Showers/Baths twice a week -- is that enough?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea. My 6 yr old showers at 6:30 every morning.

Poor creature.

[Anonymous]

She smells. Trust me. How about a wash cloth bath?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also hate showering, mostly because I hate dealing with my long hair when it's wet. I don't want to cut my hair short, so i only wash my hair every other time and use dry shampoo or baby powder if needed. I think my mom had to fight with me to shower more at that age, whereas my little sister loved showering and took one every morning. I doubt she is going to start liking it, but you really should keep pushing for her to shower more.

I know plenty of women who shower daily and wash their hair about once a week- put it up and/or use a granny shower cap (they work!).

[Anonymous]

I think every other day is fine, but she needs to wash up on the days she doesn't shower. In the summer though, every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also hate showering, mostly because I hate dealing with my long hair when it's wet. I don't want to cut my hair short, so i only wash my hair every other time and use dry shampoo or baby powder if needed. I think my mom had to fight with me to shower more at that age, whereas my little sister loved showering and took one every morning. I doubt she is going to start liking it, but you really should keep pushing for her to shower more.

I know plenty of women who shower daily and wash their hair about once a week- put it up and/or use a granny shower cap (they work!).

I occasionally go as long as two weeks without washing my hair. Usually it's once a week though, I never get my hair wet unless I'm washing it. It's long thick/bushy/curly (I'm biracial, black/white). I just put it in a high ponytail on top of my head and use bobby pins to pin down the "tail". It gets wet, sure. But not soaking wet. It needs to be a little moist anyway so that I can refresh my curls for the day.

[Anonymous]

Americans shower too much and for too long. It is a waste of water. It is a luxury. The rest of the world, especially in poor places, do not shower as much.

But to be reasonably clean, twice a week is enough. You can supplement this with a washcloth and cleaning selected areas periodically.

And odor is not a problem if you use deodorant, lotions, perfumes, etc.

I am a spoiled American that showers daily.

[Anonymous]

My 11 year old son showers every evening before bed. I got him some shower gels from BBW and he likes to use them. If he misses a day here or there it isn't a big deal. But after puberty - they really need to shower every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think many people really understand what it's like to have a kid who doesn't like to bathe. My now 6 year old hasn't liked bathing since day one. Nothing I do makes it pleasurable. I have a handful of things I can do to make it less onerous. She showers twice a week. I also have older kids who have always bathed or showered daily. I think you will know when she needs to shower more often. I certainly figured out when my oldest needed to shower twice a day. If she smells, if she looks dirty, if her hair is greasy, you'll see/smell it and know to have her shower more often.

I understand, because I'm an adult who doesn't like it. I don't like the water. I worry I'll slip and fall on the hard surface (no, I'm not 85). I suck at small motor skills and always get shampoo in my eyes and it burns. My skin doesn't air dry at all and I hate the feeling of droplets of water rolling down my body as I scurry to dry off as quickly as possible. I hate everything about the process.

[Anonymous]

At 11 she can probably get away with washing her hair once or twice a week if she isn't involved in vigorous athletics. But by 11 she should shower at least every other day. My DD is 8 and we are pushing for daily showers, mostly so she isn't noticeably stinky by the end of day two. If you can smell her, it is too late.

As for "cleaning selected areas", unless you are living in an area with water restrictions, that is even more time than as quick shower or bath.

Deodorant, lotions, perfumes, etc, only MASK odor. That can actually be worse, particularly for those who have allergies. My first impression of someone who reeks of scented products is that they are unwashed.

[Anonymous]

Mom to a 3rd grade boy - definitely needs a shower every day and just started using deodorant. Lot's of boys in his class need it too, but not sure they've all started yet. It has started much earlier than in my day, but at age 11, please have her shower every day (hair can be ever few days if long). You don't need other kids to start saying things and make it worse.

[Anonymous]

Shower daily please. And if in HS - twice.

I get a headache when I walk in DC hs when kids are milling around. The whole place SMELLS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom to a 3rd grade boy - definitely needs a shower every day and just started using deodorant. Lot's of boys in his class need it too, but not sure they've all started yet. It has started much earlier than in my day, but at age 11, please have her shower every day (hair can be ever few days if long). You don't need other kids to start saying things and make it worse.

to this PP and the PPs with shower gels etc.

Just be very careful with these. Check the ingredients carefully. I won't be allowing our children to use body sprays, deodorants or antiperspirants until they really need them (for body sprays, that'd be never), and when they do start using them, I'm going to be checking the ingredients.


(on a tangent)
http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/axe-body-spray-dangerous-effect-tween-boys-163900887.html

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/03/your-little-man-on-axe-elizabeth-joseph/

[Anonymous]

My boys have been bathed every night (now do it themselves) since they were infants.

They are 5.5. and 8. They play lots of sports and get sweaty---but even on days they aren't working hard like that they still hop in tub or shower. It's a nighttime ritual---upstairs bath, brush teeth/hair, pjs on, read book---bed.

DH and I shower daily too.

I am grossed out by anything less than a full daily washing (hair too!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Americans shower too much and for too long. It is a waste of water. It is a luxury. The rest of the world, especially in poor places, do not shower as much.

But to be reasonably clean, twice a week is enough. You can supplement this with a washcloth and cleaning selected areas periodically.

And odor is not a problem if you use deodorant, lotions, perfumes, etc.

I am a spoiled American that showers daily.

the rest of the world is also pretty damn stinky too. yes- I travel frequently and have lived abroad and almost fallen back when entering a crowded restaurant from the body odor/pit/crotch stench.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Americans shower too much and for too long. It is a waste of water. It is a luxury. The rest of the world, especially in poor places, do not shower as much.

But to be reasonably clean, twice a week is enough. You can supplement this with a washcloth and cleaning selected areas periodically.

And odor is not a problem if you use deodorant, lotions, perfumes, etc.

I am a spoiled American that showers daily.

Do you work in corporate America or any American owned company? I guarantee you if you attend any meetings smelling the way you have described is ok, you will not be there for long. Your malodorous body will be annoying and distracting to your colleagues and someone will either tell you you smell or they will slowly begin to exclude you from meetings and you will find yourself leaving voluntarily or shown the door for various reasons but the body funk will be the culprit. I would find it highly annoying working with anyone who smells like they have not bathed in several days. It is best to teach young people good hygiene at 11 years old than have them risk losing a job over a simple thing like showering regularly.