Children are stinky little creatures! Most parents find that when a child is born, bath time is one of the more pleasurable parts of the day. Infants and babies typically love spending time in the water and don’t fuss much. In fact, for parents of colicky or fussy babies, a nice warm bath can be just what they need to turn their mood around.
Unfortunately, as kids get older, their adherence to hygiene rules tends to change. Sure, they may still love spending time in the bathtub, sitting in their own pee until the water turns cold, playing with toys, and blowing bubbles—but they aren’t really doing much to cleanse themselves.
So, the question is: how often should children bathe? Do kids need to shower every day? The best way to answer this is by breaking it down by age group.
For Infants and Babies
Your infant or baby probably doesn’t need to be bathed too often. In fact, because their skin is so new, too much bathing—especially with soaps and shampoos—can dry out their skin and hair, leading to patches that mimic eczema. Under the age of 2, especially while your child is still in diapers, you can bathe them just a few times a week, as you likely sponge bathe them several times a day. It’s important to lift up the folds of their skin and clean the cracks and crevices with a washcloth to prevent yeast buildup. Yeast infections in the neck folds and other areas of a young baby’s skin are fairly common problems.
Toddlers
Most toddlers love their bath time. It’s a chance for them to play in warm water, which often helps them relax and get ready for bed. Toddlers typically attend preschool and can get into many messes during the day. This means that, by the end of a typical day, a toddler can be covered in germs. But not all germs are bad; they help build the immune system. While a daily bath is not always necessary for toddlers, you should bathe them when YOU feel they need it. Toddlers need help with bathing, especially in cleaning their genital areas, which can help reduce infections. One important note for parents of little girls: allowing them to sit in bathwater for long periods can lead to urinary infections. Most doctors advise against using bubbles in the bath water and recommend rinsing children thoroughly after bathing.
Pre-School – Elementary Children
Most preschool and elementary-aged children don’t have body odor when they sweat. Smelly sweat usually begins with the onset of hormones. At this age, handwashing is the most important aspect of hygiene. Since head lice are prevalent in schools, it’s worth noting that lice prefer clean hair. Washing your child’s hair every day can actually make them more prone to head lice. Plus, washing hair daily can cause it to get greasy more quickly. At this age, while your child may still prefer baths, they should start learning how to take showers with your help. This way, they can use soap and water to clean important areas of their bodies. Since most kids this age are starting to wipe themselves, cleaning their buttocks and genitals is essential to avoiding infection. Normally, unless your child is sweating a lot or smelling badly, bathing 2-3 times a week should be sufficient.
Pre-Teens and Teens
By the time your child hits the pre-teen and teen years, they will likely want to bathe every day. Hormones cause children at this age to have body odor, and hopefully, your child has learned the basics of hygiene by now. The more active your preteen or teen is, the more often they may need to bathe. Remember, the smell is caused by bacteria that need to be washed off. At this age, kids should be encouraged to use deodorant, even if they don’t have underarm hair. If you begin to smell an onion-like odor when your child sweats, it’s a sign they’re entering puberty. How often your child bathes will depend on their activity level, how much they sweat, and the time of year. In the summer, showers and baths should become more frequent. Many parents of teens quickly learn that their teen wants to shower more than once a day to avoid body odor. Girls who are menstruating should try to bathe daily during their monthly cycle.
As a parent, teaching your child how to bathe properly is an important task. Let’s face it, even older kids will sometimes play in the bath or stand under the shower without really washing their hair or cleaning between their toes. This can become problematic and embarrassing as they get older.
Since every child comes into this world with a unique set of genes, how often they need to bathe will vary. If your child smells bad, has been playing in the dirt, or simply looks like they need a bath, make sure they get one. If they can go a day or two without getting smelly, ensure they at least wash the important areas of their body—like their hands, feet, face, and genitals—and save the full shower for the next day. Also, remember that sitting in dirty bathwater can counteract the benefits of bathing, so encourage your child to rinse off in the shower after baths at a young age.
