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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To bathe baby once per week?

234 replies

StarfishSandwich · 28/10/2018 21:54

He’s 7 weeks. I thought this was totally normal and fine. He gets top and tailed as and when needed - certainly daily! But I don’t feel like he particularly needs bathing. We always bathe him in the bath with one of us so daily would be a complete waste of water. I keep reading about people using baths as part of the bedtime routine and it’s just occurred to me that this means that lots of babies get bathed daily.

AIBU and scummy? His skin is flawless and he doesn’t smell FWIW!

OP posts:
DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 28/10/2018 22:47

I didn't. They might have had daily baths if they were sicking or pooing or weeing all over themselves - but in general, no. We had Wash Wednesdays Grin

Baths to wind down for bedtime never worked with my three. It winds them up to fever pitch so showers happen (now) every other day but about an hour before bed.

QueenGoblin · 28/10/2018 22:49

We did every other night until he started crawling at 5 months, then it was every night.

DS never had a problem settling so we didn't find a need for a strict bedtime routine. He falls asleep just as well, even now, without a bath.

spacefighter · 28/10/2018 22:50

Have you ever smelt a baby's neck when not washed properly it is grim. I would bath a baby every other day at least.

Neweternal · 28/10/2018 22:51

I make sure my son is bathed daily still do and his 11. It helps them unwind before bed. I have met some professional people's children who STINK, do their homework but obviously aren't friends with the bath. I'm polite and never mentioned but other parents do. I think everyone should get into good habits. Babies love their bath time, why not?

JudgeyMuch · 28/10/2018 22:54

My baby hated baths and certainly wasn't calmed by them. Getting her bathed was an ordeal until she was about 3 when she suddenly took a liking to bubble baths and bath toys.

She was breastfed, didn't get milk in any creases, has been sick twice in 8 years and never had 'poonamis'.

She was bathed once or twice a week at that age - the rest was wiped down with a warm wet flannel as and when needed.

elizabethdraper · 28/10/2018 22:59

How weird in Ireland once a week is recommended. It's not like they are running marathon s and sweating.

Mind you, no one morbid house shower daily either our skins would keep off if we did

Oh the horror of it all

SparkleBanana · 28/10/2018 23:01

My baby is 5 months now and is bathed once or twice a week. It doesn’t settle him in the slightest and he goes to sleep fine without a routine. He’s slept through since 6/7 weeks old. Do what’s right for you and your child, no one is the same.

BlueBug45 · 28/10/2018 23:08

Same aged child gets bathed 2-3 times per week but in the day. She dislikes baths at the moment, and has only just stopped screaming about being topped and tailed.

BlueBug45 · 28/10/2018 23:09

Oh and she started sleeping through last week which freaked me out.

Tailfeather · 28/10/2018 23:09

My DS is 20 months and has had a bath every night since he was 2 weeks. He settled into a great routine. He had a play in the bath, book and then climbs into the cot himself. I know babies are all different and I also know it might just be down to luck, but he has slept through since about 10 weeks and I feel the routine helps.

littlemisscomper · 28/10/2018 23:13

One thing to bear in mind is that being in the bath is great for sensory playtime (yes, even at 2 months old!) which will aid his development. It's a different sort of stimulation from being in his seat or baby gym or sling so for that reason alone I'd want to bath him every couple of days at least.

steff13 · 28/10/2018 23:16

My kids have eczema, so we only bathed then every third day.

Candlelights2345 · 28/10/2018 23:20

I bathed mine most nights, every other day at the least. They got sicky necks, cradle cap on heads, and I recall pulling the biggest stringy piece of fluff / scum out of my dd’s armpit and realising I’d probably never properly washed under them 🙈

Pebblespony · 28/10/2018 23:24

Weekly here too. On advice of nurse. Multiple ones in fact. Ireland here too. Baby has survived thus far and doesn't smell.

TittyFahLaEtcetera · 28/10/2018 23:27

My DS's cord didn't drop off for over 2 weeks, and I was advised not to bath him until after he'd healed fully (took another week).

I used a top and tail bowl, but gave him a full wash every day, getting into all the creases. He then hated baths until he was almost 12 weeks, would go mental, pee and poop himself in fear, so I carried on with daily washes instead and got him gradually used to the water. Baths then had to be in the day as they were too stimulating for him, mornings were best.

Turns out he's autistic and once hed got used to it he really quite liked his baths and then I couldn't get him out of them!

redandwhite1 · 28/10/2018 23:37

My 4 year old has a bath twice a week and always has, he had eczema and albeit it's very much under control now that's all his skin can cope with, anymore and it's too aggressive

They don't sweat so they don't need it as often like we do

Deadringer · 28/10/2018 23:37

Once a week is fine. When topping and tailing I always included the folds around the neck etc, my babies all smelled lovely. Ridiculous to use the word grim about a baby that isn't dipped into water every day. My youngest had eczema so only had baths when absolutely necessary, she hated the water too so an ordeal all round.

flumpybear · 28/10/2018 23:46

Difficult one! I found my children 'hid' vomit between layers in their neck, behind their ears etc which needed proper sponging and washing - we bathed every other day

Birdie69 · 28/10/2018 23:51

Mine got a bath every evening as part of the bedtime routine. I just used a baby bath - no need to fill up a big bath and get into it yourself. A few gallons of water is all that is needed, and some nice baby body wash . I can't imagine leaving a nappy-wearing baby for a week without a bath.

Zerrin13 · 28/10/2018 23:58

If you are only bothering to bathe your baby once a week then why bother at all?
A daily bath is to wash away the dirt of the day. A packet of wet wipes is no substitute for a lovely warm bubble bath before bed.

meow1989 · 29/10/2018 00:01

DS has a bath every night or every other night. He likes baths though I'd say they excite him more than relax him! He's a very sicky bub too. I only use water to wash then cream after and his skin is lovely (was dry before finding right cream).

Dontfeellikeaskeleton · 29/10/2018 00:18

Sounds fine to me.

maddiemookins16mum · 29/10/2018 00:24

DD only really got a proper daily bedtime bath once she was about 3/4 months plus. Before then I washed her, top and tailed her etc but only did a ‘full bath’ 3/4 times a week (in the mornings as it happened).

SputnikBear · 29/10/2018 00:29

Mine goes in the shower with me and has done from being a few weeks old. Much less water used!

ferrier · 29/10/2018 00:35

Every other day at least. In fact those of you who don't are a load of idle good for nothings

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Once a week here usually.
You get the rubbish out of their neck and leg folds when you top and tail. And the top gets done at every meal and the tail gets done at every nappy change (at home). So I really don't see what the issue is.