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.

Your kids butts are dirty by the end of the day whether you can see/smell dirt or not.

I don't know how you get away with the 4yo in particular. My 4yo is constantly plastered with paint, mud, food. Sometimes if looks like he's been tarred and feathered and that's just 10 mins after getting up. He gets showered or bathed most days.

Because human skin has a natural protective layer that gets destroyed by too-frequent washing, especially washing with soap. That's especially dangerous for people with relatively dry skin, which is probably the case for OP's kids. In which case it's a good idea to cut down showers and especially baths to as little as once or twice a week, lower the temperature and use bath oils and grease creams rather than (water-based) lotions. That's based on advice I was given directly by a consultant dermatologist btw.

@Towelrail

He definitely showers more than the 6yo haha.

I'm in the US also. But I don't think this is the norm here at all. Your kids may not smell to you but you are also very used to them and being you and dh are not big bathers either you probably don't notice. I'm sure others do notice and you don't want your children teased over something that unfortunately is from your choice of not bathing them. I feel sorry for them and wonder if maybe you need some help. They say hygiene is something some people let go of when overwhelmed or depressed.

I think once a week and wiped in between isn’t brilliant.
Plus I would be worried about being nose blind to if the kids smell, a bit like it can be with a room if you’re in there a lot.

I was brought up with the weekly bath like many of my generation. As soon as puberty hit I was encouraged to bathe more frequently and "pits & bits" daily with soap and flannel.

When I stayed with my grandparents we were bathed in a tin bath in front of the fire every evening. It was a quick dip as hotter water would be added for my grandfather who'd just got home from a shift down the pit.

Our water pressure was poor, sometimes non-existent so water in the bath was never drained in case we needed it to put down the loo! That may have been the reason for weekly baths and shared water for us kids but I suspect it was the norm anyway.

As a teen, my skin suffered when I had a daily bath even though I used Cameo soap that promised beautifully soft skin! That was so much kinder than the old carbolic or Fairy green bar kept by the downstairs sink, though.

Swap wipes for warm water and a flannel, OP. Your DC's skin will thank you for it rather than drying their skin with daily soapy baths. Though if they're out playing and get grubby a dunk wouldn't do them harm.

www.health.harvard.edu/blog/does-your-child-need-to-bathe-every-day-202109202598#:~:text=If%20your%20baby%20or%20preteen,twice%20a%20week%20is%20fine

Harvard seem to think it's fine. Adults need to wash more often because post puberty you tend to get smelly quickly, but younger children really don't need it if they're not dirty, their sweat doesn't smell like an adults.
We too were told by the doctor when our kids were young to bathe once a week to avoid making eczema worse. Generally it's 2-3 times a week due to sports etc now, but not daily.

Is your username based on your body odour? It really isn't mental to think that bums need a daily wash.

I didn't work it out myself, I had amazing parents who taught us. You mention about teeth brushing- I'm 47 and have never had fillings or other dental work as my parents were fastidious about our oral hygiene. And yes I have regular check ups.

Sorry OP, I’m with your sister and think it’s really grim. My DC smell of school and are really dirty when they come home, a wash or wet wipes wouldn’t get them clean.

we bath our DC every day, they would visibly smell if we didn’t and plus, their nails get stinking, a wet wipe wouldn’t get them clean.

@momonpurpose

I've always showered every other day apart from when I work out. I'm not currently suffering from any mental illness. I was just wanting the perspective of other to see whether my barometer was off for how often it is acceptable to bathe.

My brother who had eczema as a kid and me used to have a bath 2-3 times a week as children (with him using E45 wash or Simple soap) and pits and bits, arms trunk and face otherwise. At 9 we got a shower and showered and every day.

My childhood best friend was neglected and had to be told by my DM to wash properly as she smelled of urine, that’s never great for children with teasing. As an adult she always bathed her DC regularly because of this (I saw).

God what a load of waffle and hand wringing. How do you have three children and not know that they require washing regularly?

I'd say the norm for most parents is to wash their children every 24 hours.

It doesn't need all this over thinking

@DonnaDonna0

I definitely don't want my kids to be teased or to smell.

Completely fine

Wipes are not OK for a wash OP. My son has a bath every day which I would agree us excessive... he just loves them so much!

If he wasn't such a water babe I'd say every other day for a child is about right/3 times a week. That said, obviously everyone is different though.

Is there any reason why its just the once a week now? If not, personally I'd probably begin doing it slightly more often but that's just MO and you're entitled to do whatever you wish 🙂

Not necessary

And what is it with all ‘washing’ children. You wash dishes and clothes. Humans bathe and showers.

I never said mental illness. I said overwhelmed or depressed.

That's not enough at all. My nursery-aged children are every second day, more if they've been doing something messy at nursery or are ill (sick, nappy explosions, etc.).

Jesus Christ. I'm lost for words.

Sorry I’m not having a pop at all but sometimes we can be oblivious to smells, I don’t think you would want your kids to smell; I’m just saying what I've experienced.
Plus as someone with teens if they need to bath/shower more regularly when they hit puberty you may have a battle on your hands when it’s not their routine.

I'm sorry op but I'm with your sister it's disgusting to only bath them once a week, I know other people who do this and I do notice the child smells when near them I'd say at least every other day at a minimum personally I bathe my children everyday.

Young children aren't clean creatures - in fact, they're generally pretty grim and need a daily wash of some kind.