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?

3 times a week is great. I did less than that with my second. My eldest had craddle crap until well into primary and she was washed daily.

Same. Every other night, but on non bath nights a scrub of pits, bits and bum.

Cradle cap isn't a dirt thing.

If you're having to ask, probably not. I bathed mine every day.

So let's say you miss a Sunday and OP misses a Sunday. Can you explain the difference? Bathed Sat, bathed Mon. All no different. What happens before Sat or after Mon has no relevance to the missing Sunday, its still missing a day. Struggling to see how that's ok for you but not OP.

And I don't want to go back and forth with people who disagree, I have just passed comment on 2 people who are quite clearly judging the OP with their use of things like "disgusting" and "incredibly lazy" which is just absolutely bullshit and we all know it is.

Bye.

In the red corner, paediatric experts and dermatologists.

In the blue corner, Kelly-Ann from Bognor Regis who says it's 'disgusting'.

It's a clash of the titans for sure.

I was told this by my GP so every other day worked for us.

In the summer, every day though.

Mine are 2-3 times a week. It isn't good for their skin to bathe them more frequently. They never look or smell dirty. Fresh clothes daily, PJs every other day, sheets once a week, and faces wiped daily. They're constantly washing their hands. If they do something really dirty that's different

With the cradle cap I got a special prescribed cream from a paediatrician ( made up at a compounding pharmacy). I couldn't believe the difference. His cradle cap was approaching his eyebrows! Took a few months but all good now using anti-dandruff shampoo from the supermarket ( also recommended by a different paediatrician). No problems at all .
I'm an almost every day bather but I live in a hot country. Also once they are a bit older it gives you a break!!! I used to tend to sing from the kitchen or ask maths or spelling questions out loud whilst I cooked dinner.

Perfect!

Shocking the lack of knowledge or ability to Google, isn't it. I thought parents would know this.

It's every other night In our house but I have two girls with long hair so it takes to long for every night. Obviously if they need it they've got dirty or swimming etc that's different

Mine are bathed twice per week (actually it’s one bath and a shower after swimming but we do a full hair wash etc then). We have very hard water and if I bathe them any more they get very dry and their eczema starts flaring up.

My almost four year old is still riddled with cradle cap but I suspect it has nothing to do with bathing.

It perfectly possible to keep kids clean without bathing every night. I used to fill a washing up bowl with warm water and they’d stand in it on the shower tray and I’d give them a good flannel wash from top to toe. My DS loved it and preferred a “dishes bath” to a regular one. He had severe eczema so were told no more than 2 baths a week.

We do every other night or everyday if really mucky or wearing sun cream. This is for both 1 year old and 4 year old. We swapped from everyday due to my 4 year old skin. It's very sensitive and a wash everyday was drying her skin out and making her itch. Every other day suits her and the 1 year old fits in with that fine!

If you're cleaning them properly between toileting it isn't an issue. Unless you're not bothering to clean them properly when they've pooed. In which case that is pretty disgusting and lazy.

That’s a pretty low bar. Hygiene standards would have to be rock bottom for a medical professional or child care provider to raise it, this doesn’t mean people can’t tell which kids are bathed once a week.
That’s just the reality.

3 times per week and additional if needed is plenty.

Lack of baths does not cause cradlecap. My baby had a bath every day as she enjoyed so part of bedtime routine it at the point she had cradlecap.

Olive oil is what was recommended for mine 14 yrs ago. Used coconut oil on dry scalp and worked wonders so expect also good for cradle cap.

The cradle cap and bathing are not linked - my son still gets outbreaks now ages 6 and he’s bathed daily and always has been.

Head and shoulders is the best thing I used. Tried all the other fancy stuff but it didn’t work.

No, they wouldn't have to be rock bottom at all.
I mean.. you wouldn't look at my children and automatically know they're not bathed every night? They're still clean, look presentable and don't smell, and don't have lazy parents.

he needs to be washed every day. particularly his bottom and any skin fold and any area that needs special attention.

you don't need a bath for that but bathing is often just easier with an active toddler.

MN is obsessed about all sorts but particularly washing/showering. I've literally never given a second thought to how frequently my friends/family/colleagues bath or shower but some people seem to have very strong views on it!

On the bingo card we've had lazy and disgusting , wait a few pages and vile and grim will come up too.

DS had a bath most night through to end of primary. He loved a warm bubbly bath and playing with his boats and other bath toys. He actively looked forward to it, it was a big part of the bedtime routine.

I would give him a good going over with a soapy flannel, then leave him to play.

See, I think this counts as bathing. If OP is doing similar then 3 times a week sitting in the bath is fine. But not if she isn’t. My kid only had 2 baths after leaving hospital, it was showers every night mostly in his dads arms.

They're still clean, look presentable and don't smell

Best let others be the judge of that. You might have gone nose blind