How often should a 9 year old take showers?

He is nine and you are the parent. lay down the rules. Show him that germs form on teeth after twelve hours so teice a day for brushing.

Also, at least every other day for showering.

Insist.

At least every other day and definitely any time he is dirty and/or sweating. He should definitely be brushing his teeth twice a day at least as well.

If you leave it up to him, he’ll probably continue these habits, you need to be sure he knows that he needs to do these things and that it’s not an option. It doesn’t really matter what he says, it matters what you say.

Don’t argue with a nine-year-old. Especially don’t argue about personal hygiene. Make rules and enforce them. You’re the parent, so you have to be the parent.

Your kid could have some what of a point about the showers. It’s hardly like he is trying to impress the love of his life at 9 years old, if you don’t live in a very dirty hot city you can maybe go 3 days without a shower and still be fairly clean.

However, teeth should be brushed 3 times a day, once after ever meal. If you snak, you have to at least use some mouthwash after snaks.

I never used to brush my teeth as a kid, I can’t even begin to describe the pain if have felt some times as a result of this past decision. It is not nice when your wisdom teeth decide they are going to push thru and shatter an already half rotten tooth. Picture a 6ft 6in grown man cralled up in a ball on his bed, on the edge of being in tears as he misses his mother, and you start to get some idea of the pain we are talking about. I have even thought to my self “If only I could pull my jaw off or chew on some rocks to get the bad tooth out” in the past.

I have two of my back teeth missing, and three others are broken in half. I now wash my teeth three to four times a day, my teeth are nice and clean and they don’t hurt, but no amount of brushing will undo what is done.

Parents need to teach and require hygiene of their children. You need to tell your son what is required of him.

Brushing teeth at least twice per day, washing hands after use of the bathroom and prior to eating, one shower at least every other day, washing of feet prior to bed especially in summer, combing of hair each morning…etc.

If necessary, the way to make him adhere and keep the routine going, make a chart. Have a small reward like a visit to an ice cream parlor each week he complies.

Your nine year old can’t be the boss of himself or you. If he isn’t brushing at least twice a day, he can get tooth decay, gum disease, etc. Teach him proper hygiene which includes taking a shower daily. If he isn’t getting dirty or sweating every day, he is not getting enough or actually any exercise. Get him active in some type of activity where he is sweating if he is physically able.

The 9 year old should wash as often as their parents deem necessary. If my kid was as opinionated or self regulating then I think I’d give a little information but only as much to go with my directive and not to open up a debate. I was a difficult and bossy kid like that (cleaner though) and asking me nicely “just because” didn’t work, I needed information to make it seem like I was being given something that would better me rather than being convenient or obedient.

I’m going to tell him the limits, which are:

Now: No less than once every two days

Puberty and after: At least once a day, no more than 3 times a day (because 3 times is a waste of water, once a day is clean enough)

Teeth:
Every day: twice a day (more is fine)

Honestly, @nitrogeneration , the arguments you are having with him will probably not go on forever. For now you need to be the “mean” parent and make sure that basic hygiene is observed, but one day, suddenly he will probably turn into an obsessively clean person, then he’ll relax a bit and be normal about it. These things usually coincide with either A) an awareness of girls or B) an awareness of how rude and vocal middle-school kids can be.

@nitrogeneration Way to take the bull by the horns! Welcome to Fluther. Good luck.

Err, as often as is necessary/required. Not rocket science is it?

@nitrogeneration: Try telling him that it may seem wasteful to wash his body each day but it’s more wasteful if he comes up with common body rash, skin infections from simple stuff like dirt & dried sweat blocked sweat glands, bacteria transferred from dirty under nails to private areas that are moist and collect/grow bacteria. Gross him out a little. Tell him there is a difference between wasting shampoo on his head everyday and washing his body with mild soap.

I have to say my dentist agrees with him on the tooth brushing thing but recommends doing it in be morning. (Seriously the guy charges £200 for a check up and then thinks I need money saving tips)

Every other day. More often if he is involved in sports, running around outside, doing anything that might increase the chances that he will get dirty or sweaty.
Teeth must be brushed at least twice a day, and should be flossed daily, as well.

As said above, you make the rules. Put your foot down, now is the time he should be learning these things. My kids give me a hard time about baths and toothbrushing, but it is non-negotiable and they know it.

Ok, with my third kid I’m a little less paranoid about things like showering. My son showers once a week and that seems fine. He doesn’t smell and he’s not uncomfortable. It is my experience that kids start showering more often once they hit puberty and they need to. And nothing is better at getting them to shower than a girl or boy asking them when they last showered and then sidling away from them. I’m all for natural consequences on this one. I do mention it but I don’t make a federal case of it.

He’s also my kid who hates brushing his teeth. I’ve reminded, cajoled etc. but he’s been apathetic. The thing is…he’s never had one cavity. So although he’s not regular with brushing I make sure he hits the dentist every 6 months. His dentist isn’t worried either.

I only get really involved if they are doing something or not doing something that is truly dangerous to themselves or other people.

“no need to shower once a day because you never get dirty in just a day”

Maybe the issue isn’t showering. Maybe he needs to get outside more often.

For the brushing teeth part explain it to him like this. All those bacteria from the teeth that won’t be washed away will be ingested. In a few years he’ll end up with some diseases. Most of this is not that true but sometimes it happens. It’s about the scaring him but making him understand he needs to do it for his personal hygiene.

And for washing. He’ll grow up and when friends will tell him he stinks he’ll definitely start to wash more often [two or three times per day].

Is he taking a bath in between these showers? Or are you telling us that you let him not shower AT ALL for up to a months?

He’s quite the environmentalist, good for him! I would inform him that at least he should also wash his butt daily but the rest is up to him.

Looking at my 9 year old baby bro, I’d say every hour… but at least once a day.

@SamIAm
He says baths don’t even get you clean unlike showers, and a lot of people agree with that.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir
He washes his butt after using the toilet, obviously.

Okay, who is the mother in this family? You are the leader….you make the rules.

An active nine year old boy needs a shower at least once a day, maybe twice a day if he is very active and it’s summer. He may not smell himself, but other people do.

There is nothing worse than putting a dirty body into a clean bed.

Brushing the teeth twice a day is mandantory. Loosing all you teeth is no fun.

May a schedule and make sure he aheres to it. Use a firm hand. U R the boss.

Why not just have him bathe daily? Kids often are unaware of how dirty they get…does he truly smell like roses if he goes more than a day without showering?

I suggest you put the money you are saving on your electricity account now away in the bank to gather interest, you will need it in about 3 years when the frequency and length of showers increases markedly…

He should shower at least twice a week. However, he must brush his teeth twice a day to prevent cavities.

Your 9-year-old should shower as often as YOU say he should.