Clean Baby

I give both my 3 year old and my 10 month old a bath about every other day. The baby is usually every 3rd day or so because he is crawling around on the floors everyday and getting food all over him, but if you just wash her with a warm wet cloth everyday you should be fine for most of the week.

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I was told once every two or three days.

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Hi M.,

I am a mom of a two-year old, very sensitive-skinned boy. I've been giving him two baths a week since he was an infant. Sometimes he will have 3 if necessary. On the other days of the week I wash him with a face cloth only. His exzema breaks out if I bathe him any more than that, and yes, it is quite a process bathing a little one!

Use your judgement, if your daughter has sensitive skin, and especially in the winter when skin dries out the more you bathe, you might want to consider once to twice a week. Infants, especially 8-months old don't get very dirty day-to-day, but use your own "mommy intuition". Whatever you do is ok, as long as your baby is clean and happy. :)

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Hi M.! It was so funny to see this question because I just went to the pediatrician last week with my 6 month old and asked her the same thing! My son HATES the bath and I was only bathing him once a week (I would wipe his face, ears, neck, hands & diaper area daily with a wet cloth but only gave him a full on bath once a week). She told me that was absolutely fine. Some babies liked the bath and if that was the case, you can bathe them more often if you want. But for babies that don't like the bath, once a week is just fine. It's not like at this age they are outside playing in the dirt or anything! And don't feel stupid, I ALWAYS ask people & my pediatrician the "stupid" questions. If not, how are you going to know! I hope this helped!

Hi M.-
Mothers constantly have questions. Don't be embarrassed to ask any question of the pediatrician. They are there to help us, so I don't think it would be an awkward question to ask. I did do a bath every night at that age because it was part of my son's bedtime routine. If you have a bedtime routine, I would add the bath in as part of it. It doesn't need to be a long bath. Wash hair and body and maybe a little play and you're done. I did my son's bath right before bed. He got accustomed to it and now at 2 1/2, he asks for his bath when he's getting tired. Good luck.

I believe that I read in baby talk magazine that it was ok to bath them every two days as everyday can dry out there skin.
Best of luck

Hi M., I had this question as well and my mother gave me the same advice! My son began taking a shower or bath with either my husband or myself every day since he outgrew his infant tub. It was a lot easier this way! He started taking his own baths/showers when he turned 2.

I say give a child a bath when they need it. Every day may actually dry out a baby's skin and at 8 months old she's not really getting very dirty, especially during the winter. At 16 months I give my daughter a bath three times a week. She's in the house all day, she's not playing in the dirt or even at the playground now because it's too cold. If she gets really dirty eating dinner or something give her a bath, but I really don't feel a need to bathe a toddler every day this time of year.

I bathe my sons every other day unless they are a real mess. My doctors fully supported it because it is easier on their skin especially in dry weather. (My oldest always had bad eczema.)

HI M....please don't get embarrassed. no question is stupid. i don't think you have to bath baby everyday. its not good for your skin. we as adults are not suppose to bath everyday. it all depends on the day of course. i mean if you go to the beach and the baby has been playing in sand and what not. then a bath is necessary. but in the winter the baby just needs to be washed up from all the germs esp if he/she goes to daycare. but my boys get a bath every wed and sun. but if in between one is necessary then i give them one. it all depends really. but one everyday is not necessary.
i hope i helped. easy your mind. go with YOUR insticts. people can be soooo hard. sometimes they are embarrassed at their own answers cause of insecurities they have themselves.
soo don't worry. bye for now

Hi M.~
I have a boy (he'll be 8 months on the 18th). We give him a bath every other day. On the other days we just wipe him down. Their little hands get dirty. lol Sometimes it's every 3 days all depends. I've heard that if you bathe them every day their skin will dry out, course there is lotion for that also. Do what is best for you and your baby. If she isn't that dirty just wipe her down. It's really what is easier/best for the both of you. Course I wouldn't do it once a month. LOL Good luck:-)

M. as far as getting a shower everyday well of course you do after all how often do you wear the food your feeding her and spit up and evrything else under the sun she is just fine with when ever she needs one after all you don't want to dry out her skin of its natural oils that protects her and trust me even if you choose to ask the dr. she won't look at you weird its an normal question Im sure she has heard stranger questions than that. also if you need to save alittle
time and you feel comfertable enough doing it my dr suggested showering with them you just have to hold them close and have your back to the shower head and it can't be as hot as you would noramlly have it of course when she gets older my daughter loved to sit in the bottom of the tub while I showered of corse this cuts into your alone time, so you amy not want to do it.

