Say what? Mom admits bathing twin babies twice a month
‘Before you gasp, hear me out.’ A mom of three shares interesting reasons why she doesn't bathe her babies often.
A mother of three has received flak online after admitting she only bathes her twins twice a month.
Stay-at-home mom Madison has three children and regularly shares posts about her motherhood journey.
She shares tips such as how to tandem bottle feed twins, sleep training, and a day in the life of a mom raising three kids under the age of three.
All hell broke loose after she shared a video explaining why her twins don't get regular baths.
“We only bathe our 5-month-old twins about 2 times a month — and before you gasp, hear me out,” she wrote.
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Madison says less is more when it comes to bathing babies. She gave her followers four reasons for her decision.
- Their skin barrier is still developing — frequent baths can dry it out and lead to irritation or eczema.
- They’re not sweating or getting truly dirty — spot cleaning (face, neck folds, hands, and diaper area) is all they really need most days.
- Bathing strips natural oils — those oils are essential for protecting their skin and keeping it soft and hydrated.
- A healthy microbiome matters — overwashing disrupts the good bacteria on their skin, which plays a role in immune development.
Just because she doesn't immerse her babies in a tub of water doesn't mean they aren't clean.
“We do regular wipe-downs for the diaper area, face, hands, and neck folds (because… milk dribbles and spit-up),” she added.
Despite her explanation, social media users were less than impressed.
“Nah. You're just lazy. A clean baby feels better and sleeps better. Baths are soothing for babies. You try bathing only twice a month. See how you feel,” one woman commented.
Another person wrote: “Raised 5 kids myself. Bathed them every day. They always had beautiful, soft baby skin and have beautiful adult skin now. You do you, it’s your children, but it’s a hard no from me.”
Some had a few other questions, such as, "Why are the babies being ‘wiped down’ in the kitchen?"
The clip shows Madison washing one of her twins on a kitchen counter beside the sink.
Studies have shown that the kitchen often has more germs than a toilet. The spread of Salmonella and E. coli is one of the main reasons why.
“Recent surveys of homes found more fecal bacteria on a cutting board in the average home than a toilet seat. It’s actually safer to make your sandwich on a toilet seat than a cutting board. The sink is another reservoir for nasty bacteria," microbiologist Charles Gerba told CNN in 2019.
“Many people defrost raw meat products in sinks or rinse raw chicken and don’t do more than run water to clean it," he added.
Some people were unfazed, noting that her children appeared healthy and happy, which is what matters most.
A woman claiming to be a neonatal nurse also shared her thoughts.
"I’m a NICU RN and we bathe babies every 3 days. Twice a month is not advised by any medical professional I have ever worked with in 22 years in the NICU," she wrote.
“The AAP recommends bathing 2-3 times a week for infants. But if your babies are healthy and thriving and that’s what works for you in your season, way to go, momma! They are beautiful babies.”
The moral of the story? Conduct some research and do what works for you, mommy!
Disclaimer: Health-related information provided in this article is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems. It is always advisable to consult with your doctor on any health-related issues.
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Main image credit: iStock