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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How often do you bathe your kids?

238 replies

DirtyDuckCleanDuck · 19/05/2023 10:30

Finally got a call today to say there’s space in a class for DD to start swimming. Except the class is on our only free week day evening. I’m trying to get it all sorted out in my head, but between football/dance/swimming/cubs, there’s only time to put them in a bath or shower twice a week now. Is this too little? They jump in the shower after swimming, but it’s always a crush and it’s too much to wash long hair etc so it’s just a rinse not a full clean.

Two children, both primary school age, is two baths or showers a week enough?

OP posts:
lilacbunny · 19/05/2023 10:32

No twice a week is not enough.
I don't understand how you can't find time to give them a quick shower every day if not every two days? I have a very busy life but I prioritise before bed, a shower!

Come on!

cadburyegg · 19/05/2023 10:35

Mine are 5 and 8 and have a bath/shower 3 times a week. Once on Saturdays after swimming and twice during the week

cherryolive · 19/05/2023 10:35

mine are both primary school age (girls) and shower every day, hair wash 2-3 a week depending on what we've been up to.. its bare minimum care I think

wibblewobbleball · 19/05/2023 10:35

Why are you doing something every night? It's too much for small kids. You need to pick one or two things. If swimming is the one you want them to do, then something else needs to give for the time being. They can pick it up again further down the line.

BlameItOnTheGoose · 19/05/2023 10:35

Yes, 2 baths a week is enough.

Your week sounds exhausting though.

Theoldwoman · 19/05/2023 10:35

Growing up they were bathed daily. Now they are young adults, they shower twice a day.

Betterbear · 19/05/2023 10:36

Yes twice a week is plenty. Nothing wrong with that.

Winter2020 · 19/05/2023 10:36

If you wrap them in a towel at swimming and get them to use the loo /wait 5 mins until the peak rush has gone you could then wash their hair/let them shower properly if there is a cubicle with a door or curtain - before the next rush of kids finishes their lesson. Nice to wash the pool water off but saves doing showers over again at home.

WandaWonder · 19/05/2023 10:37

Every night when younger then mornings, I wash every day so why on earth would children be different?

PelvicFlora · 19/05/2023 10:37

How old are they and how late are you getting back that they can't have a 5 min shower before bed - especially if they've been getting muddy or sweaty doing sports?

Mine have a bath or a shower every evening. They probably don't need it, but I've always done it because it used to fill that awful dead space between dinner and bedtime when we all tired and ratty. Now they're older I find it's helpful for calming them down and getting them set for bedtime. Otherwise the transition from clothes straight into PJs is too sudden and their behaviour goes nuts. They both have clubs/tuition/etc four nights a week but are always in bed by 8/8.30.

parietal · 19/05/2023 10:37

bath every night except one.

kids don't need clubs every night, they need time to chill out & do nothing sometimes.

Danikm151 · 19/05/2023 10:37

2 baths a week is enough. They can have a strip wash in the mornings if you don’t have time.

but then again this is mumsnet that insists that you must bath/shower every day even though that can dry out your skin.

Sissynova · 19/05/2023 10:38

Getting washed twice a week wouldn't be enough for mine.

Honestly when a child isn't washed enough it is plain to see. Some posters might say it's plenty but I guarantee if their child is only being showered or bathed twice a week it is easy to tell.

Wishawisha · 19/05/2023 10:38

They will shower after swimming so even if that night was previously “bath night” then you’re not losing anything are you? The one extra swimming lesson surely isn’t the reason you don’t have time the other nights. Don’t see the issue.

