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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do I bathe my child enough?

205 replies

Mel2023 · 19/09/2024 23:26

How often do you bath your toddlers?

My DS is 2.5. We’ve always had a routine where we’ve bathed him twice during the week (usually Tues and Thurs) and once on the weekend (usually a Sunday). This is a full body and hair wash. That being said, in the summer it was a lot more often due to wearing sun cream most days, and if he comes home from nursery particularly mucky or has a messy tea time we’ll bath him regardless.

I’ve recently noticed he’s developed cradle cap again (he had it when he was a baby) and it’s quite bad. Everything I’ve looked into online says it’s not unusual for toddlers his age to have it, especially if they had it as a baby. I mentioned it to a family member and she’s said it’s because we don’t bath him enough and she’s always thought this? Do we not? AIBU to think that a bath 3 times a week plus extra if needed is ok?

OP posts:
countrysidelife2024 · 20/09/2024 10:09

my 5 and 6 year old is usually two-3 times a week with a hair wash once a week.

BarbaraHoward · 20/09/2024 10:09

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG · 20/09/2024 10:03

Why are you telling me what I already know😂 I already admitted that I’m lazy one day a week so I’m really not sure what your point is!

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My point is that if it's fine for yours to go 48 hours without a bath once a week, then it's fine for mine to go 48 hours three times a week. Confused

Tir3edAndTested · 20/09/2024 10:05

I bath my almost 2 year old around 3 times a week but it's not on set days. If she's got muddy or particularly messy then I'll do her again 😊 I don't think cradle cap is related.
Ignore people being nasty, you're not lazy, you're doing what you believe is right for your kid

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG · 20/09/2024 10:03

BarbaraHoward · 20/09/2024 09:59

If Johnny goes 48 hours between baths and Janie goes 48 hours between baths, then they're equally clean/filthy/smelly regardless of how many baths they've had before those 48 hours.

Just to help with the comprehension.

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Why are you telling me what I already know😂 I already admitted that I’m lazy one day a week so I’m really not sure what your point is!

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG · 20/09/2024 10:01

Scallopp · 20/09/2024 09:45

Or you just won't answer what the difference is in your child not being bathed on a Sunday and OPs child not being bathed on a Sunday. Because you know you look like a fool. CAPS DOESNT CHANGE THAT.

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What’s with all the personal insults, it’s strange and unnecessary.

There is literally no difference between myself not bathing my children on a Sunday and the OP not bathing her child on a Sunday. The difference is that I bath them on 6 other days and the OP baths her child on 3 other days. If you cannot see the difference between bathing your child 3 days a week and bathing your child 6 days a week then I genuinely cannot help you

Highlandspringg · 20/09/2024 10:01

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG · 20/09/2024 09:29

Your comprehension skills are shocking. IF JOHNNY HAD 5 APPLES

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If Johnny misses a bath and so does his mate Billy, they both missed a bath. They also might like apples.

BarbaraHoward · 20/09/2024 10:00

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 20/09/2024 09:42

Baths wound my kids up to fever pitch, it was never a good end to the day!

Mine were bathed twice a week and when they needed it. Flannelled when needed (faces and hands) and bums wiped with wet wipes.

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It's amazing how often people state this stuff as fact, isn't it, not realising that what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

BarbaraHoward · 20/09/2024 09:59

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG · 20/09/2024 09:29

Your comprehension skills are shocking. IF JOHNNY HAD 5 APPLES

Show quote history

If Johnny goes 48 hours between baths and Janie goes 48 hours between baths, then they're equally clean/filthy/smelly regardless of how many baths they've had before those 48 hours.

Just to help with the comprehension.

mumofbun · 20/09/2024 09:56

Cradle cap is entirely dependent on the baby. Both mine had it when small but one it continued until much late - still occasionally a little bit now at 4. The other never had it again since the early months. They both have the same bath routine (twice a week... apparently that's gross but they're fine)

LookingAtTheBox · 20/09/2024 09:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Scallopp · 20/09/2024 09:45

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG · 20/09/2024 09:29

Your comprehension skills are shocking. IF JOHNNY HAD 5 APPLES

Show quote history

Or you just won't answer what the difference is in your child not being bathed on a Sunday and OPs child not being bathed on a Sunday. Because you know you look like a fool. CAPS DOESNT CHANGE THAT.

Nejnej · 20/09/2024 09:43

Mel2023 · 19/09/2024 23:26

How often do you bath your toddlers?

My DS is 2.5. We’ve always had a routine where we’ve bathed him twice during the week (usually Tues and Thurs) and once on the weekend (usually a Sunday). This is a full body and hair wash. That being said, in the summer it was a lot more often due to wearing sun cream most days, and if he comes home from nursery particularly mucky or has a messy tea time we’ll bath him regardless.

