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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU regarding my DCs' cleanliness?

61 replies

CheekyMaleekey · 21/01/2016 14:05

Following from a conversation I had with some friends this morning, who think I'm being OTT.

DC are 7 and 9, and have a shower each morning (hair wash at least twice weekly) and clean uniform/ordinary clothes every day. The shower gel and shampoo are very mild.

AIBU to think this is fine (both DH and I also shower and fresh clothes daily too) or is this just too clean?

Thanks.

OP posts:

lucymootoo · 21/01/2016 14:07

No that's normal. They could do every second day or swap a shower for a bath at night. It's a good routine/habit to get into for when they are a bit older and need to wash.

Original poster

CheekyMaleekey · 21/01/2016 14:08

Great, thank you. That's what I thought. Phew!

OP posts:

RudeElf · 21/01/2016 14:12

I think thats fine. It was what i was doing with my two except they bathed at night but their evening routines changed due to various clubs and activities so they miss monday and Tuesday baths and also i was struggling with having to wash uniforms every evening so they have two of everything wear each for two days in a row and if i can squeeze friday out of it i will as well. Tbh i dont like doing it so i might organise myself better again and just have clean every day.

whois · 21/01/2016 14:14

I wouldn't do a new school jumper or skirt/trousers every day.

LeopardIsTheNewBlack · 21/01/2016 14:16

Of course it's absolutely fine. I would only say you're being OTT is they had skin issues like psoriasis or if you were complaing about not being able to stay on top of the laundry. They can still get quite grubby at that age and it's good to get them in a routine before they become stinky teens.

Artandco · 21/01/2016 14:17

Normal ish

I personally don't change the children's jumpers or trousers each day if they look clean. Often they might have food/ mud on so changed daily, but if clean just change underwear and school shirts. Same with not school stuff

ThereIsIron · 21/01/2016 14:18

Perfectly normal, but cleaner than in our house. DC 5 & 10 have a shower/bath every other day or so. School uniforms do 2 - 3 days (usually 2) unless they're dirty. DD13 appears to wash when she feels like it!

VimFuego101 · 21/01/2016 14:19

What is 'too clean?' i don't think there's any such thing. You're probably right that they don't really need that level of washing yet, but it sets good habits for when they start puberty and begin to sweat more. If they're used to doing it then you don't need to have a battle with them about getting them to wash more.

OracleofDelphi · 21/01/2016 14:19

I dont force mine to have a shower or a bath everyday, but I do try to get them to do it every other day. And always after sport - not because they sweat, but as lucy said it is a good habit to get into for pre-teen - teenage years. Equally if they have been in the sea / had tons of suncream on / been to a day out at the farm / zoo then its always a shower or bath before bed!

However I dont wash their hair hardly at all as it just doesnt get greasy or smelly. I do always put bubbles in the bubble bath and give them sponges with shower gel in the shower.

If they dont have a bath then its face and hand wash at bed.

School uniform is clean every day (apart from maybe an occasional re-wear of a jumper in the summer or a pair of tights.

So YANBU to think its important that kids are clean
However I know one mum who wakes kids up who have fallen asleep to make them bath, and religiously washes, and blowdrys, brushes, plaits DDs hair every night without fail. So if your routine is like that then a bit of relaxing wouldnt do any harm

BasinHaircut · 21/01/2016 14:20

I think every other day showers would be fine but dont see how every day could be too much unless they have specific skin problems which would prohibit it?

nancy75 · 21/01/2016 14:22

There is no such thing as too clean! I think it is good for children to get in to the habit of showering and clean clothes everyday when they are young, hopefully this will avoid smells during the teenage years.

Gottagetmoving · 21/01/2016 14:25

Fresh underwear and socks daily, yes,..but trousers or skirt or jumpers?? thats a bit OTT.
I prefer showers for kids before bed and a wash in the morning.

When my mother was little it was a bath once a week and she said it was common for kids to have 'tide marks' around their necks where they had not washed. They wore the same underwear all week too!
Can't say I could go with that!

BarbarianMum · 21/01/2016 14:30

I think changing clothing (underwear excepted) that doesn't smell and isn't dirty every day is wasteful and make-work. Theoretically my kids wear trousers/jumpers/T shirts two or three times (in reality it is usually all filthy anyway).

ouryve · 21/01/2016 14:32

No. I think it's fine - and I'm someone who will happily whiff a bit for a few hours if I CBA to have a shower or bath at a particular point in time and I'm not going anywhere.

Grumpyoldblonde · 21/01/2016 14:34

Similar in our house although a skirt and sweater may go 2/3 days if not marked, shower every morning to 'wake-up', longer hairwashy, soapy shower a couple of times a week, maybe a relaxing bath on a Sunday. Clean shirt, undies and socks daily.

Hygellig · 21/01/2016 14:36

I don't see a problem with daily showering. My two have a bath nearly every day. I wouldn't change clothes unless they were actually dirty, however. In practice, my children are very messy so they usually need a change of clothes every day.

HermioneJeanGranger · 21/01/2016 14:37

Sounds fine, but I don't think you need clean trousers or jumpers everyday unless they're dirty. Clean shirts, socks and underwear daily is important, though.

yomellamoHelly · 21/01/2016 14:38

My eldest is just starting to hit puberty and tbh needs a shower / clean clothes every day. So I think it's a good habit to get into and will avoid the argument when they're older.

BrokenVag · 21/01/2016 14:40

Clean clothes that touch bits and pits daily, YES

Shower every day, absolutely unnecessary.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/how-often-should-you-be-showering-a6819486.html

CocktailQueen · 21/01/2016 14:41

I do clean shirts every day, not skirts/jumpers/trousers, unless dirty.

Bath every eye unless sports club on. They will need to wash hair more often and shower more often when puberty hits - so good habit to get into now.

Gruntfuttock · 21/01/2016 14:42

Completely normal IMO, OP.

giddyOop · 21/01/2016 14:43

Why is it OTT? How odd.

I shower and wear clean clothes everyday. So do my DC.

Its not OTT to wash daily and put on fresh clothes!

BrokenVag · 21/01/2016 14:43

Where does this principle end? Keep your kids up all night on Saturday as they might work night shifts as adults?

Flowerpower41 · 21/01/2016 14:45

My ds is nearly 11 and the past few months he has vehemently objected to changing his underwear daily and also his socks - so much for drumming it into him for years!

He now changes them only every two days I am really unhappy about it but hopefully it is just a phase. He seems to think he should wear many of his clothes at least twice.

He has also started lasting two days with his school polo shirt but I was relieved to note that other families are also doing this!

Ds is also objecting to me 'tidying up' his undies drawer and has got very territorial over it - so I hope he won't turn into a slovenly teen before too long ......!

budgiegirl · 21/01/2016 14:45

It's fine, and won't do any harm, but it's a bit unnecessary at their age. My 10 year old showers 3 or 4 times a week (and always washes hair at the same time), with a wash at the sink in between times. Underwear is clean every day, but uniform/other clothes will last 2 or 3 wears unless they actually look dirty. My teenagers though, that's a different matter.

But if your kids don't have any skin problems, and you don't mind the huge amount of washing, then it's up to you what you do.

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