I’m a proud ‘unsanitary’ mum – my kids only have to wash twice a week, people judge but I’m the one getting it right
A MUM has divided opinion after revealing that she only makes her children bathe twice a week.
Sharon Johnson, a Utah mother of six, shared her confession on TikTok leaving many people concerned over the lack of hygiene.
“Bath and shower days are Sunday and Wednesday if you need a bath in between that then absolutely but otherwise that’s good enough,” Johnson, also known as @Sharon.a.life, said in the viral clip with over 8.2 million views.
“I just think it’s odd, quite frankly, that people care so deeply about other people’s bathing habits, especially a complete stranger on the internet,” Johnson told The Post.
Many people were disgusted with Johnson’s bathing schedule.
“How often are they allowed to brush their teeth? Once a week?” one viewer mocked.
“Very unsanitary … it should be a mandatory thing to take a shower at least once a day,” one scolded.
The mother of six children, ages 4 to 13 years old, created a video series responding to the backlash, titled “Bath Gate 2024.”
In one follow-up video, the content creator, who focuses on mental health and motherhood, clarified her reasoning behind the shower guidelines.
“We live in an incredibly dry climate and all of my kids have really sensitive skin,” Johnson said.
“If they showered every single day, their skin would be so incredibly raw.”
She admitted that lotion doesn’t help her children’s skin conditions, but they are always allowed to take more showers if needed or use other hygiene techniques to freshen up.
“The older kids are preteens and teens and shower more frequently on their own,” she added.
“I’m not managing their showers, they are more than capable of taking care of their hygiene on their own.”
The American Academy of Dermatology Association has said that children between the ages of 6 and 11 can bathe daily, but it’s not required.
Rather, they must shower “at least once or twice a week” and when dirty, sweaty or have body odour.
“Bathing habits are incredibly personal,” Johnson said.
“You never know how someone else’s body reacts to soaps, frequent water, their health issues, understand the climate they live in, or what their personal doctors are recommending to them.”
Johnson chooses specific days of the week for bath time because Wednesday is mid-week, and Sunday is when the family attends church. The shower guidelines help the busy mom stay organised with her day-to-day schedule.
“I am not limiting their baths or telling them they can’t bathe on other days. My kids get plenty of bath days, they just always have to bathe those two days,” she added.
Although she has faced backlash for her hygiene routine, some parents relate to Johnson’s shower habits.
“My two kids since birth have gotten on average 1-2 baths a week. I’m so with you!” wrote one of her supporters.
“My son has eczema and his paediatrician recommended not giving him a bath unless absolutely necessary because it dries out his skin!” another agreed.
The mother of six remains unbothered by the naysayers and appreciates those who support her parenting method.
“Reading all of the comments, the ones in support and against our bathing habits, has me wildly fascinated,” Johnson revealed.
“It’s [intriguing] to see the conversation play out and also a little disappointing that so many people can’t fathom that not everyone in the world does things the same way.”
This article was originally published on the New York Post and has been republished here with permission.