Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bath time

50 replies

Feckingfeck · 15/05/2022 21:22

AIBU to bath baby daily?

DD (10 months) has had daily baths since birth (missed the odd day if unwell etc.) AIBU to bath her daily? Hair wash 2-3 per week (lots of hair)?

DS (9) is the same

How often do you bath yours?

OP posts:
Maybebabyno2 · 15/05/2022 21:23

I bathe ds properly about 4 times a week, but we also have daily showers as he just jumps in with me or dp.

mdh2020 · 15/05/2022 21:33

DD didn’t like baths at all so I wiped her over like a ‘bed bath’ for the first few months. after that she had a bath every day. the idea is that babies / toddlers enjoy playing in water and find it relaxing. I would sometimes bathe DS in the afternoon, just to take up time. Babies aren’t really dirty so there is no imperative to bath them every day.

Mally100 · 15/05/2022 22:00

Why wouldn't you? I bathed ds daily and now he does it on his own. Babies poo, throw up and get food all over them and need a good clean. I find this wipe down just lazy.

Honaloulou · 15/05/2022 22:02

DD 2.5 has always been bathed daily.

Partly because she enjoys it so it's a useful activity, partly because her hobbies include rolling in mud.

ChickensandCows · 15/05/2022 22:35

Everyday with DD

Twice a week with DS so far, he's 4 months. Gets a flannel wash everyday though. Just my preference, he started showing signs of eczema so I reduced the washing and his skin is now beautiful so might up to 3 times a week soon!

Skinnermarink · 15/05/2022 22:42

mdh2020 · 15/05/2022 21:33

DD didn’t like baths at all so I wiped her over like a ‘bed bath’ for the first few months. after that she had a bath every day. the idea is that babies / toddlers enjoy playing in water and find it relaxing. I would sometimes bathe DS in the afternoon, just to take up time. Babies aren’t really dirty so there is no imperative to bath them every day.

Babies can definitely be dirty as they regularly shit themselves and you only clean that off with a wipe, of course they need regular bathing 🤔

weird thing to start a thread about though…

Original poster
Feckingfeck · 15/05/2022 22:57

Was just curious as I had read online about not bathing babies daily.

DS was also trying to refuse to shower claiming that his school friends didn't shower daily... apparently his teacher bathes yearly 😂 he will try anything to get out of doing what he is told sometimes!

OP posts:
Theoldwoman · 16/05/2022 05:59

My kids are now 19 and 20. They were bathed every day when babies/toddlers and once they could do it themselves they had a bath or shower every day. Just like we do.

Camomila · 16/05/2022 06:03

DS1 usually every day, occasionally skip a day if he hasn't got dirty or sweaty (eg, not a PE day/playground day)

DS2 has a bit of excema so every other day unless he's got particularly dirty.

Thursday37 · 16/05/2022 06:05

It’s not good for their skin biome but it’s up to you. We can’t bathe DD daily as it triggers mild eczema. She has 2 baths a week on average and a daily wash instead. Occasionally an extra bath if she’s done something very messy at nursery.

Camomila · 16/05/2022 06:05

DS was also trying to refuse to shower claiming that his school friends didn't shower daily...

Ds1 saw a kids science show on YouTube saying people only need to bathe every 2-3 days. He quotes it to me every time he doesn't want to get in the bath/shower 🙄

PerfectlyImperfectIsMe · 16/05/2022 06:58

Both of my DC have always had a bath or shower daily unless we get home late etc It's always been part of their bedtime routine so it works for us.

PurBal · 16/05/2022 07:02

Every other day

Squiff70 · 16/05/2022 07:05

We have a 2 year old DD but only bath her twice a week. Occasionally an extra bath if she is a bit grubby or needs a hair wash. DP works long shifts and often gets home past her bedtime. I can and do bath her myself but I have a pretty serious hip and knee problem and struggle to kneel on a pillow beside the bath to play with her and wash her. Also I'm 6 months pregnant and the bump is starting to mean I can't get as close to the bath as I would like so I have to kneel slightly further back and lean forwards, putting huge strain on already unbearably painful hips. If it wasn't for this I'd likely bath her every other night. Not every night ad she has eczema and baths dry out her skin even though we thoroughly moisturise her after etc.

rainyskylight · 16/05/2022 07:13

Daily here, but wash hair only once a week. We use emollient cream in the bath rather than any perfumes products. DD has skin that reacts to wipes (we use only water for bum face and hands). So bathtime gets her nice and clean properly with the cream.

