Personal Hygiene

[raving_liberal]

To what extent are you responsible for your children's personal hygiene. To what age

Comments

[audiobiblio]

I don't think I'd ever be flexible about my kids' hygiene. That's one of those non-negotiable things, in my book. I still like to help my 4 year old groom herself because I want to make sure it's done properly, and I like her to see how it should be done. I obviously still do everything for my 16 month old, as well.

I think if my girls decided down the road that they didn't want to shower/brush their teeth/wash their hair on a regular basis, there would be some definite punishment for it. I don't take personal hygiene lightly - I think it's important and should always be treated as important.

[abattoir_blue]

As long my child lives in my home, they will adhere to my standards of personal hygiene. Teeth brushed at least once daily. Shower and wash hair at least every other day.

[mljordan]

I dunno, teeth brushed only once a day still sounds pretty gross. I'd say twice a day, minimum.

[abattoir_blue]

Three times is ideal, twice is better, but AT LEAST once. I wouldn't ride their ass about it as long as they were brushing at least once.

[mljordan]

I think my best friend's family had that rule-- her breath always smelled like ass in the morning at school. I finally asked her about it once (haha) and she said she only brushed her teeth at night. Which I guess is better if you have to choose, but still, ew. You don't have to choose.

[bluebuckeye]

I insist that my fiance's girls brush their teeth and bathe every day. Some Friday nights we let it slide but they always bathe at least 5 times a week. Before I moved in they were not all that great about teeth brushing, but since I have had teeth issues all my life, I want to make sure they're taking care of theirs. This is the ONLY thing I have been insistent upon since moving in.

If they had any flexibility, it would be in showering only. And if they started to smell, I'm pretty sure they would notice and do something about it long before we said anything. They're both very conscious of their appearance. Once they got to the teen age, they'd have more flexibility but I would definitely say something if they got gross. Even if I couldn't force them to do anything.

[spicycurvydiva]

so your parents don't care about them and you don't either. nice.

[spicycurvydiva]

I live with two disgusting teenage brothers that my parents just don't care about
sorry i was going by the words you wrote in your comment.

[merlyn4401]

Right now I still direct everything for my 7, 5, and 4 year olds - tell them to shower, brush their teeth, wash hands, etc. We help the 4 y/o with the shower and still go over their teeth when they are done.

I'd love to say the whole "as long as they live in my house they'll do as I say" thing, but I wonder if this is a battle worth fighting. Teenage boys will figure out eventually that being stinky with bad breath and oily hair and straggly facial hair and yucky clothes won't attract girls OR a job...won't they? It strikes me as the type of thing that could become a huge power struggle, and I don't know how I feel about that. I'd probably not say much about clothes and deoderant and shaving, and focus on bathing and teeth brushing, as those are actual health concerns.

My sister had a 5 year running battle with her son over his hair. I just don't see it as being worth it.

[corporatebabe]

this.

[merlyn4401]

Yeah. I have horrible, horrible teeth. We brush the kids' teeth twice a day, and floss, and the oldest has had two cavities (between teeth - tricky places) and the middle one has a "hot spot". I'll hammer on that more than anything, in terms of hygiene.