week max. (she's 27 months) More often just recently as she's been running about in the garden.

She always has a complete fresh set of clothes in the morning and a fresh set of clothes to sleep in. Bum gets cleaned numerous times a day 'cos of nappy changes and hands and face get a wet wipe often through the day too. Very fine hair which doesn't really get dirty.

Bananasinpyjamas1 · 30/04/2016 18:31

There's no particular hygiene or health benefits in bathing a child every day, or every other day. Keeping clean nappy changes, washing hands and brushing their teeth are important. And if they come in covered in mud, then yes fine. But other than that, there's no reason.

It drives me crazy that hospitals will teach bathing of a baby as some kind of holy grail - instead they could be checking the mothers well being, family set up, feeding and relationships.

In my view it's when kids become teenagers and us as adults that we do need to bath a lot more often, hormones etc!

mrsmeerkat · 30/04/2016 18:35

I have two toddlers and I bath them every night but it's more like a playtime thing too. Occupies them.

You know your own child best and once their face hands and bottom are clean it is totally fine I think.

HappyFatty · 30/04/2016 18:37

DD had bad eczema as a baby and I was advised to wash with warm water every 3 days and to avoid soap totally to use the emollient cream which can be used as a wash. I used Aveeno which worked wonders x

hazeyjane · 30/04/2016 18:37

Some children with eczema do respond really well to a daily bath with oilatum, and creams. It is the recommendation from GOSH for best treatment of eczema, and dd2's eczema improved vastly with a daily bathing/creaming regime. But some children with eczema do seem to be better for less frequent baths - I think with eczema so much is down to the individual and what suits their skin.

summerdreams · 30/04/2016 18:37

My 20 month old had terrible eczema thats finally under controle, we had nurses coming in and a lovely allergy doctor. They all said that when eczema is very bad you need proper emolients and a bath once a day with mosturiser 4 times but this was extreme my son was literally scaley.

Also if you live in a hard water area they say cover in whatever cream you use before putting them in the bath we used either diprobase or parafine. For bad flare ups only strong steroids would help.

Its a nightmare though when your in the middle of it but it did get better even if we don't have one picture of my son before a year not covered in scratches.

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blinkyoullmissit · 30/04/2016 18:41

Thankyou everyone for advice. I don't feel bad for not bathing him everyday anymore. I'll try some aqueous cream before his next bath too and see if that helps

OP posts:
FirstWeTakeManhattan · 30/04/2016 18:41

We bathe the DC every night. They like it, so it's not a hardship. They all play and splash etc. It's just part of winding them down for the evening.

DeadGood · 30/04/2016 18:43

I've heard bad things about Oilatum, might be worth trying something else?

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