LuckyAmy1986 · 16/05/2022 07:24

Every other day unless doing something sweaty/dirty etc. when they were little babies I’m pretty sure (memory not great now) we were told not to bath them every day. Not good for skin but I can’t remember why now. Regardless we couldn’t bathe dd too much because it would flare up her eczema

csectionmummas · 16/05/2022 07:31

I washed my baby every day because I thought that’s what you were “supposed” to do. People say they get dirty, it’s part of the nighttime routine etc, but it’s bollocks. Unless they’re covered in mud and food of course. Babies don’t sweat.

he actually terrible eczema , and pedietrician said to stop bathing him. It’s not just soap, but it’s water which sucks the moisture out of their skin (and the warmer the water the worse it is). He’s now 14 months and I bathe him twice a week. More if he’s been swimming or has got actual mud / paint / food on him.

unless he’s actually dirty, I Wouldn’t bathe him
every day. Not necessary.

RealBecca · 16/05/2022 07:36

At 10 months probably once a week/fortnight. She was still in nappies and we didn't use wet wipes, we used warm water and cotton woll for every change and washed her hands throughout the day. Not much else gets dirty until they are walking.

Dughter is 5 now and we wash her hair fortnightly at most and it is unbelievably shiny and glossy. It never looks dirty or greasy.

RealBecca · 16/05/2022 07:38

I agree with @csectionmummas I think a lot of the routine bollocks is marketing from baby wash companies. Routine will help them sleep...OUR lavender scented wash will help them sleep. At 10 that age you're desperate for sleep so it sells!

DelurkingAJ · 16/05/2022 08:34

Every day for both (now 9 and 6) from a couple of months old, unless something very odd has happened, and always have done. But they don’t have sensitive skin and both love the bath. They also do get grubby from playing outside and generally rolling around on the ground (I exaggerate but it sometimes looks like it).

FantaLover · 16/05/2022 08:44

Every day from birth to the age of wanting to shower independently. Apart from when sick
Now dc is a teen & showers daily.
Babies sit in their own wee & pooh, they puke & dribble & suck their hands. They sweat when they sleep & when old enough to eat solid food they spill & slobber food everywhere including their own hair.
When they crawl they're literally on the floor.
I can't believe people don't think babies need to be washed daily!
We used suitable products- MooGoo in our case & dc never once had nappy rash or cradle cap or eczema. Their skin was pristine.

I have held babies and they smell bad. Oily & like unwashed hair / skin & sour milk. It's not nice but I think parents become nose-blind to it. But others notice it. Same with bigger toddlers / kids who aren't washed enough- they smell of unwashed hair

Skinnermarink · 16/05/2022 09:26

Marketing plot or not bathtime is a big part of our night time wind-down, also my baby loves a bath.

sorry but I can’t help thinking skipping it is just laziness (unless the reason is for a skin condition)

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 16/05/2022 09:28

They both had daily baths as part of a routine. Until they were probably around 2ish. Out of nappies. Then it's every other day unless dirty.

They're 10 and 8 now.

Traumdeuter · 16/05/2022 09:31

Every other day for 2.5yo DS. More frequently in the summer or if we’ve been out in the mud, or if nursery have done something particularly messy

StrawBeretMoose · 16/05/2022 09:41

No daily baths for young babies here, was doing twice a week but doctor advised once a week.
Bums, face, hands and neck all get cleaned regularly but as a few minority posters have said bed bath style.

I think lazy is a bit unfair if you're referring to the very early months when babies can be full on cluster feeding and not wanting to be put down. If they happen to also dislike the bath why put them or you through it every day?
But if it is lazy so be it.

Older kids - shower or bath most days but an occasional skipped one will do no harm until puberty strikes.