I’ve recently noticed he’s developed cradle cap again (he had it when he was a baby) and it’s quite bad. Everything I’ve looked into online says it’s not unusual for toddlers his age to have it, especially if they had it as a baby. I mentioned it to a family member and she’s said it’s because we don’t bath him enough and she’s always thought this? Do we not? AIBU to think that a bath 3 times a week plus extra if needed is ok?

My son will be 2 later this year. We bathe him every night because it's always a messy tea haha, and he loves splashing. He's got cradle cap, so I don't think it's anything to do with washing or not

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 20/09/2024 09:42

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 19/09/2024 23:56

Every night, sets a good routine and makes them sleepy for bed.

Baths wound my kids up to fever pitch, it was never a good end to the day!

Mine were bathed twice a week and when they needed it. Flannelled when needed (faces and hands) and bums wiped with wet wipes.

Hadalifeonce · 20/09/2024 09:40

I don't think cradle cap has anything to do with how often you bathe your child.
Speak to a pharmacist about a specialist shampoo.
As an aside, as a child I was the 3rd to use the bathwater on a Sunday. The rest of the week we had a flannel wash.

LookingAtTheBox · 20/09/2024 09:38

No wonder there are so many threads about worms 😂 nobodys bathing their kids or themselves by the sounds of it

Sameshitdifferentdayx · 20/09/2024 09:37

Completelyjo · 20/09/2024 09:30

I mean you literally did, you’re the one who brought up medical professionals not mentioning your kids cleanliness to you like that meant anything …

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Yes, but not in a sense of achievement, are you ok?
People on this thread are stating children who don't bath everyday, smell, have lazy parents, are disgusting, filthy.. if this was the case, someone would be coming down hard on us in the world about how they should be washed every day, no? Wah.

LookingAtTheBox · 20/09/2024 09:35

Who thinks everyone should piss off and go dip their kids in water for 5 mins 🙋🏻‍♀️

AgainandagainandagainSS · 20/09/2024 09:33

We don’t have a bath and I find them gross anyway.
Shower every day.

MumChp · 20/09/2024 09:32

2-3 bath a week is fine and a flannel in between. And of course if needed.
Don't worry about it.

Completelyjo · 20/09/2024 09:30

Sameshitdifferentdayx · 20/09/2024 09:05

🤣😂 madness.

Nobody mentioned about it being an achievement. I'd expect it, as should anyone. But my children are clean, and children do not NEED a bath/shower EVERY night. That's my point.

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I mean you literally did, you’re the one who brought up medical professionals not mentioning your kids cleanliness to you like that meant anything …

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG · 20/09/2024 09:29

Scallopp · 20/09/2024 07:51

So let's say you miss a Sunday and OP misses a Sunday. Can you explain the difference? Bathed Sat, bathed Mon. All no different. What happens before Sat or after Mon has no relevance to the missing Sunday, its still missing a day. Struggling to see how that's ok for you but not OP.

And I don't want to go back and forth with people who disagree, I have just passed comment on 2 people who are quite clearly judging the OP with their use of things like "disgusting" and "incredibly lazy" which is just absolutely bullshit and we all know it is.

Bye.

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Your comprehension skills are shocking. IF JOHNNY HAD 5 APPLES

boymama82 · 20/09/2024 09:09

We only have a shower so have to use a baby bath and our boys are 3 and 4 and will NOT stand under the shower so it's a nightmare. I tend to get them naked and flannel wash them more than a bath. My 4 year old goes wild when u put water on his head and he's so storing it's really dangerous wrestling with him 🤯🤯

Sameshitdifferentdayx · 20/09/2024 09:05

Completelyjo · 20/09/2024 08:38

Of course hygiene standards would need to be rock bottom for a medical professional or childcare provider to need to raise it with the parents!

It would also suggest low standards to think it was some sort of achievement to not have one of these professionals comment on your child’s cleanliness.

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🤣😂 madness.

Nobody mentioned about it being an achievement. I'd expect it, as should anyone. But my children are clean, and children do not NEED a bath/shower EVERY night. That's my point.

Workhardcryharder · 20/09/2024 09:02

But 3 days a week is every other day roughly, which leaves only 1 day between baths and showers. So they are only getting the same amount of grubby as yours do when you favour a lie in.

It’s not only ok to skip a bath when it’s for reasons you deem acceptable. Its unnecessary to be so judgemental

JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit · 20/09/2024 08:44

I’m afraid I bath my toddler 2-3 times a week due to sensitive skin. It sort of delights me to read how many MN think I’m “filthy” and “disgusting”. 😂