Hi my name is M. and I have a 7 month old boy. I give him a bath every otehr night because the doctor says that if you bathe them to often you could dry out thier skin. So he gets a bath every othr night unless dinner is really messy then he gets one no matter what. Hope this helps some!

hey M.
Yes i agree that bath time is anything but quick. After my daughters bellybutton fell off i switched to bathing her every other day, I wondered the same thing and my mom actually suggested to do so, she said its not like she's out playin in the mudd :)

Having a clean baby does not necessarily mean that you have to bathe your baby on a daily basis. In fact, it can be detrimental to your child. Many children--particularly in the winter months--can get very dry, irritated skin as water and soap remove the skins natural oils. I have two boys--2 1/2 and 11 months. We bathe them altleast every third day and we wash them up--hands, face, & anywhere else that needs it-- with face cloths at the end of each day. Keep in mind that in the world, there are many people who do not bathe every day and that the notion that one must do so to be clean is a very American notion. Many Europeans don't bathe every day--myself being one of them--and lead healthy, happy lives. By the way, my children are rarely, if ever sick. We have had one cold in the 15 months.

I say it all depends on how dirty she gets. When my son was 8 months I would give him a bath every 2-3 days depending how dirty he got with his feedings.
My son is 13 months now and he gets a bath everynight.
We also have a 3 week old daughter and she gets a bath every 3 days

Hi, I have a 5 year old and a 18m baby. I still only give my 5 year old a shower about 2-3 times a week. The baby gets the same unless she gets something in her hair. I was told that to many baths dry out there skin and smaller ones like yours really don't do anything to get really dirty only spit up but all I did is use a wipe and clean the area.
Hope this helps alittle

Thats all up to u u work and sweet more then she does.. every other day and she will still Smell Clean :-).. my daughter gets one ever day or every other day and that depens on how DIRTY she gets in skool and outside so its really up to u and the hubby..

Have fun with Tubby Time.. its the BEST Time..:-D

J.

My son takes a bath every night as part of his prebed routine. I started doing it at around 8 months so I could develop a routine for him. But I don't wash him with every bath. I just wash his face hands and crotch. Using soap everyday can dry them out, especially in the winter. I actually fully wash him 3 times a week, and I wash his hair once a week. I understand where you're coming from, not wanting to ask the pediatrician. I don't think it's a stupid question, though. Another reason I bathe him before bed, is he loves to play with bath toys. I think it also relaxes him before bed. Hope this helps.

Bathing every day, especially in the winter, is so drying to their skin & hair. A few times a week (or after every explosive diaper) is often enough.

my 16.5 month old son gets a bath every night before bed, but i don't use soap every time or wash his hair everytime. i usually had some oatmeal and lavendar oil to his bath to keep his skin from getting dry. i might use soap about 3-4 times a week. he gets a bath every night because that way he knows soon he needs to go to bed. it helps relax him.

it kind of depends.. in the winter, their skin can dry out, so I usually did every other night or every two nights.. depending on how dirty they got.. if they were relatively clean, then I'd go the 2 nights.. in the summer, they sweat and play in sand and dirt a lot, so every night is fine. just use your judgement.. there's no law to it!!

You can bath her every day, just don't use soap. Make sure to slime her up wih baby lotion everytime. If she sits up with no help, on no soap days put her in the bottom of shower with you.

