Baths: How often?

[Amy]

I'm wondering how often you bathe your toddlers? Emily is almost 17 months old, and we bathe her at least every other night. Yesterday she actually got two baths, and one again this evening...we've been playing outside, so she's gotten kinda grimy. Plus she's learning to feed herself with utensils, so cottage cheese/applesauce/etc often ends up in her ears, her hair, and other assorted spots.

However, yesterday I had lunch with a girlfriend whose son is 26 months old. She mentioned that they only bathe him every 3rd day, and even then they don't use soap. She said that soap can be so drying, she just rubs him down with water. I use baby magic soap on Emily, plus lotion afterwards, so I guess I'm not worried. I just thought that bathing a 2 year old boy, who goes to day care everyday and plays outside quite often, every 3rd day doesn't sound like enough.

Or are we going overboard bathing her every other night? Or, as usual, am I waaaay overthinking this?

[TtownAnne]

It depends on her skin. Caroline has VERY dry skin, tending towards excema, so for us it's generally a bad idea to bathe her too often! However, in the summer when she's sweating alot, wearing sunscreen every day, playing outside all day, etc., I tend to bathe her every other day.

[Kris]

I guess I am really going overboard I bath Emma every night and I use soap too!!!

I started a bedtime routine with her when she was 3 months old and I still do the same routine. Especially coming into summer the season of sunscreen and bug spray she needs to get a bath to wash all that stuff off of her.

[Kris]

Originally Posted by TtownAnne

Caroline has VERY dry skin, tending towards excema, so for us it's generally a bad idea to bathe her too often! .

This is Emma as well she has excema and our Dr. told me to have her in the water for 10 mins a day to help it now I wonder if it is right?

[Cortney]

In the winter Morgan got a bath every other day. Now that it is the summer with all the sunscreen, chlorine, bug spray, sweating she gets a bath everyday!! (at least)

ETA: If she doesn't have a bath every other day or more all her hair starts getting really greasy!

[TtownAnne]

I can't imagine that - water is one of the most drying substances! (sounds like an oxymoron, I know, but you don't really hydrate skin from the outside, it has to come from the inside...)

Originally Posted by Kris

our Dr. told me to have her in the water for 10 mins a day to help it now I wonder if it is right?

[AahRee]

Oh, you all are going to think I'm a horrible parent. Katie gets a bath maybe every third day. She has really, really dry skin (raised bumps ALL the time, and worse after a bath), so we avoid baths as much as possible. If she's really dirty, I'll bathe her more often, but there has to be a good reason for it.

[~Andrea~]

Gab's doctor also said to only bathe her 2-3x a week and not have her in there for more than 10 minutes. HOWEVER, I tend to bathe her every other day (and let her play for more than 10 minutes. SHe LOVES her baths ). I even tend to forget her lotion (or meds if her excezma gets realy bad) most of the time BAD MOMMY!! Also if we are outside for a while ans/or in sunscreen, she gets a bath even if she already had one that day. I can't stand the thought of not washing that crap off of me, let alone my baby.

[jstauffer]

My kids get a bath almost every day, especially now that they're outside so much. I try to only do a thorough soap/shampoo ever 2 days though. They stay in until they want to come out. Sometimes it's 5 minutes, sometimes it's 30.

[KimInCanada]

Troy gets a bath every other day, but sometimes gets one on the off day if he needs one. He can come home pretty messy from day care from paint and stuff, sweating, sun block etc... It depends.

[MelissaM]

Jacob USED to get a bath every night...now though I am lucky if I can get him in once every three or four days without World War 3...he has developed an aversion to being clean...must have something to do with little boys

[Lora]

The boys get a bath at least every other night but now that summer is here it is more like every night. They just get too sweaty and dirty when they are out playing now. I use a moisturizing baby wash on them and try not to use too much soap. Patrick has had issues with dry skin but lately it seems to have cleared up.

Lora

[jkl]

every other day here for my 2 girls. although, if they're outside and I know they're dirty and or sweating all day, I'll give them a bath that night in addition to. Sometimes, they want to jump in the shower w/ me in the morning also so for me, that's an easy wash.

[magoo]

Originally Posted by Cortney

In the winter Morgan got a bath every other day. Now that it is the summer with all the sunscreen, chlorine, bug spray, sweating she gets a bath everyday!! (at least)

This is the same, just substitute Anna for Morgan.

[olcott]

Trey gets a bath at least every day, sometimes two a day

[koalita]

Jason gets a bath/shower every day and has since he was six weeks old. He is VERY into routines, so if he doesn't get a bath it's very hard to get him to go to bed. I put lotion on him afterwards and he's never had a problem with dry skin.

[Dennis]

Joe and Frances have a bath every day with soap and shampoo. It's part of the routine and they both (usually) love playing in the tub. Joe gets so dirty at daycare I couldn't imagine not giving him one, and now Frances is going outside as well so she'll be right there as well.

Dennis

[kalm]

Mine get baths most nights (unless we're out late somewhere), but only get shampoo'd every second or third time. Some nights they're in and out so quickly that I can hardly remember them getting wet, gut they're pretty grimy and need a quick wipe down at least.

[Karri]

Aidan gets a bath, inlcuding shampoo, every night. Especially now that its warm out, since he has on sunscreen and bug spray every day. Plus he's a boy...he gets so friggin dirty. NO way am I letting him crawl in bed like that

[Tara]

Tyler gets a bath everynight with soap and shampoo. It is a part of his routine and he LOVES his baths! Plus, there is nothing better than cuddling a sweet smelling baby after their bath!