Reply to Question for child health experts: Does a tween/teen HAVE TO shower every single day?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A child therapist said today ((I was in a support role in the mtg, not said to my child) in a session with a 15 yr old that showering or bathing every day is a must, essential (not just face washing and tooth brushing, but actually showering/bathing).  The teen in question is clean, never smells, practices appropriate hygiene as best we can tell, and a lack of hygiene was in no way part of the reason she was in the session. But daily showering came up with regard to a bedtime routine and when she said "I don't shower every day, more like every other day or every 3 days" the therapist seemed absolutely stunned and shocked and told her she has to shower every day.  (Let's assume we're only talking about kids 10-18, not younger than 10.)

I've worked with families & kids for 20+ yrs around child health, development, child safety issues, and the where the lines are between sufficient care and neglect or abuse.  I've NEVER in my professional life known a therapist, pediatrician or any child experts to say bathing every day is a bare minimum, is where the line is on hygiene and wellness.  Both in my professional life and in my personal life, I've known families with all sorts of habits, routines, and opinions about the basics.  I definitely know families who insist on everyone showering every day, sometimes more than once/day.  I know other families that are lax about it, or it's up to each family member, but being clean and obviously not smelling like body odor or smelling at all (beyond perfume/intentionally smelly products) still being important and assumed. I know some families who have cultural beliefs around it, some where you must shower every day; others where you don't.

While I'm sure there are ALL kinds of opinions here on this, I'm directing this specifically to the therapists, pediatricians/doctors, counselors, psychologists, and child development experts: Do you consider not showering every day bad hygiene or insufficient hygiene?  Is showering every day a standard you tell parents to adhere to?  Not asking "recommended" or "suggested", I am asking do you consider a parent doing less than baseline good parenting if they don't insist their kids all shower/bathe every day let's say from age 10 on?[/quote]

Everyone is entitled to their personal opinion, but in a professional therapy setting, this was way out of line. Therapists should give instruction based on evidence and research, not their personal preferences. [/quote]

Are you arguing that good hygiene is a matter of opinion?[/quote]

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