Potential Time Saver: Your kids (under, say, 10) don’t need baths more than twice a week. Even (perhaps especially) infants. In most cases, they only need it once a week.
If you disagree, I’d be interested in hearing why. If you agree, how often do you do kid baths?
Responsible Father 
12 comments
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September 29, 2009 at 10:29 am
jamsco
We’re a once a week family.
September 29, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Jennifer S
Bath times are when Daddy spends time with our 2-year old in this house. he doesn’t get home until just before bed time, so he draws her a bubble bath to play in. Plus, the bath is part of her night time routine. We do end up skipping it about 2 times a week though if we get home late.
September 29, 2009 at 12:29 pm
jamsco
So you’re saying she doesn’t need a bath, you just do it for fun? Fair enough.
September 29, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Jake
My 2-year-old boy usually ends up pretty grubby by the end of the day, and he definitely has a 2nd-day funk if we skip the bath. I’ve noticed that we don’t seem to be typical, because people are often surprised that he gets a bath every night.
September 29, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Heidi
about 3 times a week. even then he doesn’t even seem dirty!
September 29, 2009 at 8:52 pm
philthecarl
Perhaps Corban is extra dirty…he gets a daily bath, sometimes two! Yes, he needs them, and I don’t think we just have to high of standards. I know immediately when he hasn’t had his daily bath, stinky kid! Honestly, I can’t even imagine how nasty he would be with one bath a week!
I hope during the winter we can make the bath a three times a week deal (less sweaty and all).
It really isn’t an issue of time for us. I suppose if I had 7 kids I would bath them once a week, that’s still one bath every day. The addition of each child lessens the bathing frequency for his or her older sibling. I see how this works 🙂
September 30, 2009 at 9:48 am
jamsco
Okay, I seem to be in the minority here. I wonder, is there something genetically different about kids that make some require baths more commonly?
September 30, 2009 at 12:40 pm
heidi
well i know babies for sure its not even recommended that you bathe them every day because their skin will dry out. as for older kids, maybe we’re just lucky?
October 2, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Lisa M
We bathe nightly (unless we get home late, etc. and don’t have time). It is more of a “custom” than a need — They enjoy it, and it seems to relax them and let them know it is time for bed. I was shocked when my sister in law told me they only bathed their son once a week, but I guess we are not the norm – they are!
October 7, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Naomi D
In the summer, our kids need the mud and sand de-caked nightly. But in the winter they don’t get nearly as dirty and the air is usually very dry, so it’s 2-3 times a week. But, no matter what, they always have a bath Saturday night.
October 9, 2009 at 10:46 am
Emily
It’s been daily for ours during the summer (and dirt play, popsicles, etc.) but we switch over to 3x/ week in the winter to prevent their skin from drying out too much.
December 8, 2009 at 10:04 am
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