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

[traceface]

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?

yes, soft and warm and damp and stinky.... So glad that we are back in Aus now that DS wees standing up - I have to clean the floor every day - so glad its tiled!

My former boss lived in this rented flat with carpet in the bathroom (in Edinburgh).

And one day, she noticed that mushrooms were growing up between the edge of the carpet and the toilet, bath, sink, etc.

BARF!

However, Expat, I seem to remember you are American (?) and I'm sure I could generate a similar list about Americans! (as I'm sure you could about Australians!)

Flippin' ada - that is foul.

I've got a maroon passport as well, Astrophe! Membership has its priviledges .

(me too!)

I had to take a Life in the UK exam to get mine. All the kids had to do was be born

Oh, well done you for passing! DH was all set to do it, but then we left. It looked quite hard though...well, not hard, but LOADS to remember.

I just had to be born too, lucky me

Acvtually, DH was going to do it just to get a Visa! Not even a passport.

Yeah, they changed the rules and now you have to take it just to get the indefinite leave visa.

astrophe, at least when we do the washing, there are no gators in the maachine machine

and no aussie macho men getting the sheilas to do it or else, lol

jeanpoole - no, we have crocs, the yanks may have gators though

ok then a bit fat spider to nip you on the arse!

That we do have.

I have a utility room, walk-in shower, mixer taps in all bathrooms/kitchen and tiled bathroom floor.

what do you call arse down under?
is it still arse?

agree bathrime is a nice start to wind down time and bed time

i dont understand those who say they havent got time - it takes 15mins max to bathe and wash 3 under 6, get dressed in pjs and do teeth etc

also agree that if you only make them bath once a week now, how do you make them bath every day when older, and they start sweating and smelling

and yes i have walked into 5yr classroom and smelt a smell - wasnt nice tbh

plus the fact why put dirty unwashed children in cleans pj's and bed?

JeanPoole
Routines are control freakery? You what? So, if my DS enjoys a bath before bed and it relaxes him, I am an OCD control freak? Well, if we're going to be like that, maybe you are a stinky slattern? Hmm?

I have to bath my DS 14mths every evening. If I don't he is prone to getting sore skin under his willy and in his groin- I guess the urine, if left overnight, makes his skin sore. Also, I wash his hair every other night, it starts to smell a bit sweaty even at this age. He is very active though, constantly on the go and frequently rubs his food into his hair and in his ears. I think bathing is far far easier than top 'n' tailing. Luckily he has always loved his baths- in fact it's been the only thing he hasn't complained about.

However, we only used to have one bath a week as kids and I think it was pretty normal then. Each to their own.

I bathe my dd who's 2.10, every other night, and wash her hair every other night during each bath. She has thorough face, neck, ears and hands wash mornings and evenings between baths.

I think to bathe a school age child once a week is grotty tbh. They must get pretty grimey at primary school. Sounds like you are being a bit lazy. Sticking your child in the bath at least every other night at that age is no real effort and would make her feel much more fresher. I'd personally feel inclined to bathe dd every night once she starts school.

Doesn't sound very nice to me. Mine have a bath every day after dinner but they love it as much as i enjoy watching them mucking about together. I don't know why but however much they've squabbled during the day they have a right old giggle in the bath. Can you make bathtime more playful? Buy some new bath toys?

Message withdrawn

DS has a quick bath in plain water everyday and 1 day a week we put bubbles in the bath. Once a week we wash his hair.

I wouldn't like to use bath and hair products any more often then that.

I do feel e needs a bath everyday though to clean his bottom and hands as I don't think wet wipes get rid of all the dirt and germs.

I was bathed once a week, with my brother, in about 4cm of tepid water. And yet somehow I managed to learn as a teenager to bath every day without him

There are a lot of people who would love to have the money to splah (ho ho) about on heating water every day just so their kids could get to sleep at night but heating costs can be too much. Ditto the lack of a shower, underfloor heating and utility room. Gawd, I would love a utility room but the Victorian bloke who built my house didn't think we needed one and not only do we not have the money, we would literally have no garden for DS to play in even if we extended by 6 foot. Just one of those pom foibles I suppose. And I hate mixer taps so there

I think once a week is probably ok, as a minimum, but