Woman sparks outrage admitting: ‘I really don’t bathe my baby’

A mother has ignited a huge parental debate, after she revealed she only bathes her three-month-old son once a week - if that.

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by Jessica Anais Rach |
Published on

Claire Goss made the confession on a Babble blog, in a post titled 'Do You Actually Need to Bathe Baby'.

Last week’s blog, which resulted in the 32-year-old’s appearance on ABC news, reads:

'He is my third baby so I probably don’t have to tell you that I have a lot going on in the evenings'

‘Honestly didn’t even realize it was true until today when I spotted his bathtub sitting dejectedly in a corner. “Huh,” I thought, “when was the last time I used THAT?!”

‘He is my third baby so I probably don’t have to tell you that I have a lot going on in the evenings. I can barely get the older two bathed, and they don’t require their own special tub and shampoo.’

Claire with her three children
Claire with her three children

The admission caused fellow parents to label the mother-of-three ‘gross’ and ‘lazy’.

But the blogger appeared on America’s ABC news to defend her actions.

'He's not a dirty kid, he's a baby'

'I aim for once a week. It might not happen. I will confess, it has gone longer than a week. . . It can be a good 10 days, but if you met my baby and held him, you'd probably think he smells as amazing as I do,’ she explained.

‘In my gut I don't think he needs it,' she said. 'He is a happy baby, he is a healthy baby. . . What I realized now after five years of parenting children is, he's not a dirty kid, he's a baby.'

Claire feels too much bathing dries out a baby's skin

New York mother Nina Postans disagrees with this parental approach, arguing that baths are part of a bedtime ritual.

'They are at a crucial age where they need to establish a sleep routine and having a nightly bath (water is fine - you don't need to use soap all the time!) is part of this.

'Bath is a time for physical closeness along with face to face contact when the mom'

'Most babies actually enjoy being bathed plus it's ultra soothing for them.’

And psychologist Stephanie Manes says:

'The bathing ritual can play an important developmental role for a child in that it offers a powerful opportunity for mother infant bonding.

'Ideally, the bath is a time for physical closeness along with face to face contact when the mom can follow her baby's gaze - experiences that foster healthy attachment.'

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