Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis sparked a lengthy debate when they shared that they only bathe their children when they can see dirt.
However, experts say the Hollywood power couple’s approach to personal hygiene is absolutely acceptable.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Angela Spencer, a UK-based parenting expert with two decades’ experience, said that once children reach primary school age, parents should bathe their kids a minimum of twice a week.
“If they’ve had a busy day, got dirty and in need of a bath, then have a bath,” Spencer said.
“However, if you’ve had a lazy day, no one is really that dirty I reverted back to the ‘top and tail’ scenario. That includes brushing teeth and hair.”
The American Academy of Dermatology Association also gives similar advice, stating children aged 6 to 11 only need to be bathed a minimum of “once or twice a week.” But it also said that bathing them more won’t do any harm.
Mila, 37, and Ashton, 43, told Armchair Expert podcast that there is ‘no point’ on putting son Dimitri, 4, and daughter Wyatt, 6, in the bath unless they have to.
“I didn’t have hot water growing up as a child, so I didn’t shower much anyway… But when I had children, I also didn’t wash them every day. I wasn’t that parent that bathed my newborns – ever,” Mila said.
Ashton then added: “Now, here’s the thing: If you can see the dirt on them, clean them. Otherwise, there’s no point.”
Spencer warned there are dangers of ‘over-bathing’ children, especially when they are still young as their sensitive skin can have strong reactions to products and can also dry out.
One mother commented: “I’m with them on this. Bathing two little kids everyday is a lot of work. Plus it can really dry out their skin. If they spend the day outside in the dirt then they need a bath, crunchy hair bath (sometimes). Pools Also count.”
Another wrote: “You don’t need to do everyday unless they’re playing outside in dirt/mud or swimming in lakes/ponds or doing sports. I was in charge of baths when I loved w my younger siblings and they had them every other day maybe every two days unless I saw they were very dirty.”
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