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 is horrible for their skin. Dd bathes as needed. Sometimes that is daily. Sometimes that is a few days. Always in the evening.

Way too much. Once a day (evening) is more than enough.

Insanity

Bath every evening for my son, plus hair wash and teeth. Even if it's a 2 minute dip in and out of the water. In the morning a flannel over important bits and teeth again.

Mine are now 25 and 22. Always been bath before bed and hands, face and teeth in a morning.

Nothing special, a few inches of water, toys, bubbles.

Bed.

Our neighbour did this and then the kids spent the morning with dripping wet hair even in winter and were in Scotland so it's COLD

When my kids were that age they had a bath every night unless they were knackered. They both hated showers until they were about 5.

DS1 (5) and DD (33m) are bathed every night and have their hands and face washed with a flannel every morning. DS1 likes the shower and sometimes asks to have a shower instead of a bath. DS2 (6m) has a bath every night too by himself or with me or DH. Hands and face wiped in the morning with warm water.

@treaclepumpkin I am from the same background (parents both born in the Caribbean) and have friends/relatives with a similar routine to yours. You are not alone

My children generally have a shower each morning. I can't really get my head around bathing a child once/twice a week and giving their hands and face a quick wipe with a flannel the rest of the time, particularly older children. It's not a concept I grew up.

Just to add - I have never washed dd's hair daily. It is so so thick it takes AGES to dry. When she was little I washed it 2/3 times a week but more often if needed.

Bath pm..top and tail am...anything more is needless work

I think my DC had their first shower at 6, 7 and 8 which was 2018 when we bought a house that only had a shower. We had a bath installed soon after though, none of us like showering at all.

Anyway, my DC have a bath every other day generally. The 14 month old tends to have a sink wash most evenings because he is a baby therefore pretty filthy.

Interesting thread, I wonder if European skin is more eczema prone than African origin? My 9 year old is a proper soap Dodger, bath once or twice a week for him, the rest of us shower every other day.

My 4yo daughter has bath/shower 2 or 3 times weekly, with a hair wash once a week (sometimes twice in the summer if it's hot or sticky). Face, hands, teeth wash every morning.

My 15 month old son gets a bath once a week.
He loves going swimming but will not have a bath unless I'm in the ruddy thing with him. Screams blue murder otherwise. He was fine in the baby bath, but normal bath, nah. I've not time to be getting in a bath with him everyday, so it's bath after swimming on a weekend.

In the mornings and evenings he'll have his teeth brushed and a flannel wash. Usually have to flannel wash him after every meal as he likes to play with his food. Well at home, lord know what they do in nursery. He usually comes home caked in snot and dry food from nursery.

I think you are right that there is a cultural element here. I used to live with a really good friend who swore by Dettol baths. She never did convince me to try it.

I think you’re right and it may be a cultural thing. I have a Nigerian friend and as a child before she came to the UK she was taught to wash her sheets and make a fresh bed every day!

Ds is 18 months, he has a bath probably 5 nights out of 7 because he loves a bath and will ask for one before bed. He will have an extra if theres an accident with poo or he washes his hair with his dinner!

In the morning he has a wipe of his face and hands after breakfast and brushes his teeth.

Flannel wipe morning and evening, evening bath 2-3 times a week

@user1471592953

I have two the same age. They have a bath every night but that is because they like it. We don’t wash them in the morning. Perhaps we should

Why? What's getting dirty between the nighttime bath and the morning?

@BecauseReasons
I suppose that is what I thought initially!

Our 7 & 9 year old get a bath/shower twice a week unless they are actually muddy in between. Hand washing is encouraged...

I suppose though that if your parents grew up in a hot country you’d sweat more overnight than in a fairly damp cool climate like the UK & need a shower in the morning too.

Way too much effort!!! I bath mine every other night or even every third if we are too busy with work etc (1 and 3 yrs)

My children have hands and face washed morning and night and bath once a week. They don't smell and are fine.

I don't know anyone who does what we do, which is bath 3 year old in the morning. And always have done, since she was born. That's when I have my bath so that's when she has hers! With me usually . No wash in evening bar a wipe of face and hands after tea.