Uponastarr · 19/05/2023 10:38

Depends how dirty your kids get 😁

unless they’re muddy/covered in paint or smelly (e.g. approaching puberty) then do what works for you

my kids will sometimes bath/shower every other day or sometimes twice a week. My son rarely washes his hair (short hair) and has always done that - his hair is fine

i wouldn’t go by what the internet says as you’ll get horrified- need a shower every day (some people Shower twice a day) to others who shower once a week or less (look at you dad!!).

if need be do a sponge down of bits and pits - although personally don’t think little kids need this.

discan · 19/05/2023 10:39

How can there not be time to bath/shower? I get that your week is busy but surely when you get home it's a 10/20 min job?

purplepencilcase · 19/05/2023 10:40

Always daily for mine. No big deal, doesn't take long.

It's a signal that the day is done and its bedtime.

lilacbunny · 19/05/2023 10:41

Danikm151 · 19/05/2023 10:37

2 baths a week is enough. They can have a strip wash in the mornings if you don’t have time.

but then again this is mumsnet that insists that you must bath/shower every day even though that can dry out your skin.

My daughter (5) has had a shower every day since she was a week old.

She has the softest skin I've ever know.

Everyone I know with eczema or skin conditions seemed to grow up with a once a week shower.

Honestly I'm disgusted. And this is why primary schools in this country pass headlice, thread worms etc around because kids are not washed and groomed properly.

I grew up with a once a week bath Envy and always suffered with itchy bum, uti, etc.

It's funny how once I started demanding a shower (not bath) once a day from the age of 12 I suddenly never had issues.

Betterbear · 19/05/2023 10:42

lilacbunny · 19/05/2023 10:41

My daughter (5) has had a shower every day since she was a week old.

She has the softest skin I've ever know.

Everyone I know with eczema or skin conditions seemed to grow up with a once a week shower.

Honestly I'm disgusted. And this is why primary schools in this country pass headlice, thread worms etc around because kids are not washed and groomed properly.

I grew up with a once a week bath Envy and always suffered with itchy bum, uti, etc.

It's funny how once I started demanding a shower (not bath) once a day from the age of 12 I suddenly never had issues.

Show quote history

Nonsense the opposite of this is true!

Lovebeingamummy2 · 19/05/2023 10:44

How are so many people ok with a bath twice a week!! I hear it so often, my kids get bathed every night and maybe on an odd occasion they might miss a day. Twice a week is definitely not enough

Peacepudding · 19/05/2023 10:45

lilacbunny · 19/05/2023 10:41

My daughter (5) has had a shower every day since she was a week old.

She has the softest skin I've ever know.

Everyone I know with eczema or skin conditions seemed to grow up with a once a week shower.

Honestly I'm disgusted. And this is why primary schools in this country pass headlice, thread worms etc around because kids are not washed and groomed properly.

I grew up with a once a week bath Envy and always suffered with itchy bum, uti, etc.

It's funny how once I started demanding a shower (not bath) once a day from the age of 12 I suddenly never had issues.

Show quote history

Head lice prefer clean hair.

DurdleLau · 19/05/2023 10:46

My ds is 5 and has a bath at least twice a week, more if he’s been rolling around in the garden, my dd is a teen and needs to bathe every other day. We don’t have a shower and rely on an immersion tank which is really annoying as it only has enough water for one bath then we have to wait another hour for it to heat up again, until the second person can have a bath, it takes a lot of time.
Interesting about all the activities you do after school, I’d be exhausted if that was us!

lilacbunny · 19/05/2023 10:46

@Betterbear how's it nonsense. I'm literally writing that I suffered so much and I know it's because I was not washed enough.

Kids washed once/twice a week most likely look filthy.

Sceptre86 · 19/05/2023 10:46

I give mine a bath every other day. My ds has eczema and I tried daily washing which made his skin worse. We don't do anywhere near the same number of activities as you do and I would be cutting them down if it comes at the expense of rhe children's personal hygiene. Why make a rod for your own back and tire yourself out ferrying them around to so many activities? They have a full enough day at school. It all depends on your priorities and what works for your family so ultimately up to you.

moanymoe · 19/05/2023 10:46

We bathe our 3&5 y/o every night. Hair wash on Sundays