One thing that the 2.2 billion children across the globe have in common is the need to bathe. Whether your child is a newborn or a preteen, bathing is a fact of life for children of all ages.

Here, we have a breakdown of all the information you need about children’s bathing habits.

How Often Should Kids Bathe

When assessing how often kids should bathe, it’s important to think about the age groups of your children. Different age groups of children may require more or less bathing times.

Infants and Small Children 

As many parents already know, infants and small children have very sensitive skin. In fact, one in every three babies suffer from sensitive skin issues.

When it comes to bathing your infants, it’s recommended that baths don’t take place every day. However, messes happen, and it’s important to use your judgment and bathe more frequently if major messes do arise.

Daily bathes for infants can actually dry out your baby’s skin. If you want to clean your baby more often than just a weekly bath, consider using baby wipes and wash clothes to keep them fresh and clean.

Elementary Age Children

Children from ages six to 11 need baths and showers more frequently than babies. As their skin is a bit tougher and can withstand more than infants, the frequency of their baths can be increased to multiple times per week.

This is also the age where children tend to play outside and get into messes more. As always, it’s important to use your own discretion when it comes to bathing your children. If you see messes occur, it’s completely okay to bathe more often than not.

Bathing During Puberty 

Once kids hit the age of puberty, bathing and showering more frequently is an absolute must. Kids and teens going through puberty deal with a variety of body odors and daily activities that require daily bathing or showers.

It’s also recommended that preteens and teens wash their faces at least twice per day to prevent acne.

Bathing Safety 

When bathing infants, it’s important to use the right tools and products. As children grow, it’s recommended that they aren’t left alone to take their own baths and showers until age seven.

With any age, lotion and other products to hydrate skin is always a good idea. If your child suffers from any skin conditions such as acne or eczema, you may need to use special products to help treat their skin.

The Importance of Child Bathing 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to answer your questions about hygiene for children. When it comes to child hygiene, being proactive is highly important. The more you pay attention to your child’s health, the better off they’ll be.

If you’re interested in learning more about childcare, check out our website for additional info.