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.

Oh and we never actually wash her, with soap. If I think she's actually dirty I will wipe with the flannel in the bath bug generally just let her splash in it. Hair washed once a week with shampoo unless yoghurt incident or similar.

YABU - your children wont be dirty after being in bed. Don’t bother; have an extra hour of sleep. You’re welcome

Surely they don't need a morning shower until puberty makes them sweaty and smelly?

Why not just use your body butter without the wash? because the oils cleanse their skin anyway. That amount of water and soap is not good for their skin, it probably feels ok because of the oils sitting on top, but it is really drying.

For those who have a small child/toddler who isn't dry at night: surely they need a wash in the morning after sleeping in a urine soaked nappy or pull-up overnight?

Eastie77 I wash their buns water at every nappy change at home.

Bums

Mine have eczema - they bath/shower once or twice a week, and wash with flannel in between. A full bath/shower twice a day would play havoc with their skin (and is unnecessary as well)

Most children don't need body lotions, unless ezcema-prone or if skin has dried out because of over-washing. Different if they're sweaty in the summer, but what exactly does a 4-year old do that they get so dirty every day? Mine is generally wearing clothes so all stains would be on those, not bare skin.

DD is 6. Our routine has been the same for as long as I can remember. She washes her face and bottom night and morning. I don't trust her bottom-wiping and don't want her either sore or smelling of wee. She has a bath and hair wash every other day.

@wonderstuff Nope I suffer from eczema like my mum did and many of my black/other non-white school friends. Difference is black people tend to use moisturers on their skin after bathing/showering as when our skin is dry it looks ashen, so it has to be really bad before you go to the doctor and ask for help.

10 month old - bath every day (she likes finger food and gets fairly messy)
5 year old - every second or third evening

Bath only at bedtime, morning too is just daft and bad for skin

Yikes stop washing them so much! You're going to dry out their skin something crazy. I bathe my kids every three days, maybe less if we got busy and they weren't particularly dirty.. Twice a day is massive overkill.

Hold on. Everybody stop. @poing an electric toilet???? Please tell us more

And as for the morning showering and moisturising (this takes longer than the shower IME) OP, just imagine how much extra morning time you will have when you stop this unnecessary nonsense. No more rushing to get ready, a little more sleep perhaps, time to read with them, a bit more relaxed routine.

My DH's parents had one for ages and my DH wanted one two years ago for his birthday. It is essentially an electronic seat with plumbing, so the rest of the toilet stays and the seat is replaced.

It heats the seat, which is nice in winter, heats the water to spray your nether regions (you can choose how strong, where to spray and how hot to spray) and has an air dryer for afterwards. I think it cost around 150 euro and DH installed it himself. Great for kids who do not wipe well after poos. Only real downside is that DH can spend an hour on there with his book or phone. I would rather lie on the couch with a cuppa but to each their own.

My kids only have a bath 2-4 times a week - more in summer but there really is no need for most children to be having a bath every day!

I'm in Australia and even in this heat (air conditioner is usually on) I only bath my 2 year old at night only. Bathing children that young twice a day is bad for their skin.
However myself and my husband have a shower morning and night 🙂

Mine are showered twice a week and have been since birth, unless particularly mucky.

They’re nearly 11 and 8 now, even the 11 year old doesn’t get smelly, nowhere near puberty yet.

@poing I want one now!!

I saw toilets with water jets pointing upwards on holiday in turkey but I dont think they were heated, and I wondered how people dried their wet bits after!!

Both mine bathed at night before bed. Have done from day 1. Flannel wash in mornings