How often should an 8 yr old take showers?

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thanks to everyone for your input. Clearly there is a lot of variety in terms of approaches to bathing for 8 yr olds!

[Anonymous]

I don't understand all the talk about needing to establish patterns as a reason to shower daily when you're still too young to sweat. Like the kids can't understand that as they get older they'll start to stink and need to wash more. In the winter, mine bathe (hair wash included) every other day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have gone to daily as mine have gotten older. They have later bedtimes, so there is more time, and I think it's a good habit to establish. Why not bathe them? I can't believe the number of people I know who only bathe their kids 2 or 3 times a week just because they don't want to bother with it. It seems kind of cruel. Don't you like to shower daily?

Thanks for the hyperbole.

[Anonymous]

Younger kids may not sweat, but my 8-year-old still gets real dirt from playing outside. We do daily baths.

[Anonymous]

My youngest is 9. He showers daily regardless of activity.

[Anonymous]

It's not just a question of sweat - kids pick up all kinds of germs. Frequent washing = healthier kiddos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not just a question of sweat - kids pick up all kinds of germs. Frequent washing = healthier kiddos.

frequent hand washing=healthier kiddos. Full on baths everyday are fine if you choose, but really I don't think it is necessary prepubescent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been wondering this too. I will say that we are in the 2x a week (or more depending on activities) camp, but there are a lot of people on this board who say that every kid should bathe every day period.

Also, we still help with hair washing most of the time-- when did people turn that over entirely to their kid?

4. My 4yo showers daily, on her own with light supervision. She only washes her hair 2-3 times a week though.

[Anonymous]

no more than 2-3 times a week

[Anonymous]

Every other day is fine for 8 year old.

[Anonymous]

We do 3x a week

[Anonymous]

In summer, at that age it's daily or every other day in our house.

Winter, 3 times/week.

[Anonymous]

Daily, generally. To lay the foundation for stinky teen years.

I do occasionally let my son skip a shower, when he's been up late, or whatever. Weekends only. No need to stink out the classroom the next day.

[Anonymous]

We do it daily, and have since they were babies. It's just part of their nightly routine. We skip nights if we have stuff going on, but generally it's a daily thing.

[Anonymous]

3x a week unless she has gotten sweaty.