is one bath a week enough for a 4 year old?

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My dd1 used to have a bath 3 or 4 mornings a week when she was at nursery. She loves a long soak and a play. Since starting school we don't have time in the mornings and she's never really liked baths before bed, so now she just gets a bath on a weekend. Is this really gross and neglectful of me?

My daughter has just turned 4, she has a bath once a week on a sunday night, as I used too. She's washed down below every day and her face is cleaned.
Her hair is always beautifully shiny, even after a week. Her skin is like silk. I think over washing young children can cause dry skin, as well as wasting water. (we are on a meter too). Everyone comments on her beautiful hair and skin. [proud mummy]

There must be something wrong with me as I only wash my daughter's (4.7) hair after she has been swimming to get the chlorine out. Sometimes we don't go swimming for over a month and her hair does not get greasy (have never seen a young child with greasy hair) nor does it smell or look disgusting!

She does not have a bath every day (usually 2 - 3 times a week) and so what if there are germs around her bottom on the days she doesn't have a bath? We have germs all over our bodies don't we? As long as your hands are clean when they go near your mouth or food then does it matter if there are germs near your bottom as long as you don't smell? Most small children DO NOT smell even when they are sweaty, only when their bottoms have not been cleaned properly.

There's so much emphasis on not smelling that we have gone the opposite way. BTW just because I don't bathe her daily and wash her hair all the time I don't apply the same to myself because as an adult my sweat does smell and my hair needs to be washed every day so I do know when there is a need. Once a week is fine for a bath IMO.

We did used to aim for twice a week (kids 6.5 and 4.5, but we're up and out to wwork early, back late via after-school club, kids have things on a couple of nights, I go out early one evening a week - it's too hard - so they each get a shower and a good hairwash at their weekly weekend swimming lesson.
Their clothes are clean on every day, their teeth are brushed twice a day, their hair is tidy, they're too young for BO, they use wipes when they go to the toilet, and clean their face and hands at bedtime. I am completely satisfied my kids are clean and well-presented.
I'm a teacher in a primary school, the kids you tend to notice are the unkempt ones, ie same grubby shirt for 5 days, same grubby unwashed face. Yes you can smell cigarette smoke from home on them, but the rest just smell of each other - a kind of ubiquitous, general children/school smell!

Hear hear, MamCatriona. I actually think children are washed way too much these days. Once or twice a week is absolutely fine as long as grubby hands and face are cleaned as well as the baths.

I'm surrounded by mums who bath their kids (and themselves) at least once a day, so it's been good to read the comments made, as I only give my 10 month old approx. 2 baths a week. Both my sister-in-laws told me that a good evening routine was bath, milk, bed. I don't believe in washing anything unless it needs it (ie; clothes). Babies don't need anymore than this I believe. My little one always smells sweet!

At that age it was always part of the bedtime routine-a winding down. Bath-story-sleep. They were also pretty dirty by the end of the day.

Yikes - I am slightly staggered by all the horrified replies on here. In winter, mine (dd 5 and ds 2) get bathed once, twice or three times a week, depending on grubbiness. In summer it is more likely to be a shower or bath every day, as they generally seem to get dirtier - sand, sweat, ice lollies, sun cream...etc. Obviously jam/poo/snot/paint/mud incidents tend to up the frequency, but if they aren't dirty, I'm inclined not to fuss.

I don't buy the idea that not bathing them every day will somehow stunt their ability to function in the adult world. There are loads of things that are different for children and adults, surely? I mean, you wouldn't ban Playmobil now, in case they look daft playing with it in their thirties, would you? Growing into adulthood is a gradual process, so I think even the once a week bathers can gradually up their bathing frequency, as it becomes necessary.

I read somwhere - I think it was in Lucy Burney's 'Boost Your Child's Immune System' - that sending them to bed with grubby knees is a good way to boost their immune systems.

DD absolutely hated a bath at bedtime when she was a baby. It was the only time she cried, so I put a stop to it PDQ.

I bath my daughter more in the summer because of the factor 50 I have to plaster on her as she's so fair. That stuff is pure evil.
Other than that, she just dosn't get dirty at all. Maybe it's a girl thing?

Hear hear Ruby. My brothers and sister and I were all bathed the same way but my older brother and I tend towards better hygiene practices than my other brother and sister. I think it is important to encourage oral hygiene and good presention ie clean clothes and washed face and hands, but I don't think only having a clean up wash between days puts them on a path to bad hygiene. If anything they will copy their parents not what they did as a child. We bathed every 2nd day all together I don't still have a bath with company everyday now, l tend to shower when I need it (or can get a chance) this could be twice a day if I have been exercising after I've already showered or I could skip a day if I have been particularly busy with ds' or just in general.

Mummyloveslucy there is a organic hemp seed oil based sunscreen that is a bit easier to get off by Yaoh it is a very high factor too I think.

Bathing mine once a day would be unthinkable!

But what mustard needs cutting? They are not that dirty!

No it doesn't take long for a bath which is needed when children are very dirty but they can't get that dirty every day can they? Assuming that they are not filthy, why give them a bath every day? I have a very keen sense of smell (so I have been told) and (unless she is unusual) my daughter does NOT SMELL when she sweats so why bath her every day? Her hair looks tidy and clean so why wash it?

It does not take long but it is a waste of time and the earth's resources to do unnecessary washing of children or their clothes IMO.

May I ask Jajas, if you can't leave them for much more than a day without a bath is that because they get so dirty that a quick wash doesn't clean them up or because they smell or is it just something you feel that you have to do?

Now I understand the need for a daily bath - if my 4 year old had an accident during the day or in her bed I would give her a bath. Also, if there is ingrained dirt then a soak does help to get rid of it. As I said before, if they smell then a bath is required - I am just lucky to have a reasonably clean girl I think!

I think it is clear that it depends on the child you can't judge one parent based on your own childs habits.

So glad you mentioned smelling of wee! My 7 yr old ds1 and 4 yr old dd both smell of wee by the end of the day because dd is rubbish at wiping( and wears a pull up at night) and ds1 is rubbish at aiming and shaking so wees on his trousers.
Ds2 is fine with toileting, but grossly he has a large belly button that smells of cheese if he doesn't bathe- if we wash it with a flannel we agitate it.
All of them get stuff in their hair at meal times.
Putting them all in a bath/shower every night is the best quick way to clean them all.
I agree with notanotter in that I do think lots of small children do smell- not awfully strong, but have you lot never stepped into a primary school classroom at the end of a hot day?-wee/sweat/general guff.

I bath my 2 girls every night - one reason for it is that it keeps their sheets nice and clean as they are always fresh when they get in.

Really can't imagine putting them to bed dirty - sorry.