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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

not to bathe DS every day?

51 replies

picc · 09/01/2010 16:42

Just that really. Everyone else I know with DCs of similar age seems to give them a bath every night as part of their "bedtime routine".

I don't. He's 11 months old, and I bathe him maybe every 3 days?

I do wash him! Hands and face after meals (and before bed), anything else that's dirty at other times.

First baby, so no experience to draw on here... Just wondered what other people did/do.

OP posts:
bronze · 09/01/2010 16:43

same as you

MorningNicePeople · 09/01/2010 16:45

Not essential, bathing isn't the only way to set up a bedtime routine, the same group of stories, music, pattern of things happening all build up a bedtime/wind down routine.

ruebenjames · 09/01/2010 16:47

I was bathing DS every day, but he has such dry skin I wsa told NOT to, so now he goes every other day.

kinnies · 09/01/2010 16:47

yabu!!!!

Not really I was always told it was bad for their skin to bath daily

Original poster
picc · 09/01/2010 16:54

Ah. Good. Thanks

Well there is that too. He has a tendency to eczema/ dry skin. I moisturise him regularly and use oilatum when I do bathe him.

I was just worried I was neglecting him on the cleanliness front really. I've been a bit ashamed to admit to anyone how 'seldom' I bathe him in case they thought I was being really slovenly or something.

You're right. I do other things as part of his 'routine'.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 09/01/2010 16:57

No, I don't bathe DS every day.

In fact I have been known to not bathe him for a couple of weeks - he has longish hair though so I try to give him a bath every few days or it gets a bit manky.

NoodleDoodleDoToo · 09/01/2010 16:59

YANBU. Both my DSs had bad eczema from about 4-6 weeks old and Dr said daily bathing would really aggravate it and there was no need. She said it just seems to have become a modern fashion and there is no real practical need.

I was telling this to a friend of mine whose 6 year old had daily baths and suffered eczema and she was very sceptical. However several weeks later admit he only now had 2-3 baths aweek and his eczema had improved greatly.

pagwatch · 09/01/2010 17:00

bathing is very drying on the skin. My dcs all had excema. They bathe two or three times a week.

MamaMimi · 09/01/2010 17:09

I bath my 5 yr old and 6 mth old 3 times/wk.

Used to bath dd1 every night when she was younger but it's too much of a chore now and I realised that it's just not necessary. Other nights I just give them a good wash (& do teeth) before bed.

Original poster
picc · 09/01/2010 17:30

Thanks! Relieved and relieved again.

Relieved I'm not the only one. And relieved because I was half expecting people to tell me I was being dirty/neglectful/disgusting etc etc (took a deep breath before I posted).

It just seems to be the done thing... Read any sleep book! (I've given up reading them now as DS just doesn't sleep and it got too depressing )

Guess I'm confusing 'bedtime routines' and 'hygeine'.

Maybe I'll even come out of the closet in RL now...

OP posts:
WingedVictory · 09/01/2010 18:44

My DS has eczema, and we only bathe him once a week! His skin has got a lot better since then.

Mind you, it's a bit worse at the moment, but I think that's because of the cold.

newindieyear · 09/01/2010 18:52

My dd's haven't been bathed since Wed, meant to do it tonight, couldn't be bothered. They have the most beautiful skin.

Firawla · 09/01/2010 18:55

i think it helps wen ur establishing the bedtime routine, but once they sleep through well with no problems settling @ night then i dont do everyday, ill miss it if they have a cough that i dnt wana get worse, if come home a bit late, if i feel tired to give a bath & just wana get them into bed sooner...
its not a must every single day, but on the other hand if you do daily & they have no exema or anything it is nice to keep it within the routine
as long as done regularly doesnt really matter exactly hw often?

victoriascrumptious · 09/01/2010 18:57

YANBU. I dip my DD once a week in the sheep trough

ImSoNotTelling · 09/01/2010 18:59

YANBU. I don't bath them often much.

I keep quiet about it in RL TBH though.

lolapoppins · 09/01/2010 19:01

I have never bathed ds everyday in his life. But then we have never had a routine of any sort either. He's 7 now and has a bath every few days, either when dh or I remember, or when he gets filthy playing.

displayuntilbestbefore · 09/01/2010 19:06

yanbu
I have never bathed my dcs every day unless they happened to have got really grimy.
Doesn't affect them going to bed, they have the routine of loo/nappy change, brush teeth, water, story and we just add the bath in every other night!
I know plenty of friends who are the same and only a few friends who bathe dcs daily.

LucyHoneychurch · 09/01/2010 19:06

My DD gets a bath every night and while it was part of a wind down routine I do it now mostly because she really enjoys is. I make it pretty shallow so we are not using lots of water.

However having read these responses I might have a re-think. She doesn't have eczema but her skin is prone to dry patches. I think I'll try and cut down and see if it goes away.

In answer to your post YANBU... as long as you are both happy and healthy do whatever suits your family!

mummalish · 09/01/2010 19:10

I bath my son every day, he has never gone a day in his life without a bath. He likes it, there are never complaints, and I like to bath every day, so I bath him.

There is nothing wrong with once a week bath, it is all about preference, some people like every day baths, others not, there is no right and wrong.

fernie3 · 09/01/2010 19:55

Mine just have a bath or shower every few days unless they are really dirty for some reason. My sons gets really dry sore skin and baths make it worse, a few days without washing and his skin is silky smooth (even if we dont use soap it gets dry!).

I dont think children are designed to be squeaky clean

Coldhands · 09/01/2010 20:01

This thread has made me feel better. My DS only gets 3 baths a week and my nan has raised her eyebrows at this. This is also the woman I lived with and I distinctly remember only having a bath on a sunday night so not sure why she thinks I should be bathing DS more. He also has eczema and we were told not to bathe every day. I also find that as I am washing my hands all the time, from changing nappies etc, I realise how drying water is. My hands are so dry and I don't even have eczema.

Anya4 · 09/01/2010 20:01

When they are still in nappies it feels less important - their smelly bits are getting a good wipe every few hours anyway !
I feel more inclined to bathe my daughters every day now that they are both toilet trained - it doesn't take long to get smelly (maybe boys are different?) and especially if we've been out and about and they've had to use public loos.

WingedVictory · 09/01/2010 22:18

Hi, Fernie and ColdHands, do try using E45 or aqueous cream instead of soap.

SilveryMoon · 09/01/2010 22:21

I used to bath my ds's every day without fail, now I can't really be bothered so do it every other night mostly.
I think it's useful in establishing a bedtime routine, but then other triggers can be used too.

OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper · 09/01/2010 22:35

I bathed my DCs pretty much every night, partly because, as others have said, is what the baby books tell you, partly because it seemed to be the 'done thing,' and partly to kill the time between tea and bed as DH was often away and there was a yawning chasm to fill.

However, I was always aware that it wasn't the best thing for their skin and in fact never used soap and very rarely shampoo.

Now the youngest is 8 and hasn't had a daily bath since he was about 5.

I think you're fine as you are but maybe keep quiet about it when you're with the alpha mummies!

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