Does your child need to bathe every day?

A daily bath or shower is a routine for many of us — and for our children, too. But is it really necessary? The short answer is no.

Sometimes a doctor may recommend daily bathing for certain skin conditions. And we all need to wash our hands regularly to prevent infection. But full-body washing just for the sake of washing? Not so much.

Lots of bathing can lead to dry, irritated skin. But also, the skin has natural protective oils, and natural bacteria, that help to keep us healthy and safe — and that can get washed away with daily bathing.

If your baby or preteen looks pretty clean, isn’t stinky, isn’t covered in bug spray and hasn’t been in a pool or other body of water, it’s fine to skip the bath or shower.

Really, bathing two or three times a week is fine. In fact, for many kids, even just once or twice a week is fine. You can always do a quick wipe with a wet washcloth to the face, groin area and dirty spots.

Stinky teenagers might need more bathing or showering, depending on activity level and deodorant use. But even they may be able to get away with washing their face and using a soapy washcloth on their groin and underarms.

Obviously, there are days when washing up makes good sense — like if your child is grimy from a day in the dirt; is covered in sweat, paint or other visible dirt; or had an explosive poop.

It’s also a good idea to wash up if your child has spent the day in a pool (the chlorine may be irritating to the skin), a body of water (there could be things in the water that are irritating or unhealthy) or well-covered in bug spray to ward off ticks and mosquitoes.

And certainly, it’s best for everyone in the vicinity when a stinky teenager takes a soapy shower.

• Use warm water instead of hot.
• Keep it short — preferably just enough time to get the washing done.
• Avoid antibacterial soaps and bubble baths. Use mild, unscented soaps.
• Pat dry rather than rubbing dry. If your child has dry skin, use an unscented moisturizer after bathing.
• If your child has a skin condition, check with your doctor for advice.