To wonder how you can not bath or shower kids every day?

[Kalitall]

I know this ones been done, and I don't think anyone is dirty for not bathing every day and I understand about skin conditions.

I just don't know how everyone gets away with not bathing children each day. Especially little ones.

My two boys seem to get filthy. They both play outside every day and end up muddy. The toddler gets really mucky eating meals, usually ends up with food everywhere even in his hair. Also often ends up with paint over him from nursery. He poos in his nappy every day and even though he's clean up is usually still a bit smelly. In the Summer they both get quite sticky.

I find it easier to run a bath or put him under the shower than to top and tail to clean all the muck off.

Like I said I'm not accusing anyone of being dirty, as an adult I could probably get away with not showering each day as I don't sweat much and don't get mucky.

Do other children just not get in a mess?

It's the same with washing clothes. I reuse my own clothes but I could never not wash the dcs clothes, because they're always covered in food or mud.

I cringe at the amount of people that don't bath or shower their kids each day. It's why we have so many stinky adults with a half arsed attitude to hygiene.

She doesn't play outside every day

That's sad

We do every other night unless they are visibly grubby/sticky/its suncream season when we do it as needed. It's such a palava with the complaining beforehand (ds1), constant splashing / pouring water so bathroom and we get soaked then screaming at getting out time (ds2).......

It's also a cultural thing, I think. In Britain and other countries (like France) there is greater tolerance towards, well, filth.

I live in Spain, and here (and in Italy, which I think is quite similar in this respect) it is quite unthinkable not to bath your children every night (although of course there are exceptions, times when you are so tired that you cannot cope, etc.) Mainly because we feel that the children must feel uncomfortable and itchy and cannot relax for bed if they don't get a quick shower or bath.

I bath my 3 year old when he gets grubby. He just isn't grubby at the end of every day. So I don't see the point in bathing a clean child. I wipe his face and hands after eating and he washes his hands after toilet and has a face wash every morning and evening. He doesn't smell and he wears clean clothes.

It's not because I'm lazy. I am a single mum of 4 dc who works full time and spends any spare time ferrying to clubs and wotnot as well as cleaning, cooking, food shopping and well everything.

Those of you that can bath a toddler in 5 minutes, please share that trick because I'm on toddler number 4 and haven't mastered the 5 minute bath yet!!

Absolutely agree DistanceCall
I wash the day away for my DS with a warm bubbly bath or a shower and put fresh PJs on and he sleeps like a lion each night!

DS, who is nearly 4, had ruined food in his hair twice. He's always been remarkably tidy with his food. I was sorry if looking forward to him draping spaghetti over his head but he never did.

He has a bath once a week at the moment just because he hates them and I'm knackered and have other battles I think are more important. If he gets mucky inbetween it's a bowl of warm water and a flannel.

It's not ideal, but my mum has issues with deodorants, as do I, along with shampoo and moisturisers and DH has sensitive skin as well, so I tend to think using soap and shampoo as little as possible is probably a good thing overall.

She doesn't play outside every day

That's sad

Why?

Gogo....You put fresh PJ's on every night? Why, just why?

I live in Spain, and here (and in Italy, which I think is quite similar in this respect) it is quite unthinkable not to bath your children every night (although of course there are exceptions, times when you are so tired that you cannot cope, etc.) Mainly because we feel that the children must feel uncomfortable and itchy and cannot relax for bed if they don't get a quick shower or bath.

Well you would know more about Italy and Spain than I do, but that seems very strange. I just find it hard to believe that none of these tens of millions of people have realised that baths are the opposite of relaxing for some children. There seems no reason to think Spanish and Italian people are less capable than British people of understanding that children react differently to different things.

Obviously those countries get a lot hotter than Britain during summer, so I understand that the children might be more sweaty and clammy, and that a cool bath would be refreshing. But not relaxing? Bizarre.

I've bathed my daughter at six o'clock every night since day one. It's an ingrained part of her bedtime routine. She's nearly seven now.

Those of you that can bath a toddler in 5 minutes, please share that trick because I'm on toddler number 4 and haven't mastered the 5 minute bath yet!!

5cm of water takes 2 mins to run- undress them while it runs. Lay them down in the water- wash them all over for 3 mins including hair.

Why would you wait until a child is visibly grubby to wash them? Why let it get to that? A visibly grubby child is frankly minging. There will have been several stages of unclean before then, when you really needed to wash them.

My DS is a weirdly clean child. He can wear the same school jumper all week and it will be pristine. He's also prone to eczema so it's good that he doesn't need a shower every day.

It is a personal hygiene thing and I'm sure I'll get flamed but sorry it is noticeable to other people, even if not particular grubby/smelly, kids that don't bath/shower every day just don't look as clean and it is also noticed by other children, especially primary/secondary age

To wonder how you can not bath or shower kids every day?

Step one:
Don't put them in the bath or shower every day.
Step two:
Unclench.
Step three:

Distanccall....It's somewhat hotter in Spain and Italy and a lot more dust....That's probably why people feel the need to wash more. I've never been uncomfortable or itchy when going to bed without a shower? You find that as people get older they shower more in the morning, not at night? I do anyway...Perhaps that's another thread? Pretty sure most adults don't need clean PJ's every night, so why should kids?

Those of you that can bath a toddler in 5 minutes, please share that trick because I'm on toddler number 4 and haven't mastered the 5 minute bath yet!!

Same here. 12 year thinks he has mastered a 5 minute shower but comes out with mud still on his knees, shampoo not rinsed out and thinks water falling on the feet is washing them
Bathing my 5 and 6 year old is about 20 mins on a good day. Then a good twenty minutes before they've calmed down from all the splashing. Shower is quicker but not 5 minutes for a proper wash.

Your DC may find a bath relaxing though even if you don't.

Dd is now 6 and has always completely relaxed in her bathtime routine since a tiny baby, always been lovely to see. But then I guess I'm really old fashioned and think bath routine aids sleep.

Sayno I once went so long without bathing as a teen that I thought I'd developed a tan on my upper arms and it turned out to be brown dirt And gross! I shower regularly now BTW

I am also mystified by tales of baths which take five minutes. You must all have absolutely brilliant water pressure and toddlers who never faff

But then I guess I'm really old fashioned and think bath routine aids sleep.

My experience is that the older more sensible generations fund the idea of daily baths ridiculous and wasteful.

She doesn't play outside every day

That's sad

Why?

If you don't think children need to get outdoors every day we are raising children from very different standpoints. I think most people would agree that fresh air and daylight are pretty essential. Would you be happy to send your child to a school that only had indoor play?

It's also a cultural thing, I think. In Britain and other countries (like France) there is greater tolerance towards, well, filth
no there isn't.
I heard all British people have plates with pics of the royal family on and drink tea all day long, so I guess it is correct? Oh and it rains all the time.

I think it's nice for kids of any age to have a bath or shower every day. Keeps them fresh and clean. Even if they are not 'dirty' it's a good routine and practice.

mumzypopz because it's like having a pair of pants in for 12 hours.

I find the excessive use of wipes extremely wasteful ....and slightly mingy