How often do you bath/wash hair?

[youaremychocolatecake]

I used to bath my 4 year old from a baby every night, it was part of his routine and I also used to wash his hair every night (excessive!) as he's got older though I've dropped the hair washes to every 2-3 nights and he does skip the odd bath. My 3.5 week old has screamed blue murder during both baths Ives attempted so I've just been sponge bathing him. Is this ok at this stage or should I try and be getting him used to it! X

I read babies should only be bathed once or twice a week so they do not lose their skins natural oils. They should be top and tailed daily though.

My baby is 17 months and only gets bathed twice a week unless he gets really dirty. There really is no need to bath them everyday and when they are little it is not good for their skin. We made a concious effort not to make bath time part of the bedtime routine so that when we stay with friends etc bedtime is simple.

I didn't bath my youngest for months, and his skin was much better than his sister's (no eczema). May not be linked, obviously.

We had a period of bathing them every night to fill some time! At the moment it's infrequent. DS is having a water-phobic (and everything phobic!) phase at 17 months. Makes it very stressful and not a calm bedtime!

Hair wash - DS yearly, DD weekly.

Surprisingly, my children usually look quite clean and smell pleasant enough!

In the winter twice a week bath and hair wash. Sometimes don't wash the hair if particularly bad day!

2/3 baths per week for 7 month old and 4&5 year olds

Any more isn't needed and also I don't have time!