How often do we really need to wash our kids???

[Bunny10]

So I read today that Vivienne Westwood only has a bath once a week to keep her looking young and to save water/help the environment. It got me thinking - how often do your kids have a bath or shower? I'm in the habit of giving my little ones a bath every night although they probably don't need it. It's just a habit/part of their routine. But I keep reading about how we need to stop wasting so much water in the home as water levels are low and am feeling guilty. Any tips on keeping kids clean without a nightly bath???

Dd1 hated baths and hairwashes when she was younger, and she acted like we were pouring boiling oil on her, when she had a shower. She is 11 now, and loves having a shower (and takes all bloody morning about it.....)

You only have to step on public transport in the morning to smell the great unwashed

And again, you don't know they are unwashed. Only that they smell. You are making an assumption.

Every night. They are sweaty, sticky and covered in felt-tip or paint or food or grass stains on knees by the end of a typical day... not to mention unreliable bottom wiping

They have not ever had any dry skin issues. Unless your dc is definitely prone to that, then washing every day is not a problem.

Also I'm hoping that I can avoid the washing battles when they are older if having daily bath/shower is ingrained on them. Personal hygiene is important to me. Would hate to think they'd ever be told they smell.

Some people in public transport in the morning are returning home from working during the night.

I have a shower in the morning and can't say that I find morning public transport particularly smelly.

Multi- I disagree, I think unwashed does definitely have a smell. It's usually clothes and body and unbrushed teeth. A stale musty smell. I can also smell unwashed hair a mile off, that radiates a particular smell a long distance. Oh and unwashed bras have a definite smell of their own even if the clothes on top are clean. The body heat makes the smell spread further. It's different to underarm bo smell.

Is this thread not about children?
Unless they have reason to get dirty or are over 10, I dont see a problem with not showering daily.
Most dont wear bras or sweat like adults do. My dd has sweated since she was quite young, but she has been taught to wash under her arms and apply deodorant daily or whenever she smells. Also changes her underwear every single day as she should.

My kid's tummy, back, arms etc do not stink and do not need to be washed daily. Face, hands, pits and bits do get washed.

When they are older they will shower daily like me. I'm not teaching them not to shower daily just because they don't now.

Everyone is different. We are a multi cultural family. I Don't get the onlyn'white British' do sink washes thing. Unless my OH is a wierdo?

I find it sad that someone here said they cuddle their 7-year-old boy more if they're clean. I love that salty boy smell, it's their smell! Detergent isn't.

Never- it's quite possible for a thread to start off about cleanliness for children and progress to cleanliness for adults... it doesn't break the Talk guidelines of anything!

Oh, I agree that unwashed fabric is likely to smell. And a mouth that's not fresh. And of course sweat smells after a while - but I know plenty of people who will start to smell of (fresh) sweat very shortly after stepping out of a shower. It's simply confirmation bias to assume that every odour that assaults your nostrils from other bodies is because of hygiene standards inferior to yours. You just don't notice the dozens and dozens of people who pass you every day having not showered that morning, but who have clean teeth, fresh clothes, and no tendency towards excessive perspiration.

Interesting reflection on Britains hygiene habits
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/24/women-dont-wash-every-day-bodies-busy

I think it's cultural. I'm South American, of Spanish descent, DH is Scottish. In my culture we shower daily, twice a day is not uncommon.
I thought the British were dirty when I came to live here. Then I realised it was just a significant part of the population that didn't have the same standards...but I'm not the only one who thinks this way, see the article I post here.
You don't need endless hot showers or baths. Just a quick 3 min shower, soap in genitals/armpits and sulfate free body wash elsewhere. Very fast and fresh, rinse away, dry, body lotion after...simples!
Lovely skin and fresh feeling.
I can smell the difference!

DH and Scottish family have same standards or we would not have remained family for the last 30 years.

As some people stated: Each to their Own. If you like to minge and indulge your DC in similar habits Up to You! But don't make feeble excuses unless you're: homeless, destitute and cannot afford warm water/3 min shower, have extreme skin conditions or other disabilities that prevent you/DC from showering. This top and tailing nonsense is rank IMHO.

But my prejudices about Brits being too relaxed about personal hygiene have been confirmed by this thread...

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thelocal.es/20150304/polite-prudish-and-poor-personal-hygiene/amp
Forgot that link...

I had a bath late last night, I haven't showered today because I'm not leaving the house! Will shower tomorrow am probably. Every other day is fine for me unless I've been stressed/exercising/at the stables

Every other night. 6 and 3 hair wash ever bath. They are both very messy kids, and we have a lot of messy play and muddy walks so they need it!

But my prejudices about Brits being too relaxed about personal hygiene have been confirmed by this thread.

You and me both SoyYo. I remember the old joke "where do you hid your cash so a Brit can't find it? Under the soap dish" but always thought it was an exaggeration. I see now that it is not...

Jamie

But my prejudices about Brits being too relaxed about personal hygiene have been confirmed by this thread

Oh noooooooooooo!

But don't make feeble excuses unless you're: homeless, destitute and cannot afford warm water/3 min shower, have extreme skin conditions or other disabilities that prevent you/DC from showering.

Couldn't agree more but we seem to be in a minority here.

I've had people I work with proudly boast that they only bathe once or twice a week... I have to hold back from saying "trust me I know!".

I think people in other countries always like to say other nationalities are unwashed. I've heard it said by multiple people that the French and Spanish are a bit lax in their personal hygiene. I'm sure they're not.

As for the OP, I don't think a pre pubescent child needs a bath more than twice a week, unless they are smellier than usual for whatever reason. Adults should bath/shower/sink wash every day. Not true that only the white British who are fond of a sink bath. Personally I hate them, but I have Russian and Indian family who nearly always wash this way. They are old though so maybe it's more generational.

Sunny too right!
I'm finding the creative excuses to avoid daily showering curioser and curioser.
PMSL!!

Wow, SoyYo, could you be any nastier, do you think? You really are unpleasant.

I'd take sitting next to someone smelly over you, any day.

It's simply confirmation bias to assume that every odour that assaults your nostrils from other bodies is because of hygiene standards inferior to yours. You just don't notice the dozens and dozens of people who pass you every day having not showered that morning, but who have clean teeth, fresh clothes, and no tendency towards excessive perspiration.

This from multivac is spot-on.

ArcheryAnne Maybe I am being too direct and not very diplomatic, but I don't think I have been particularly nasty.

I really tried to understand and be non judgemental in my earlier replies, because it is a socio cultural topic that I find quite fascinating, given my early experiences of living in GB.
I wanted to challenge my own prejudices well that didn't work did it
Now I am finding the whole discussion really amusing.