How often should you give a child a bath?

1. 96

   Robie Benveposted 10 years ago

   How often should you give a child a bath?
   
   Some people wash their children every day, some people don't. How often is the best routine to give a bath to your child (say 5-8 yr old)  assuming that he/she did not get particularly dirty or sweaty.
   Can frequent baths deplete the skin's natural defenses?

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2. 89

   IslandBitesposted 10 years ago

   Huh? Didn't know some people do not give children a daily bath as a routine. Why in the world not? Kids are always jumping and running and getting dirty. News for me. lol

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   1. 96

      Robie Benveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      lol

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   2. 83

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      ME too IslandBites, bath as often as possible, TWICE or ONCE daily!  Cleanliness is next to GODLINESS.  Clean, clean, clean!

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3. 92

   peeplesposted 10 years ago

   It all depends on age and activity level. an infant should only be bathed on an as needed basis and simply wiped down daily.  My 7 and 9 year old shower daily because they are nasty boys who play in the mud and pick up all sorts of nasty things. However Friday night showers are not mandatory in my home. So long as they wash their hands before they eat I am happy. My 2 year old gets a bath every couple of days because many days she does nothing too dirty.

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   1. 82

      Moon Daisyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      "My 7 and 9 year old shower daily because they are nasty boys who play in the mud and pick up all sorts of nasty things."  Aw, they sound like fun!  Made me laugh. 

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   2. 92

      peeplesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      All fun and games till there's mud tracks in the house! lol, It is lots of fun!

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   3. 96

      Robie Benveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      This sounds so much like my bath philosophy!

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4. 82

   Moon Daisyposted 10 years ago

   Dermatologists tend to recommend not bathing your children every day, as it does wash away the natural oils from their skin.  This can lead to problems like dry skin and eczema.  Also there's no need for children to be washed too often as they don't sweat as much as adults do.
   
   My daughter has a bath every other night, (and she washes her hair every other bath time).  Every other parent I know does more or less the same.
   
   Of course it's up to each parent to choose what's best for them.  I guess bathing is relaxing, so some people might want it as part of their kids' bedtime routine.

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   1. 96

      Robie Benveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      My daughter is now finally getting over her eczema, I always avoided bubble baths and soap because it would make her skin so dry! The Dr. recommended daily "soaks", meaning letting her play in the  bathtub but with only water, no soaps.

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5. 60

   duffsmomposted 10 years ago

   I think in order to learn good habits, the child needs to bath every day or at the least every other day. Teach them to use a shower too and they can get in and get out quickly so it doesn't cut into their evenings or homework.
   
   I think skin types, like children are very different. There may be some kids that bathing daily dries out their skin. You can get gentle bath gel made for kids that won't dry them out.

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   1. 60

      duffsmomposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Oh and about depleting natural oils. The body replenishes. People with very dry skin didn't get it from bathing too much, it is more genetic than anything else.

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   2. 96

      Robie Benveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree about the good habits, though I think they can start later to take daily baths. They don't really smell even if they are sweaty until 9, sometimes 11 yrs old. From there absolutely DAILY baths please!!

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   3. 83

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      THANK YOU duffsmom.

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6. 75

   carol7777posted 10 years ago

   I guess I was a lazy mother...When the kids were babies ..if I was tired I put it off. Somehow they have grown up fine.  However as you said..boys really get dirty and the shower is mandatory.

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   1. 92

      peeplesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That's not lazy at all!

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   2. 96

      Robie Benveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I challenge any mom to say that she never put off a bath because she was tired! 

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7. 46

   DDEposted 10 years ago

   It depends on how active the child after a day of rough playing certainly one would have to bath them,  it is very important to stay clean

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8. 83

   gmwilliamsposted 10 years ago

   
   
   Children should be bathed at least once a day. As a child, I was bathed at least once daily, sometimes twice.  Cleanliness is next to godliness.  Bathing any less than once daily is totally unsanitary.  Bathing a toddler and/or child once every couple of days-abusive if you ask me.
   
   I would say bathe your 5-8 year old every day.  I would like to add that by that the time a child reaches 5 years of age, he/she should be able to bathe himself/herself.  Bath should be EVERY DAY or TWICE A DAY.
   
   Frequent baths do not deplete skin's natural defenses- there are bath gels made specifically for young skins i.e. Johnson's Baby Wash which is not only for babies and toddlers but for young children.   There is also Ivory Wash, a gentle cleanser.  Johnson's Baby Shampoo can also serve as a body wash for children.  I use these products myself.

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