How often are you bathing your primary aged children?

[RedRobyn24]

My daughter is 4 and has just started reception. I also have a 9 month old.

At the moment I bathe both of them (sometimes together usually apart) every other day. Is this what other people do? I try not to wash DD1’s hair more than once a week

Are other parents really doing this every day?

To be honest this is a wider question about how the heck parents find the time for everything. I’m a SAHM as well, don’t know how two working parents do it AND make sure their children are eating well and the house is cleaned and the dog it walked and the reading home work is done… but also the child has downtime to just play as well 😬

Agreed. I find the cost argument a bizarre one. Surely we all prioritise what we spend our money on? I don’t drink/smoke/vape for example, so I guess we could look at it as me spending the money other people spend on those things on hot water instead.

Daily.

NHS advice is two to three times a week. TBH we didn't use much soap on them when they were little (one of mine had eczema which affected that, so there was a bit of emollient on the bath water and that was it). Trouble is when they start going through puberty you need to make sure they know how to use soap and shampoo properly at that stage otherwise they get stinky between showers at that stage so a couple of them needed a chat. Mine still aim to shower every second day as teens (17, 16, & 13) but I encourage more frequent washing in hot weather and always after sport, I don't think any of them smell of BO these days (house stinks of Sol de Janeiro and other body sprays) but they all accuse each other of smelling 😂.

Obviously you would say she doesn’t smell, but she probably is a bit musty and you’re not instilling good habits.

This thread is GRIM.

Every day, no excuses.

The smell of the kids when they get in from school is horrendous. I couldn’t live with it for more than a day.

Every day for our six year old. I don't think she necessarily needs to be bathed every day, but this has always been our evening routine and she enjoys it.

Every day as part of the bedtime routine. Not school aged yet but I don't see why it would change after school.

I have 6 year old twins - they go in the bath 3/4 times a week and wash their hair Wednesdays and Sundays

Agreed 100%. Two parents working full time here with a 6 year old and she has been bathed everyday for nearly every day of her life. I don’t understand how someone can hoover their home everyday but not wash their child everyday, surely that’s getting your priorities the wrong way round! And teachers can absolutely tell whether or not a child is bathed and put in clean clothes everyday.

Almost every day because it helps them relax - usually 30 min or so. Soap maybe 2-3 times a week if they aren’t dirty.

Twice a week, hairwash both times, and then any extras if/when needed - if they get particularly dirty, if we've been swimming in-between, or in summer when it was very hot and we were lathering the suncream on every hour - but often without the hairwash in that case, more just a rinse.

Do what you can, there’s no hard and fast rule to motherhood.
If what you’re doing works for you carry on.
I used the bath, bed, story method and both in bed by 7pm. (Twins).
As they grew, the bedtime never altered, what they did after story time was left to them and lights went out at 8pm, until the age of 9.
From the age of 9, bedtime was 8.30, although they would sometimes take themselves up earlier, lights out at 9.30, except Fridays and Saturdays.
Once they learnt to use the shower, by themselves I left them to it.
Housework got done and meals cooked, by both hubby and I.
Take no notice of condescending, hateful and nasty remarks by others.
Do what you can and always remember, enjoy your kids first, the housework isn’t a priority, they are.
If anyone comments, just hand them a duster!.

Once a week as a matter of routine plus when necessary (smelly, sweaty, dirty).

(double post)

Years ago it used to be once a week on a Sunday night for most families. And then we all had our own flannels to wash our bits with, and also always hands and face before bed. I don’t think we smelled, it was normal 50 years ag

If they are in afterschool club,

• dinner 6:15pm
• shower 6:45pm
• story time 7:15pm
• they are down by 7:30-7:45.

If we work from home that day,

• dinner 5:30pm,
• bath 6pm,
• story time 7pm
• Sleeptime 7:30-7:45

We follow same timings for all them to make our life easier and I generally batch cook over the weekend otherwise it would be too much for us!

Same as you OP, unless they’re coated in mud or they’ve been sick or something like that.

Yes, we did this too. Just found that routine worked better. Appreciate it doesn't work for everyone.

Pretty much every day. Probably twice when on my period. People stink after puberty.

I honestly don’t know how anyone could not bathe a nursery aged child every night, particularly when they’ve been at nursery. Mine looks like he’s been dragged through a hedge backwards by the time I pick him up!😂

I’m glad someone agrees!! Some of my kids friends absolutely hum! It’s not of body odour at their age it’s just sweaty greasy and musty. I go into certain homes for work and honestly some of the states of these places it’s no wonder kids aren’t washing the parents can’t even be bothered to do the basic household chores either! Lazy. I don’t care if people say I’m judging because I am 🤣

Oh 100%. People who shower everyday can absolutely tell who doesn’t. They’re just “nose blind” to themselves. I’m usually stuck behind them in a queue, nothing worse than the smell of BO and greasy hair 😐

Bath or shower every other day usually, unless grotty.
The house is clean because we have a cleaner. It is not tidy (except the night before the cleaner comes).
Reading gets done over breakfast, but not every day.
We don't have a dog.
Dinners are usually fairly basic/quick in the week.
Home from afterschool club 5.45, chill and play, dinner, TV, up to bath/bed at 7.30/8. Asleep by 8.30/9.

This is literally a normal answer, PP even said twice on her period so why the harsh response???