To not bath my DC every night?

[SeeJaneKick]

DH insists they have a bath every night and I say that it's fine every other night.

They don't smell and if DH isn't here then I sometimes just wash their hands, face, teeth and nethers.

He's Aussie and I reckon he thinks it's necasary because it IS in Oz...the heat and everything.

It's a bloody mare! Mess and delay every night!

My 3 children have a bath every night and morning too....no other reason then that they love it in the water ...I can then have a glass of wine while chatting to them about their day ( only in the evening!)...there's little mess....it's only water and I find it's actually DH who turns the bathroom into a state.....wet towels everywhere....why can't they use just one ?!!!!!

I think that pre teens can be waged as their parents see fit.

I think anyone who wastes their time worrying about how often other people children get washed are dull fucks who should get a hobby.
Those who think that children must be bathed every night may well have unusually smelly children. Ordinary children don't need it.

Washed.
Not waged. They deserve no money.

The OP asked...... and she asked in AIBU, rather than in Chat, which suggests she wanted as many responses as possible. And Pagwatch, agree they don't deserve a wage.

I don't bath DS every night. I used to as part of his bedtime routine but it made no difference if I didn't and if anything he's more excited after a bath.

It's not necessary, he doesn't get that dirty, and it's not good for their skin to bath every night.

I bathe my son every other day as I was told not to because of his eczema. For someone to tell me that I'm being lazy is just insulting. I see it as being kind to my son for not making it worse. People who say it's disgusting not to shower or bathe everyday definitely has issues.

I have never bathed my children every night, as both have excema it is just not worth it, seriously their skin is a mess, they wake all night itching and in pain.
I am not a lazy arse parent though unless that means someone who had to spend a lot of time applying creams, bandages etc each day. Believe me I would much rather just be able to bath them each day instead.

Gorgeousx your views are verging on the obsessive.

My DS (3) hasn't been in the bath/shower since Sunday.

my ds has a shower and hair wash once a week after swimming, and if he needs it i.e. muddy legs, pooey bum, perhaps one other night and that's it. he tends to have dry skin, and baths don't help. he doesn't smell in the least and I don't see any problem with it.

my dd however, really enjoyed a bath as a play opportunity and had one at least every other night and sometimes every night, just cos she wanted to. now she's post pubescent, she bathes once a day, as I do.

small children don't seem to smell bad like adults do if they don't wash their armpits, I can only assume it's hormonal.

Gorgeous, I hope you scrub your family with bleach. Make sure you get rid of all those nasty germs now... ;)

I think every day is unnecessary, unless they get particularly dirty!

Like others I remember having a weekly bath when growing up, I don't remember everyone being dirty and smelly all the time, though maybe you got used to it? We did 'freshen up' a bit with a flannel on days inbetween.

I do like a morning shower every day now, but don't think it's necessary for young children.

Depends on age of child.

DD is 7, every 2nd day is fine.
DS1 is 4, every 2nd day is fine unless he wet himself or did painting at school.
DS2 is 11 months and covered in food each night plus still in nappies so has every day.

Pagwatch,

My DDs cleaned our trampoline last Saturday. Of their own free will. Including the manual removal of vast amounts of pigeon poo. So I paid them each £2 for it, which I think makes them waged...

Am I a bad parent now? (I did make them have a bath afterwards)