To wash my kids once a week?

[HuckleberryBlackcurrant]

I have 3 DC, DS 6, DS 4 and DD 4 mths.

When my first child was born, he had eczema and sensitive skin, we live in an extremely dry climate with weather extremes, so our Dr recommended bathing once a week.

We do not have a bathtub, only a baby one we put in the shower for our daughter now. The boys have of course outgrown it.

As our other children have come along we have kind of stuck to this schedule.

We of course wash them any time it is needed, for nappy blowouts, when they are ill, if they get extremely dirty or sweaty, or if they request a shower.

But barring any of these, a weekly bath it is.

Recently I was spending some time with my sister, she commented that she needed to bath her daughter. I said oh really, I thought you only bathed her yesterday! My sister said she bathes her at least every other day.

My sister lives in a different climate than I do, we were at my parents' for a visit.

My sister was shocked when I said we only bath/shower our children weekly, and brought up that they wouldn't be used to regular showers when they hit puberty. I replied that that is a conversation we will have at that time, but for right now they aren't producing BO and there is a lot of research to suggest that excessive washing dries out the skin and depletes natural oils.

Myself and my husband shower every other day unless we have been sweating a lot.

My sister said that she thinks this is a bit 'grimy'. I'm feeling terrible now that maybe we are bringing our children up with bad hygiene habits?! I never notice them smelling bad, apart from my 6yo who is learning how to wipe, and if this occurs of course we have him shower.

We of course wash hands and face daily, as necessary.

I think it’s really important to model good hygiene to children so it becomes a habit. They certainly don’t need a bath or shower every day but they do need a proper wash with soap and water every day. People bathe their kids weekly then wonder why they turn into sweaty teenagers who stink and don’t want to shower more often.

@Mrgrinch

I think that's going a bit far.

Also she smells great. I actually just went to an event with other mums and people kept saying to me "omg she has such a gorgeous baby smell". She's never smelt bad on this washing regime.

My mum has similar dry skin and can't shower at all as I irritates her skin so much. She does a strip wash with water and soap substitute - also doesn't smell bad whatsoever.

Weekly is normal. Top and tail every day

Probably because it’s so rare.

My children get worked up over getting dressed, brushing teeth- still has to be done. It’s just part of the daily routine.

It seems the general consensus is that if we are not showering them more often, they need a wash with a flannel every day. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize a wipe wouldn't cut it. I honestly don't think my kids smell but I don't want to take that risk!

How is that quicker than a 2 min shower

My kids shower every night (9 and 6)

it’s engrained in our routine.

it might be too much but once a week seems a little bit grim

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Maybe. They love going in the shower and they can obviously go in whenever they want. They go ballistic when we visit somewhere that has a bathtub haha.

A wet wipe is definitely not the same as a wash with soap and water. In the days before a daily shower, most people would wash at the sink.

I'd be thinking there were some mental or physical health issues in a family if they were only bathing once per week.

Will be a good habit for when they’re older too

@Hermittrismegistus

No issues here. I've struggled with depression in the past but I'm currently doing well. Husband has no issues either. This is just our norm and I wanted to see what others thought.

Do you want them to be teenagers and stink because they don't know they need to wash daily? Do you want them to be adults who can't get partners and get ostracised at work because they smell? Jesus Christ, once a week with wipes in between is absolutely disgusting even with little kids. Please make a change today.

@Newsenmum
Agreed.

It's not going too far at all.

Your kids play outside in a dusty climate and you wipe them over with a wet wipe. They are not learning good hygiene and you are setting them up to be bullied.

The reality is they will smell whether you notice it or not, especially their genitals, when they're only being properly washed once a week. Kids of that age don't always wipe properly.

I agree - this is part of why we moved to daily from every other day, it just went better to have it as a daily routine.

My older one has eczema but his dermatologist recommended daily showers but with moisturiser instead of soap.

@RowanMayfair

That's absolutely not what I want. As they get older obviously hygiene needs will change too.

My dc 6 and 7 have a bath and hair wash every Sunday and a flannel and soap every morning.

It may not be quicker than a shower but it’s better for the skin. DC had severe eczema and was in wet wrap bandages from neck to wrists and ankles - baths/showers made it noticeably worse and dermatologist said once a week only.

I would consider asking your sister whether she thinks your children smell - or someone else who will be honest with you.

Friend is actually having issues now. She bathed her dc once a week and now at pre teen her dc stinks of bo but refusing to shower more often as they have a once a week routine. It's a battle

I'd probably introduce a couple of showers in the week. We wash more in the summer as they are grimey and sweaty for playing

I'm lax but that's minging. Poor kids will get sore bits.

@Mrgrinch

I would always check their genital area every day, and they have a shower if there is any smell.

Once a week is pretty grim sorry. Wipes don't cut it. What's wrong with a quick 1 minute shower daily? It encourages good hygiene habits for children.
I know no one else who does this OP. It's like only washing your hands once a day!
I don't really understand 😕 I know how dirty my DD4 and DS3 get.