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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:
Luredbyapomegranate · 19/05/2023 11:36

Not really, why does having clubs mean they can’t have a shower after? Also why can’t you take a bit longer so they can shower and wash hair after swimming? Anyone needs to wash properly every other day as a minimum.

strawberry2017 · 19/05/2023 11:39

We do every other night.
I also don't do after school clubs though.

Luredbyapomegranate · 19/05/2023 11:40

MrsMiagi · 19/05/2023 11:12

It's not about being smelly. It's the dirty ears, sweaty crevices, bums that aren't wiped properly by primary school age children, dribbles after a wee, sweat, pollution and germs you can't see. Being smelly is not the only reason to bathe or shower surely?
This is why my child probably won't go to sleepovers. Dirty dirty. Vile

Show quote history

I am all for regular washing, but you are being a total looper. Going on sleepovers is part of your child’s social development, and is a lot more important than encountering a few germs, which, BTW, they need to to have functional immune systems.

SallyWD · 19/05/2023 11:41

Every other day. I really think your child could have a proper shower at swimming. After swimming lessons mine have a quick wash with shower gel and wash their hair. They can do it all in a few minutes. Most of the kids I see there are quickly washing their hair and bodies. Saves the cost of having a shower at home too!

greenspaces4peace · 19/05/2023 11:46

Daily since the day they were born, some times more than once?
i really dislike that sweaty head smell, it’s relaxing…for me :), for a few minutes a day they were quiet/not fighting.

SarahSmith2023 · 19/05/2023 11:48

@DirtyDuckCleanDuck
Nope, twice a week is not enough. Putting them through the shower takes 5 minutes, you must have time for that each night before bed?!?!

riotlady · 19/05/2023 11:49

Sounds fine to me, we usually do every other day for DD (including a shower at swimming)

SavvyWavvy · 19/05/2023 11:49

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

Washing primary age kids hair 2-3x per week is absolutely not bare minimum. They are too young to be getting greasy hair so it’s totally unecessary.

TheFormidableMrsC · 19/05/2023 11:49

My kids were bathed every day. It doesn't have to be a performance. A quick shower is just as good.

Scirocco · 19/05/2023 11:50

BlameItOnTheGoose · 19/05/2023 11:20

Not to hijack the thread but for those whose children have sensitive skin that irritates easily, can you recommend a scent-free (not too expensive) bubble bath for regular use??

We like Aveeno for that, they do a bubble bath that doubles as body wash and seems to be fine on DC's skin and my skin.

Neverendingstories · 19/05/2023 11:53

If you can’t spare 5 - 10 minutes a day to get them showered/washed, then maybe cut back on the clubs/ activities. Mine showers daily as he’s a grubby little thing!

cherryolive · 19/05/2023 11:57

SavvyWavvy · 19/05/2023 11:49

Washing primary age kids hair 2-3x per week is absolutely not bare minimum. They are too young to be getting greasy hair so it’s totally unecessary.

Show quote history

They're both girls with long hair, oldest is 10 and approaching puberty, youngest is 6 and a messy eater. I wash my own hair twice a week, why would it be different for them?
Keeping your children clean IS a bare minimum.

takealettermsjones · 19/05/2023 12:01

BlameItOnTheGoose · 19/05/2023 11:20

Not to hijack the thread but for those whose children have sensitive skin that irritates easily, can you recommend a scent-free (not too expensive) bubble bath for regular use??

Boots baby do a decent one, it's only £1.20. Not the purple bedtime one, just the plain one. It's not sulphate free though, fyi if that's a trigger.

MammaTo · 19/05/2023 12:05

They need at least a quick shower every day and hair washed 1-2 times a week as a minimum. Doesn’t have to be a big ordeal just a quick 10 minute scrub of everywhere before bed or before school.

Obviously this is completely dependant on your kids ages but they can start puberty in primary school and start to have smelly sweat, greasy faces and periods can start too.

MrsK89 · 19/05/2023 12:06

Mine shower every night and they have after school activities. Definitely shower her at the swimming baths after the lesson and wash her hair properly. It will take 5 minutes extra to wash hair and I wouldn't like chlorine sticking around on them.

Emily19944 · 19/05/2023 12:07

My son has had a bath every day since the day he was born as part of his before bed routine. I shower or bathe every day and I wouldn’t put my son to bed without one either.

Rolloisthebestpony · 19/05/2023 12:08

Daily bath- it only needs to take 5/10 minutes on a busy day surely?

LadyJ2023 · 19/05/2023 12:09

Are you joking twice a week. I have 3 under 2 and a teenager and it's every day

MooseBreath · 19/05/2023 12:09

We do a bath twice per week and a quick wash with a washcloth on the other days. I honestly despair for the environment based on some of these replies. So much water wasted, especially on twice-per-day showers. It's so unnecessary.

aSofaNearYou · 19/05/2023 12:10

Washing a baby or small child definitely takes longer than 5 minutes. It takes me 5 minutes to run DD’s bath, then undress her, get her in, soap her body and wash her hair, rinse it all off, get her out, towel her off, brush and blow dry her hair. It’s 20 minutes ish. DS is a baby so slightly quicker but I have to get all his bits together like the changing mat, nappy, clean clothes, bum cream and his little towel first. By the end he’s bawling his head off and takes a bit of settling.

These are primary aged children though, no reason a shower needs to take that long.

kirinm · 19/05/2023 12:12

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.

I'm going to guess the OP washes her kids every day, they just don't have a bath.

You can't wash away nits. Thankfully not had the delight of wormsz

kirinm · 19/05/2023 12:13

Every other day as a minimum but more if she's dirty / sticky. It'll be every night if the weather ever warms up as our flat warms up and it's difficult to cool down.

Trying to avoid washing her hair more than twice a week.

takealettermsjones · 19/05/2023 12:15

Also not wanting to hijack the thread but how are you all showering young children without either getting in too or the water going everywhere? 😅

kirinm · 19/05/2023 12:18

Curtains70 · 19/05/2023 11:35

Why can't they just jump in the shower before school?

My daughter is 4. She can't jump into a shower on her own and is still a pain about getting water in her face / eyes. Most small children will have been bathed not showered and the adjustment takes time.

I do give my DD showers but we have a second detachable shower head. She complains about it being cold which it is, because she won't stand under the running water.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 19/05/2023 12:19

Every day