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.

How often is that then? Every other day? 😄

@Anjea

Our kids have never been sore 'down there' apart from nappy rash from teething.

I think if you and your DH only shower every other day you have a skewed idea of what constitutes good hygiene tbh

I think it's a bit grubby. We usually do 3 times a week, both DC have eczema we manage with creams and washes, it's hard going at times trying to combat flares but they need to be clean. More baths/showers in summer as they get filthy. Faces, pits and bits get a good scrub with a flannel on non bath days.

🤣🤣🤣 the human animal does not need to have its genitals washed daily! 🤣🤣🤣

@mouseychick

It definitely varies, if they are playing sports it would be every day, when the weather is awful and they are inside coloring/doing puzzles it's obviously less of an issue.

I had my first in the midwest so I’m more than familiar with central air and cold winters and I still think it’s pretty lazy and pretty gross to wash them once a week and do a wet wipe in between. Shower or bath every other day, minimum. If they don’t like daily might be best though, it just becomes part of the routine that way.

Sorry OP, I think that's pretty grim... I just don't get why you wouldn't wash them more? What's the actual reason behind it? I have 3 DC, active and bundles of energy - they get filthy from all the fun so have a bath / shower every single day without fail! It's also a big part of winding down for bed time.

Of course a wet wipe won't cut it!

@gluggle

Do you really think so?

An acquaintance washes her 4 year old twice a week and you can tell. She have a smell of stale piss even after she's been changed into fresh clothes.

I think it's neglectful parenting tbh. You mightn't be able to smell your child but others can.

I thinks it's absolutely fine. If they start smelling, wash them more often. No wonder we have a climate crisis when people are so unbelievably wasteful.

Op, try emulsifying soap free wash rather than soap, it’s kinder on skin especially in a dry climate. I use QV, not sure if that’s available in Idaho, but Aveeno do some which you can probably find.
I have a real thing about unwashed hair, I can smell it from some distance, so I am a bit paranoid about it. So to me once a week sounds a bit too little,

Wipes aren't good enough. If you're not bathing everyday they should at least get a proper wash ( hands , face, bottom and genitals) everyday with soap and water.

@JeezJerry

It's not for any reason in particular. We just kind of fell into the habit I guess from when my son was recommended once a week by the pediatrician.

I have a teenage boy. He washes every day without being prompted. He also brushes his teeth independently twice a day (confirmed when I've woken up as he goes to bed and heard the toothbrush) and that's because since he was a baby we have washed daily and brushed teeth twice a day without fail. I've done lots wrong as a parent but I knew that those habits need to be instilled from childhood. I grew up not being taught to wash daily or brush twice a day and it took me well into my adult years to develop those habits. Many people never do. You can't assume either that you'll be able to change the routines when they get older or that it won't be too late for them to internalise them. Do it now.

Weekly is a stretch, sorry. Showers are fine but you really do need to add in one or two mid week or they will smell a bit whiffy/stale!!

2-3 times a week, fine. But 6 year olds don't wipe their bums well. Wipes are not a substitute for washing their genital area properly with a bowl of warm soapy water daily.

Yes, I really do.

1-2 times a week here. Dd decided she wanted daily baths for about a week a few months ago and nursery commentated on it as her skin was so bad. Spoke to a doctor and cut it down again. Her skin is still recovering but it's better than it was.

I definitely wouldn't want my kids to smell. I think I can tell when they do and I of course wash them then.

If you only have a bath or a shower once a week then yes they definitely need to have a clean with water and either soap or whatever the dermatologist recommends.

If there are skin issues then the dermatologist should guide you with what to use, but it really should be more than once a week.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

You shouldn't only be washing kids genitals/bum if it's smelly 🤢 that's too late!!

Your paediatrician will have meant only one full immersion bath a week. Not only washing once a week!

I think there are some posters being a bit harsh. It’s a bit longer than I’d leave it between washes but as long as you are happy they are clean enough and don’t smell it’s fine. I have to say though, small kids are revolting. I bath my two year old every night because he’s inevitably got spaghetti/weetabix/paint in his hair, a snot encrusted face and sticky hands by the end of the day despite my best efforts to keep him clean. A bath every night is the only time I can properly hose him down. I’m impressed yours can even go longer than a couple of days without looking absolutely feral.