How often does your child take a shower or bath? While cleanliness and hygiene are important for overall health, bathing does not necessarily need to happen on a daily basis. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies under the age of one have a bath three times a week or less. As long as the area around a child’s diaper is clean, bathing too often is unnecessary for children who are not walking around or crawling into messes.  It could also dry out your young one’s soft skin.

After your child is one year old, you can work your day up to daily baths at any point. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that children who have not gone through puberty do not need to bathe more than a few times per week unless they are dirty, sweaty or have a skin condition that requires bathing.

After puberty, maintaining cleanliness should happen daily! Implement this as a habit early on so that your child learns to willingly take a bath or shower without being asked. Turning it into a regular part of the nighttime routine helps avoid potential tantrums if your child would prefer to continue playing than to take a shower.

Water should be kept lukewarm and your child should always be supervised until at least the age of seven. After bathing, apply lotion in order to prevent dry skin.