In my opinion its pretty much your own personal choice. Babies do not need to take bathes every day. It will only make their skin dry and whatnot. Yes you can put baby lotion on after every bath, but in my own personal experiance my daughter can never sit still while i slather her with lotion, she would rather run around bare bottomed. I have a daughter that is turning one next week and I have always given her a bath twice a week. When she was a newborn I would give her a bath once a week. All the other days I would simply wipe her down with a warm soapy cloth. Its good to teach your children good hygiene, but at that age they do not understand yet what taking a bath is all about. Its play time for them. Every body is different, its just about what works for you and your baby. Good luck.

We bathe our 12 month old every other evening. If she's been swimming or doing something that makes her dirty then we'll bathe her even if it's not "bath night". When she was younger we only bathed her 2 or 3 times a week. My concern was bathing her too much and drying out her skin.

We bathe our 7 month old every other night. It keeps his skin from getting too dry, but gives him enough time to play in the tub.

M.,
You actually shouldn't wash your baby every day- she doesn't get that dirty, and it's not good for her skin. Unless she's taken a "bath" in her food or is otherwise really a mess like babies get on occassion, aim for 3-4 baths a week. Just keep her wiped up in between. And your pedi shouldn't look at you like you're crazy- we've all asked this question at some point!

You definitely don't need to bathe her everyday, every other day is fine, unless she is dirty.

hi M., well i know with my son(2.5) i have always bathed him everyother day. at least 3 x's per week. my son has special needs & is seen by many people. none of his doctors or specialist have an issue with this. i know with babies its not good to give them a bath each day as there skin is very sensitive. you could always give sponge bathes on the days your baby doesnt get a tubby. i hope this helps. take care luv always C.

My children are now adults and I now help care for my grandchildren. Same rules for my children apply to my grandchildren. I gave them a bath when they needed one every 2-3 days. Otherwise thier skin dries out. and yes you can use lotion but trying to chase a greased baby was not my idea of fun. I asked my childrens pediatrician so many questions others thought I was writing a book.There is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to a baby. I used to tell him it was his fault he put the little stinker in my stomach and typical of men he forgot the directions. Relax enjoy your baby.

I would keep thew private areas clean every day!!!! but a bath can be done about every other day unless the baby is filthy which i am sure you would know enough to bathe the babe. like the others said, their are special oils in baby's skin and espcially in the cold months their skin can get more dry than ours. Even adults who shower or bath every day get dry skin.

Showering or bathing daily robs your body (or your baby's body) of the protective oils in your skin. It's drying & more than needed. A few times a week- every other day or so and daily washing up (hands, face, feet etc) should be more than enough.

Hey M.,
I have a 20 1/2 month old daughter. I give her a bath every night, unless something prevents me from doing so. I feel like it gives her some special play time, and we have fun playing together and enjoying the time we spend together. I know life can be hectic sometimes, but there is always time to spend with your daughter. I hope this gave you some sort of suggestions! Good luck!
S.

Hi M.,

I have a 13 month-old and I used to bathe her every day (because I bathe every day). Then her skin started getting really dry and scaly. I continued to bathe her every day, but used more lotion. She still had dry skin, so I called her doctor. Her doctor said that babies don't need to be bathed as much as adults. Frankly, because they don't have armpit odor, and other adult hygiene issues. The doctor said that I should keep the diaper area clean, wash her hands and face, and only give her a full bath a couple of times per week.

Hope this helps you.

I have an 11 month old and I bathe her every other day. I heard that bathing them every day can get rid of some of their essential oils in their body. Genevieve is always clean and smells good. As for showering every day...I WISH! I get to shower every other day, too! Unless she actually naps, then it's every day!

Don't ever be afraid to ask a question to your Pedi, that is what they are there for! I would have to say I go along with just about everyone with the everyother, heck I don't always take a shower everyday....did I just admit that!! :)))lol!! Good luck and take care!

your mom was right i"m afraid.Unless your child has really dry skin, bathe every day.By the way no ? is stupid to a Dr. or any one else.

Giving you r baby a bath everyday is easy if you take her in the shower with oyu. lay out your clothes and her clothes jump in the shower wash up ansd her up hop out dry off get dressed and you are rolling, girl.