To only bath my baby once or twice a week

[newmum234]

He’s 5.5 months - is once or twice a week enough or should he be having daily baths?

We have always done every other day, as bathing everyday is not advised as it removes the skins natural ability to protect.

I’d probably say three times a week, but twice is ok

Nothing wrong with that. It's what I did with my kids. Assume you wash his bum, face and hands when needed so he really doesn't NEED a daily bath. It aggravated DS2's eczema when bathed too often. I think some find it helps their babies sleep better to have the routine, but it's not essential.

Every other day for us, too - DD has eczema so we were told not to bath her every day as it would make her skin drier.

Thanks all. The truth is I often feel too knackered by evening to do a bath Perhaps I should do a morning bath instead?

Of course it’s fine if they are clean enough. My babies were both massive vommers so usually required a daily dunk in the bath anyway as it was the easiest thing to do and otherwise they smelled of sour milk

All this daily bath stuff was a real fad when the dcs were small. People were manic about the routine.

The dcs were not wild about baths so once or twice a week or so sufficed - with daily top and tailing, of course.

My 14 month old has only ever been bathed twice a week - she has survived clean and intact thus far!

Daily baths are really not needed and bad for their skin and part of the routine bollocks. Also it becomes a chore and not something to enjoy for you and them to let them play. As long as you are wiping them with a flannel at changes (not wet wipes they sting) then it’s fine

God I never did daily baths, too bloody knackered! I used to give Dd a strip wash and stick in pjs.

I actually used to bath Dd in the day when she was at her most cranky. I’d get a good nap out of her afterwards.

She’s 3.5 now and we do quick showers instead. She does still have a bath once a week, but it’s much easier to shower her.

We do the same, I only aim for twice a week baths. His skin dries out otherwise.

We use washable wipes so he gets a proper flannel wipe down of bum, neck, face, hands several times a day ( bum every nappy change obviously). And if he’s puked or pooped then he also gets bathed as and when extra.

Where I live the advice is to bath them as infrequently as possible. A full bath every 2 weeks or so, and a quick wash where and when needed.

I bathed my boys 2 or 3 times a week but I always bathed my daughter every night, only a quick dunk, but she always had very loose poos and I was worried she might get infections if she wasn't clean enough!

I always did daily baths...to put it really bluntly, if you soiled yourself several times a day, wouldn't you want a proper bath or would you just give yourself a flannel wash or use wet wipes?

That's absolutely fine. Other than their bums and faces (that you clean up as needed) babies don't really get that dirty.

Less bathing is actually better for the skin than more.

We did twice a week as a baby, its a lot more now he is toilet training.

wouldn't you want a proper bath or would you just give yourself a flannel wash or use wet wipes?

Erm... I’d probably be happy with wet wipes tbh As long as the wee/poo was contained to the nappy! If DS does a real explosive poo then I do give him a bath straightaway, but that doesn’t happen very often.

I used to bath mine every evening ready for bed. So they got in the routine of bath, feed, bed. X

We don't do baths every night. He usually comes home from nursery a bit grubby so he has a bath those nights. Other than that it's probably every other night unless he needs it. He did have wee dry bits of skin but coconut oil seems to have sorted them right out.

I don’t think the ‘soiling themselves’ and a flannel is a problem tbh.

Ds has had 3 nappy changes since he woke this morning already. Each time he has only peed. Each time he’s had a bowl of fresh warm water, and been wiped over with 2-3 clean wet flannels, and then a dry one. He is now clean, he isn’t all pissy. Far cleaner than most adults butts I’m sure.

Most adults pee and poop daily and just use a dry bit of toilet paper in between.

Like above, if he did do a giant poo that went everywhere he would simply have an extra bath then.

@newmum234 I used to bath mine in the mornings, beware they will have a lovely long feed and sleep after though haha! Which may mean they’re wide awake later. The bath is meant to relax them for a nice sleep (and you get a little sleep too if your lucky!)

You shouldn’t bathe every day anyway as it’ll dry out their delicate skin, a little wipe is fine if they are a bit sicky or smelly from milk. Then just clean clothing.

You can buy a top and tail bath (I think it was called) just to wash the lower half if they have an explosive tummy episode.

DS is 2 and we've done morning baths from quite early on as he loved splashing about and it seemed to stimulate him a bit too much. We continue to do that as its habit now and a really nice activity to do. We are lucky enough to not work full time, so long bath days are mon and friday, and we do a quick bath on a wed before or after nursery depending on how we are doing for time.

Obvs we do an extra one if he needs it!

I always bathed mine every night, it was part of their routine and it signalled to me and them that the end of a long knackering day was in sight, thank god.

Bath, sleep-suit, Grobag, story, milk, bed.

Wine. :-)

Mine found baths too stimulating for bedtime for a while too. I used to do them at other times of day, but usually had little choice when due to huge vomits. IF ONLY they had been “a bit sicky or smelly from milk”, it was absolute drenching for both of us , sometimes I had to have a bath too