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Original poster

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

314 replies

Bunny10 · 02/10/2017 20:59

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???

OP posts:

ArcheryAnnie · 03/10/2017 16:28

Llamacorn about you worried about your DD2 at all? Because that sounds a bit excessive, and I'd worry if my DS was doing that.

I mean, I encourage hand-washing - after every bathroom visit, and immediately when we get in from being outside - but twice a day showers, a shower after a bath, all seems a bit much.

chaplin1409 · 03/10/2017 16:33

We are a family of 6 and we all shower most days.

Gammeldragz · 03/10/2017 16:37

Kids twice a week. Eldest has been warned I will expect him to shower daily when he starts getting teen smelly!
I shower 3 times a week.
I was brought up without running water or a bathroom, so i suppose I don't see it as essential. Also CBA. No one smells...

formerbabe · 03/10/2017 16:41

Everyday. It's a part of their routine and I find they do need a bath everyday. Not bathing everyday is fine but I'm a little shocked at only having a bath once a week...I find it pretty grim to be honest.

Ohmyfuck · 03/10/2017 17:44

First child we bathed daily; second child we bathed pretty much daily and third child we bathe once a week cos we're too busy with after school clubs, homework, basically life! She doesn't look or smell dirty and she's never in dirty clothes or has dirty teeth.

faintlinesquints · 03/10/2017 17:45

@ArcheryAnnie yes it is excessive, and it can be a worry sometimes: She is seeing camhs for anxiety and they think she has ocd behaviours too, so I think it ties in with that. A couple of showers a day doesn't really bother me if she's happy doing that, what worries me is if some people touch something of hers, she refuses to touch it again until it's washed, if she's been somewhere she'll feel gross and have to shower when she gets in. Showering after a bath is because she thinks the bath water is still dirty so she has to wash it off. Don't really know how to get her to bring it down a bit, camhs don't seem to think it's an issue if she's ok doing that but I can see it escalating.

MumOfTwoMasterOfNone · 03/10/2017 17:51

Ours probably miss one night from a week, but just have quick showers now (1 and 3) as the bath started leaking and we're waiting to get the whole bathroom done.

I think we should shower them less but DP has issues with cleanliness particularly when they've been at nursery

We would NEVER go a day without a shower out of choice and my DS is a very sweaty boy at night and he can smell a bit 'musty' or weird if he's not showered.

dontquotemeondailymail · 03/10/2017 18:08

2.5 year old has a bath every few days, dependent on how dirty he gets at nursery. An evening bath has never worked for winding him down for bed, so didn't see the point of doing it every day just for the sake of it!

neveradullmoment99 · 03/10/2017 18:23

Once a week. Wash hands and face everyday. This is usually more in the summer months as they are outside and more opportunity to get dirty and my dd needs to shower twice a week as she is now getting sweaty at 10.

neveradullmoment99 · 03/10/2017 18:23

I was bathed once a week too and have older sons who also had a bath once a week. I have no problems with this. They have no issues either. They survived.

EvilDoctorBallerinaDuckKeidis · 03/10/2017 18:26

They have a bath on a Sunday. I find that they don't get enough sleep otherwise. They have reading, spellings, times tables, homework and supper, they get just about enough sleep.

littlebird7 · 03/10/2017 19:02

Every day - and shower twice a day for 13 yr old whom does lots of sport. It is relaxing after a busy day and a very comforting routine, as well as making sure dc are clean and smell lovely

GiveMeTheTeaAndNobodyGetsHurt · 03/10/2017 19:06

DD (3.6) has a bath two or three times a week. Hair washed once a week or possibly twice if needed. She refuses to go near the shower as yet...

Lweji · 03/10/2017 19:08

I never wash mine now.

When he was a baby he had eczema so I stopped bathing him daily. Once or twice a week at the most, and with an emollient cream.

Buck3t · 03/10/2017 19:25

No one in my house has a bath. We all bath at least on day. Twice in summer months. The teenager has to shower twice a day. Those hormones stink.

museumum · 03/10/2017 19:27

My 4yr old has baths every night as he wipes his own bum at nursery 😷

buttwingsham · 03/10/2017 19:29

Every day for my four.

Dd1 has a shower every night and the youngest three share a bath. I probably bath them more often than others but I wasn't washed often as a child. They love bath time and I love how they smell after a bath putting them in clean pyjamas.
They are usually pretty grubby at the end of the day.

Bubblysqueak · 03/10/2017 19:31

Dc 5 and nearly 4 have bath once or twice a week as they have eczema and any more makes their skin sore.

NerrSnerr · 03/10/2017 19:31

Mine are 3 and 6 months. They tend to have baths 2-3 times a week and one shower after swimming. They get hair washed 1-2 times a week.

nomad5 · 03/10/2017 19:32

Quick shower for both every evening, bath once a fortnight, ages 3 and 5. The younger one gets very bad rashes on her girl bits and bum unless she showers daily.

Quick shower in our walk in shower is as fast as a flannel wash! I use 2 in 1 on them to make it faster

Badders08 · 03/10/2017 19:32

Teen ds...every day
Ds2 (9) every other day

Heathen4Hire · 03/10/2017 19:37

11 yo Dd has a bath every 3 days on average.
She has started having very spotty skin so she uses face scrub daily to keep them down.

Neuroticwoman · 03/10/2017 19:38

Both mine shower every day and hair wash (boys aged 10 and 7). I don't think we've ever missed a day. Until recently they went in together so that cut down on water use.

carolhere · 03/10/2017 19:39

I bathe my 1+ son every other day and a body wash everyday morning and night. Recently, I have skipped the night wash due to the temperature drop and he gets a cough just after the every night.

ChocolateWombat · 03/10/2017 19:43

Babies in nappies and toddlers who can't wipe properly/have accidents clearly need a really thorough top and tail as a minimum, with a bath often being the easiest way to do it.

Kids from school age until upper juniors in my mind can get by with a couple of baths/showers a week and 1 or 2 hair washes.

Once puberty hits, more washing is definitely needed. We were taught 'pits and bits' and again a shower is often easier than a strip wash.

I think that most adults shower daily in this country, but probably most people would be fine with 4 or 5 times a week and every single day is t absolutely essential - but people enjoy it and find it relaxing and gives confidence, so why not, especially as economy showers are available which do t use that much water.

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