WIBU to stop washing my kids

[treaclepumpkin]

So, I'm back at work this after having had my second son and trying to get into a morning routine that works. Usual procedure has always been for everyone in the family to have a wash each morning and evening. This is how DH and I were both brought up, so have always done this.

But I'm wondering, do other people perhaps wash their kids less? Especially as they don't really sweat or anything? For context, I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old, so still quite little. DS1 bathed only in the evening until he started nursery at age 1. DS2 has started nursery this week and so is now also having a shower in the morning too.

That can't be good for their skin, surely? YWNBU to stop. YWBU to keep going though, imo.

Mine gets a proper bath with shampoo etc. once a week and a sit-in-water-for-a-bit bath every night as part of bedtime, unless really dirty. Wipe clean as needed, wash hands before eating and after coming in from the outside.

Interesting that not one single person so far does what we do. A lot of people I know personally would not let their kids out of the house of a morning without a wash. But I agree they just can't be getting that dirty overnight, unless a nappy has leaked or something.

Could be a cultural thing (DH and I are of African and Caribbean heritage, though born and raised in the U.K.).

But I from tomorrow I think we are going to take a flannel approach for the mornings.

FWIW, the kids have great skin. Moisturised after each wash with an organic body butter that I make myself.

That's a lot of washing and not good for their skin. Mine (and all the other kids I know) get washed every other day. In the mornings I just wipe their faces and hands with a flannel.

I bath/shower mine (DS5 & 9month old twins) every night, they all poo during the day, they need a bath because baby wipes and a 5 year old wiping himself just isn’t enough. After reading this I am wondering if I am being a bit precious

In Australia, we wash daily, sometimes twice (when no water restrictions) because it gets so humid and we get stinky. Or a swim. So probably your heritage, too

My toddler (2.5) gets a bath most evenings unless too tired as she loves it and it’s part of her routine. We wash hands and face with a flannel in the morning then brush teeth.

My teens were bathed the same when they were little and now they’re older, they’ve kept up a daily shower/bath but it’s just in the evenings.

Bathed every night (sometimes DD has a shower instead). Unless they've been swimming and had a shower after that. Nothing more than a face wash/new nappy for DS in the morning. The only time I would bath them more than once in a day is if they were filthy ie leaked nappy or something.

I shower with my toddler every morning. That way I get a decent shower without having to worry what she's getting up to. If we're in a rush we skip it.
She also has a shallow bath each night and that's her routine. Never had any issues with her skin. She loves water. We don't use soap on her every time. She's still in nappies so I think it helps keep her fresher and she's also a very messy eater! Works for us.

Bath/shower every evening at that age in my household. Mornings are a quick face wash, brush teeth and hair.

My five year old has a bath every night by choice I might add , in the morning she washes hands face and teeth b4 school .

Bath every night for my kids

Bath or shower at night only at that age.

I used to care for a child who was of Caribbean heritage and they used to wash this often as well.
He used to smell beautiful all the time!

However, for us, we can even bath every day when they are very little because of chronic eczema.
But 3-4 times a week.

That's not to say anyone who doesn't bath twice a day doesn't smell beautiful.

Just that he used to aways smell clean and soapy.

I like children bathed daily, especially if they are still in nappies. But twice a day is ridiculous and not good for their skin.

My kids are 5 and 3, they are showered or bathed every other night. If we are too tired then they'll have a quick shower the next morning instead. Eldest has dry skin so we found this best and youngest just fell in to the routine to suit. Quick flannel face wash each morning too.

Eldest has a shower or bath every night, baby bathed x3 per week

Every other night dd 3 has a bath....sometimes only twice a week. Sometimes more if she’s grubby and daily in summer when she gets sticky with sun cream and playing out more,

I bribe Older sons into the shower when I can.

Make things easier on yourself and just have a wipe with a flannel to freshen up in the morning.

I'm with you @treaclepumpkin bath/shower ever morning and night with the odd exception of late night etc.

The one year old could probably manage a flannel wipe in the morning if there hadn't been a dirty nappy but Even a 3 year old can get a bit clammy in the night and would feel (and smell) fresher in the the morning with a shower.

I often think but the time you try and strip wash you'd have showered quicker.

I don’t think washing a child twice a day would be good for their skin. It’s stripping all
the oils and things from it.

I wash my toddlers most days (unless I’m too tired) but they are toilet training and poo their pants a lot . My older kids only get washed every other day and we keep soap to a couple times a week as it’s super drying even the organic ones

You must not be British. Our national reputation is built on bathing once a week and being a bit smelly (tongue in cheek

My kids get a bath when they’re dirty. Usually about 2-3 times a week depending on what they’re up to at school or nursery. Otherwise we wash faces/hands and teeth in the sink, morning and evening. Even that’s too much effort for my 8 year old some days

I give DS a bath every other night in winter as he has dry skin (every night in summer though as he gets sweaty and itchy)

Then in the morning I just do hands/face/teeth and wipe him with a flannel when I take his night time pull up off.

Bath every night because he likes it.
Morning is a face, hands and privates wash with a flannel.

Mine had bath into pjs ,story and bed ....daily
I couldn't imagine them going to bed grubby ....assumed our routine with baths was the norm !
They are adults now and skin is fine !!!

Ps in mornings would wash hands and face.
Teeth twice a day minimum