to not bathe my toddler every, single night?

[fishnugget]

Some of my friends do this and I just think 'WHY?'

AIBU?

Every night. It’s part of the routine of dinner, bath (or play in shower), pyjamas, book, cuddle, sleep.

They have lovely soft peachy skin

My mum only ever gave us a bath on a Sunday night... Now I'm a parent I realise that is not enough! My own DS has a bath 2-3 times a week. Daily is not necessary, for my child anyway.

I'll be honest, it's everyone's choice but in my opinion I think it's quite disgusting to only bath your child once a week or twice a week. I bathe my daughter every night, sometimes twice a day in the summer weather and it's hot and we've been out all day. I just think it instils it in them and before anyone says anything

My child has never been sick in 14 months, not even a cold, she's been around children most days, ever had a nappy rash and has beautiful skin so it hasn't had any bad effects for us

We do - it is part of the bedtime routine. But I think that it is also largely cultural - neither DH nor I are originally from the UK and we both have a bath or shower every day (sometimes twice a day). I had never heard of people not having a bath or shower every day until I moved to the UK (excepting those without access to washing facilities, of course), so it would never occur to me not to bathe DC every day.

We do every night as part of the routine.. but only really actively wash twice a week, normally just a play in the bath as part of the wind down

I only do because I have 2 feral, mud magnet boys! I wish I didn't have to and on the odd day they don't look like they rolling about in mud then We skip it.

IMO depends on age. I have twins that are 1. I bath them every night, DS is almost 4 and it’s normally every other or if he is very mucky.

I have a two year old & she is FILTHY by the end of the day.. there’ll be peanut butter in her hair, strawberry up her nose, greasy suncream, mud on her arms & legs! She gets a bath everyday, hair wash twice a week.

Bath has been part of our routine since she was a baby. She loves them & starts asking for one by 6pm everynight. She’s very into water play, so I guess that’s why.. the bedtime routine is my fav part of the day, a time focused on just her, chilled out music, stories.. lovely!

I used to and saw it as an important part of night time routine (but also got rather stress about it and a little too rigid). Then my dd started having eczema that was worsened by too many baths. Reduced the number of baths and realised that I didn’t need to get stressed out when they didn’t and there are other things that make a good night time routine.

Every night for my DC. Even if it's a 2min dip to freshen up. Can't imagine putting them to bed sweaty and grubby. They do lots of after school activities and end up really grotty. It's always worked for us and we only use infacol type bubbles so very mild.

Ah MN you’re fantastically bat shit when it comes to showering and bathing 😂
Young children don’t sweat or smell as older children and adults do.. and yes 15 minutes bathing my two year old at the end of a verrrry long day is a big deal

It’s not necessary to bathe a child every day .

and a bathe every night is part of the reason the environment is going to shit. Once a week for all my kids and I stand proud, a sink wash down if it's been a dirty day's play. No sweat from kids.

I did with my eldest 2 but with my 3rd it’s every 2-3 nights. He has eczema so we’re told twice a week is fine - he’s not a toddler yet right enough but even when he is I doubt I would bathe him every night if it’s not food for his skin.

We live in a hot country, they are sweaty and have sunscreen and insect repellent to remove. So yes a bath or shower every evening.

Always amazes me when I see posts like this/the is it ok for my child to re wear today’s clothes and I’m like how is this an option?!

Me too!

Really hot and humid summers here but still didn't do it.

I am wondering how those of you whose children smeared food in their hair left them like that until bath time? Did food not rub off on furniture or walls? Were wasps not attracted to them?

Babies are sitting in their own wee and poo several times a day and you wouldn’t think they need their bottoms washing? And if you’re doing that you may as well stick them in the bath or shower. Plus in the hot weather it’s cooling to have a shower / bath ( clearly depending on water temperature). The thought of going to bed with sunscreen on.... would an adult do that? Finally, it’s a nice feeling to be bathed and clean and be dressed in clean pjs.

I am wondering how those of you whose children smeared food in their hair left them like that until bath time? Did food not rub off on furniture or walls? Were wasps not attracted to them?

We don't just leave him with great big dollops of food on his head . We wipe him with a flannel, but that doesn't get his (thick, curly) hair actually clean, it needs washing for that - in exactly the same way as if you had spaghetti Bolognese on your head you wouldn't just give it a wipe and consider it done. Also, his dinner tends to be much messier food than his lunch, and he gets put in the bath pretty soon after dinner.

The tone of your post sounds almost like you don't believe some kids get really messy. They do. I'm sorry mine isn't perfect like yours.

Also, people keep saying that children with eczema shouldn't bathe daily. Do whatever works for your child, but that isn't actually the latest medical thinking - emollient works best on damp skin, so a bath is actually good for eczema if you then put on emollient immediately:
nationaleczema.org/eczema/treatment/bathing/

@mathanxiety I do feel there is a part of you that is being somewhat obtuse.

Yep, we just leave DS in the garden all day with a fly swat then bathe him in the evening. All the food comes off in clumps and he plays with bits of spaghetti in the bath.

Do what suits you and your toddler.
I have 2.5 year old twins, and shower them every night. Each kid is in there less than 5 minutes TBH. It's more that it's just part of their routine, and to put them into good habits for when they're older.

I am wondering those of you who had children who were so unmessy that they wouldn't need bathing for days on end: weren't you a bit concerned about their lack of curiosity and playfulness? Or did you just not give them any chances to express it?

^thought I'd give being goady a go. It's quite fun, tbf

Yes exactly, a flannel does not wash a baby in the same way as the bath! Especially as for dinner I think it’s fun to let DS have exceptionally messy food as he enjoys it and can be just in his nappy m. But also it’s just a nice and calming thing to do for them before bed.

I am wondering how those of you whose children smeared food in their hair left them like that until bath time? Did food not rub off on furniture or walls? Were wasps not attracted to them?

No, I wipe the food off with a wet cloth. Doesn't mean she's properly clean, just means I won't have to wipe pasta sauce off the carpet. Then there's suncream, dirt from the garden, sand from the sandpit, the big messy poops she's doing at the moment, milk that she spills, playing with the cats. A wipe doesn't cut it imo.