11 DD - How often would you insist on showering / bathing?

(61 Posts)
dabdab Mon 12-Nov-12 09:41:55

She is not very sporty / active, and resists like mad!

Bonsoir Mon 12-Nov-12 09:43:30

Every day.

Bonsoir Mon 12-Nov-12 09:43:47

You just tell them that you won't give them any food unless they wash.

StrawberryMojito Mon 12-Nov-12 09:44:21

Daily, no question.

Every day. I went through this phase with my Ds. I told him of he didn't shower willingly I would have to wash him like a baby.

Durab Mon 12-Nov-12 09:55:11

Yes, everyday. MotherOfNations, I have threatened to get in the shower with DS1 (11yo) if I think he's not actually washing while he's in there. That's the next challenge - they do need to apply soap to armpits....

My Ds is 12 and thinks a liberal spraying of lynx is a substitute for a wash. He's getting interested in girls now so not quite as bad. I had to stop buying mouthwash because he used this as a substitute for tooth brushing.

dabdab Mon 12-Nov-12 10:50:22

Every day?! Why? She doesn't seem to smell. What about 2x week? (Sorry to question what everyone is saying, as I did ask for your opinion - I do appreciate it, and it is making me re-think. Just not sure why it would be necessary every day.)

AllThreeWays Mon 12-Nov-12 11:02:48

Because she may not be smelly now, but she will be very soon. It is good to establish the habit.
I teach yr 7's and my goodness some of them reck.

AllThreeWays Mon 12-Nov-12 11:03:14


SavoyCabbage Mon 12-Nov-12 11:05:32

I think twice a week is not enough. My two will miss the odd night in winter and will sometimes have a quick shower and sometimes a longer one with hair washing or a bath.

Washing your body every day is a good habit to form.

ByTheWay1 Mon 12-Nov-12 11:06:31

Mine showers every other day , if daily, her skin flares up with eczema - seems fine .

gazzalw Mon 12-Nov-12 11:09:46

Well DS wouldn't get in every day if left to his own devices but we say that he must - he's not going through puberty yet so not smelly but he does have to be reminded to actually use shower gel as well as the water ;-)......

Mominatrix Mon 12-Nov-12 11:12:00


Badvoc Mon 12-Nov-12 11:14:25

3 - 4 times a week.
Daily during her period.

dabdab Mon 12-Nov-12 11:14:27

And what about hair washing? Do your Dc do that everyday too?
At the moment we do 1x week under my strong 'encouragement'. I was hoping friends might comment, but they don't seem to notice.

throckenholt Mon 12-Nov-12 11:16:39

I think we have modern obsession with daily showering. I think most people (especially children) don't need daily showers. Better to get instilled the idea that if you do something very sweaty then have a shower, and otherwise every few days is usually fine.

Durab Mon 12-Nov-12 11:19:46

Sorry, but IMO twice a week isn't enough for anyone, not even young children. What kind of wash does she have in between times? IME it's much easier to have get them to shower than a proper all over wash. Doesn't her hair need washing? And yes, it's about establishing good habits.

How often do you shower? She's not far away from being an adult physically.

I sympathise (and apologise) AllThreeWays - in the summer DS1 often comes home smelly despite showering every day and being forced encouraged to use deodorant. He says they aren't given the opportunity to shower after PE (yr7) is that right? I remember being forced to.

ledkr Mon 12-Nov-12 11:31:37

My dd resists too she spends hours on her clothes and a bit of make up then rocks up ready to go with inbrushed hair and teeth it amazes me. I don't think a full shower is necessary every day though I'd say every other with face and hands in between

Durab Mon 12-Nov-12 11:41:25

Really ledkr, you don't think at least underarms and genitals in between?

Chopstheduck Mon 12-Nov-12 11:47:18

2 x week shock

Sorry, but she is soon going to be going through puberty! dd is 12, showers daily, except for the odd occasion when we have a pyjama day at the weekend.

I actually agree with bonsoir. If dd was avoiding shower, it would be along the lines of 'your dinner is on the table, you can eat it once you have showered!'

Chopstheduck Mon 12-Nov-12 11:49:00

ds1 is 11 and missed his shower a few days last week due to being mostly in bed wiht a viral cough. I had to cut his hair saturday, and it REEKED! it is horrible, and no way is once or twice a week enough.

gazzalw Mon 12-Nov-12 11:51:22

DS does have to have a shower after PE/games so is left off a shower at home the next morning....

There was a thread not so long ago about younger children and how often it was acceptable for them to have a bath/shower per week. Think however that what is acceptable for a five/six/seven year old is not acceptable for an eleven/twelve (or older) year old... even if they're not going through puberty yet they soon will be and need to get into the habit....

NettoSpookerstar Mon 12-Nov-12 11:56:49

DD went through the resisting phase last year, but is luckily fine with batheing now.
She didn't on Saturday night, but did before we went out yesterday, and then again last night.

dabdab Mon 12-Nov-12 12:28:47

I shower daily because I like to and it wakes me up! This thread is somewhat eye opening - why is it shocking to wash 2x week, Chopstheduck? I was thinking we could start with that since she currently does it 1x week. She doesn't smell, but where I do notice it is her hair - which is thin and tends to get somewhat greasy. We do mention it, and she gets very insulted, but doesn't do anything about it unless strong armed. I can see the argument for getting into the habit.

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