Celebrity parents Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher recently created headlines on the internet for revealing the unique shower rule they have put in place for their kids- only bathing them when they see visible dirt.
Appearing on a celebrity talk show, parents to kids, Dmitri and Wyatt, Mila and Ashton made a strong revelation that they weren't fans of bathing children every day, which created a debate of its own on the internet. While Kutcher said, “Here's the thing, if you can see the dirt on them, clean them. Otherwise, there's no point.”, his wife Mila also added that she was never one of those parents who bathed her kids much before too, or followed the norm when she was growing up either.
While many rushed to criticize the parents, and many applauded them for being real, the whole bathing debate actually made many wonder- how often bathing kids is too often?
What's the best rule for bathing kids?
Bathtime with kids can be a cherished or a dreaded experience. While all parents have sweet memories of giving their children their first bath, or fondly remember the first time they took a bath by themselves, they also remember all the hassle it could seldom take forcing older kids to bathe. Some, on the other hand also argue that too frequent showering doesn't just cause wastage of water, but also strips away natural oils from the skin.
So, how often should you let your kids shower? Daily, 3-4 times a week or what can be termed as a good number?
Well, not only do kids require a shower when you spot visible dirt on them, experts suggest that bathing habits and the frequency actually depend on the age, type of activity they engage in, and if you have little kids- what number may be a comfortable enough for you to do.
If you have a child who is young, some pediatric guidelines suggest that there may not be an actual need to clean or bathe newborns every day, even if they do get messy or spit up often. Not only do younger infants and toddlers not enjoy baths much, excessive water, and further usage of shampoos and bath soaps may strip off essential oils of their gentle skin. If you see visible dirt or spit-ups, give them a thorough clean, and run them a bath once or twice a week, until they turn a little older (over the age of 4 or 5). While kids aren't really getting out right now, and proper hygiene rules are being followed, there really may not be a need to properly bathe kids every day.
Make sure that you clean their face, hands, bottom and neck well, and use warm water when you do.
It's also important to remember that daily showering, while may be a habit for some that's hard to quit, is not really all that helpful. Besides, it may only be helpful to do once the kid is a bit older, and the skin is more 'developed' to handle frequent showering.
If you have kids aged between 6-11, they are bound to spend some time playing outside or exposing themselves to dirt more than they would have in infancy. Frequent bathing can be a personal choice, but remember to do so if your child has visible dirt, comes home back from a dirty environment, is swimming, have body odour and/or is sweaty.
As for the older kids, pre-pubescent and teens going through puberty can go through a lot of hormonal changes and comparatively easier for them to run in baths pretty much every possible time. Therefore, encourage your big kids to maintain good personal hygiene, regularly wash their face (to avoid acne and build up) and take a shower every day.
