If your kids have had a bath the previous evening .....

[sandyballs]

...... do you feel it's necessary to give them a thorough wash in the morning? I think not, but DH thinks they should. How can they possibly have got that dirty overnight, unless of course they wet the bed, that is obviously different, or if they are still in nappies, but my DDs are 4.5 and if they wake up dry I don't see why they need another wash.

Another question, while I'm on this subject.
Mums with girls - how thoroughly do you wash their genitals (I hate that word!) in the bath? My DDs like to do this themselves now they are 4 and I feel this should obviously be encouraged, but I'm sure they don't do it that well, i.e. they are not soaping up the creases etc, just the outside so I should probably re-do it for them properly but they don't like me to, they say it hurts even though I try and be very gentle.
I'm just curious what other mums with girls this age do.

I remember rubbing soap all over my bits as a child, it was sore and painful for weeks and weeks on end. I only use plain water, even after sex

How come I didn't know about this . I blame my mother.

TBH, WWB, as an adult I do find that my bits get smelly, but nonetheless only use shower gel on the outside. Even so, I don't always use ordinary stuff, because if I do, or if I take too many baths with anythign added, I get very uncomfortable - borderline thrush - so I will often use a product designed specifically for feminine bits (Lactacyd).

Afterall, would you wash inside your mouth with shower gel?.

Another question, what if your DD is still in nappies and poo gets into her little bits, I also clean them with a wipe (DP gets really squeamish about going anywhere near her inside bits) and usually gets me to do this bit. For a wee I don't bother nor do I clean her in the bath just a soak but I think you should get poo out (E.coli and UTIs)?

OK I agree with everyone else about no bath in am.
PMSL at sandyballs and wwb tho. luckiyl am in office alone!

I just don't think I would feel clean without a good soaping TBH. And I'm stunned that I could reach the grand old age of 37 and have two 4 year old daughters without knowing the vagina is self cleaning .

Sweetkitty - you definitely need to get the poo bits out, my DH used to be a bit like that as well, bless him.

Yes, you need to get the poo out. I'm another one whose dh wouldn't do it, he was a bit scared of hurting her and left it to me because I'm meant to know what's what down there.

You'd have thought he was old enough to know his way round the female body though, wouldn't you

Mini Hijack

WWB how is the fluid ??

I know poor DP he hates cleaning her bits and to make matters worse theres another one with bits on the way. I know the vagina is self cleaning but you can't leave poo down there.

Think I would feel a bit weird changing a little boys nappy too, never have done one.

Still fluidy, LGJ, and still looking rather like over-stuffed sausages. Thanks for asking - I'm off to get them looked at next week.

Next week

Definitely get the poo out. I rinse wipes before I use them so that they won't be so soapy.

I remember the first time we had to change a pooey nappy on dd. Dh and I were used to changing ds's nappies, and both stood there looking at dd's meconium-covered bits, wondering what to do about them. Dh also expected me to know what to do about it because I'm a woman!

Yeah, I know. They managed to fit in dd for an appointment this morning because she's a child but couldn't get me one until next week.

Sideways hijack:

When it says on a tube of cream or such like "apply to the external vaginal area", what does that mean? The vagina is the tube on the inside IYSWIM, and the bits outside, between the vagina and the hairy bits (sorry) are collectively the vulva, I think, so what is the "external vaginal area"?

PC, no I wouldn't wash inside my mouth with shower gel. But I'd not wash "down there" with toothpaste and a brush either

PC, I take it to mean inside the inner lips, around the entrance to the vagina and urethra, but not actually up inside.

Only read first post and I think its barking

does your DH wash thoroughly morning and evening then? that's excessive imo

as for washing vaginas .. outside only .. always

no doubt I am being repetitive

Message withdrawn

my dd must be the filthiest child here then!! She has a bath twice a week (wednesday and sunday mornings) and gets wiped with baby wipes when she needs it e.g. after meals, nappy changes, etc. She is also remarkably healthy with only a couple of colds and an ear infection in her 2 years of life.

It does them good to be a bit dirty - boosts the immune system....lol

oh no - vaginal soaping again.... if I had never visited mn I would never have realised that other people do this. makes my knees go weak every time
can I just say >ow< >ow< >ow<
does it not sting like F??

Bath at night, wiped face/hands in the morning, never wash inside bits (but yes of course wipe poo out) and apart from the nappy, same goes for me but other way around (shower in morning, wash face in evening)...

TBH mine have a bath in the evening and only gets their face wiped if there is food on it at any other time of the day - else off they go to school/nursery with me picking the sleepy men out the corner of their eyes if needs be. I

I have never gone near either of their bits with anything other than a babywipe whilst still in nappies. Nor do I attack my own with anything ever bleugh! I shower every day, shag marginally less often and have never felt (smelt?) the need.

my 6yr old washes herself in the bath and has done for a long time.She has a bath most nights and just brushes her teeth in morning.My 8yr old showers everynight.

Our 2 DS's get a bath (or shower if I'm pushed for time) every other day (at night). I then give them both a "once over" on their faces and hands with a baby wipe after breakfast each morning.

oh god I only bathe mine twice a week
no washes inbetween either apart form hands and faces
don't think they look filthy