Do I bathe my child enough?

[Mel2023]

How often do you bath your toddlers?

My DS is 2.5. We’ve always had a routine where we’ve bathed him twice during the week (usually Tues and Thurs) and once on the weekend (usually a Sunday). This is a full body and hair wash. That being said, in the summer it was a lot more often due to wearing sun cream most days, and if he comes home from nursery particularly mucky or has a messy tea time we’ll bath him regardless.

I’ve recently noticed he’s developed cradle cap again (he had it when he was a baby) and it’s quite bad. Everything I’ve looked into online says it’s not unusual for toddlers his age to have it, especially if they had it as a baby. I mentioned it to a family member and she’s said it’s because we don’t bath him enough and she’s always thought this? Do we not? AIBU to think that a bath 3 times a week plus extra if needed is ok?

I had heard that, it’s interesting! In our case daily bathing always made his skin worse- maybe it’s the water? No idea!

I always bathed mine every day just before teeth, book and bed. It was part of his bedtime. Having said that, I don't think there is anything wrong with 3 times a week!

He's a teenage boy now and he'd get washed 3 times a year if we let him!

I bath mine every night and he had cradle cap when he was about 2. It wasn't bad but I think that was luck.
Pretty sure it has absolutely nothing to do with how often you bathe your child.

Me too.
I don't have time to get home from work wait for immersion to heat up twenty mins in bath and around 2 hours for hair to dry fully every night.

That's the problem with bloody eczema isn't it - it's always trial and error, you never know for sure what's going to work unless you try.

We are the same as this, every other night unless grubby from beach/suncream/mud/sweaty etc x

Every second day generally here for both of them. Sounds fine, OP, but these threads do attract a certain type of hysterical poster as you'll probably have noticed.

Bath every other day every two days. Washing in between with flannel including bums. Not sure why you can only wash a bum in the bath?!

Any more and my kids skin really dries out.

You're washing him a fine amount.

Fwiw my 8 yo has the longest, lushness hair, never greasy, no dandruff or scalp issues, and we wash it about once a week.

My point is that how often you wash your kidd has nothing to do with cradle cap and at best your relative is being unhelpful and at worst, using it to be mean. No need to use it as a chance to kick you while you're down.

It's not you, you're doing great. DC just has cradle cap. Cradle cap is the issue. Don't go doubting yourself as a loving parent. Ask a pharmacist about treating the cradle cap.

I hope you have some supportive friends because you dont need this judgement, you need someone to actually support you.

And if you have a quick Google, the first page of results from paediatricians, dermatologists etc. all say 2-3 times a week is ideal, so I'd follow that advice rather than anything you get on here.

I wash mine most days because he’s filthy, but no issue missing the odd night if he’s cleaner than usual or we go out to dinner and are late home or something. I think your schedule sounds absolutely fine, especially if yours isn’t a fan of messy play and ends the day look clean-ish. But may as well try a daily hair wash with some gentle shampoo (always rinse in clean water not the bath water!) to see if it helps?

Twice a week here!

Bathing a toddler 3 times a week is incredibly lazy to me.

They shit all the time. They have a nappy on constantly unless they’re already toilet trained. If they go to nursery then they’re even more grubby. Why not bath them daily?

I have two toddlers who have a bath 6 days a week. The only reason why I miss one day is because we like to have a lie in one day a week which messes up our routine!

Do you use johnsonson baby wash? I've found that can give cradle cap

Most nights for ours, unless they’re too tired then it’s a shower the next morning. Our 3 year old gets grubby!

It's not lazy though, it's recommended. Daily is fine, and I can understand why people get in that habit. We never did because our eldest hated the bath as a baby so we only ever bathed her two or three times a week, and as far away from bedtime as possible. It's all good.

You did see where OP said the child is bathed if dirty from nursery yes? Your missing day is no different to OP missing a day, the outcome is the same that the child missed a bath that day. Absolute hypocrit. You must, quite clearly in your words, be lazy.

Ps having a sleep in doesn't need to impact a bath in the evning, what a strange thought process.

Started with daily bath with my first. Her dry skin didn't thank me. We moved it to twice a week under doctors advice and realised every day was entirely unnecessary and indeed wasteful. Wastes water and for us also time since we always worked full time and could use that time with our children differently depending on the night. Continued with all the other children, 2 to 3 times a week, shampoo once a week, until they reach about 8-9 and start needing daily showers. They all always loved their bath, we could make the baths they had a bit more special because it wasn't an every day occurrence and do more reading or playing on other days. I'm lucky that all my children have always been easy at bedtime so no need for any sort of strict routine, they like their beds!

Your missing day is no different to OP missing a day

I bath my children 6 out of 7 days a week. OP baths her child 3 out of 7 days a week. How is that no different? Do you know how to count?

I am lazy hence why I don’t bath them one day a week. I can very evidently admit that. Please show me where I said my children have an evening bath? It’s too early in the morning to be engaging with someone who clearly wants to go back and forth with those that don’t agree with the OP, bye!

All 3 of mine have always had a bath every night.

Kids get filthy! Can you imagine having a shit on your arse with a nappy around it and not having a bath or shower that night? Gross.

My friend used to bath hers 3 times a week, her kids smelled sort of weird. Not bo, just unclean. She was totally unaware.

I’ve a colleague who is an active outdoors person. She said she only bathes her 3yo son when she gets a waft of a “cheesy” smell from him. I hope it improves before he starts school.

agree with @floppybit our son was under the dermatologist for a while because of his eczema and they recommended a bath once a week, I just did a flannel wash of face, hands and bums daily. Washing everyday is a very modern phenomenon

I do think bums ideally need a proper wash every day 😬 sorry @Mel2023
However I think it’s it’s working for you then carry on.

Mind boggling how people are saying if children don't get a bath EVERY night then it's lazy parenting, children smell and are dirty. Not one child care provider/school/medical professional/friend or even family member have ever had any concerns on my children's well being/hygiene and they don't get bathed every day.