The latest parenting debate circulating on social media involves none other than bathtubs.
According to some parents, before giving a bath, you need to thoroughly clean the bathtub with a cleaning solution. However, some people claim that they have never heard of such a pre-bath ritual and throw their child into the bathtub without question.
So what’s the “right” way to bathe your child? Parents and cleaning professionals can also help.
Parents debated whether they should thoroughly clean the bathtub every time their child takes a bath.
The idea was picked up in a Facebook parenting group and later shared by TikTok user @mama_tiktok_here. In a short video clip, the mother revealed that one of the parents in the group raised the question of whether parents should flush out the bathtub before bathing their child.
The mother admits that she has never done anything like putting her children in the bathtub to give them a bath. “So I deep clean a few times a month, but not every night,” she says. “Am I the one who is crazy?”
Many parents were just as perplexed as the mother in the video, who said they usually don’t thoroughly clean the bathtub every night before bathing.
“Absolutely not. My bathtub is clean, but it’s not cleaned every night,” one TikTok user shared. Another user pointed out, “I feel like the chemicals on the surface before taking a bath contaminate the water, resulting in bath number 409.” “If cleaning means running the hot water a few times before getting in the bathtub, then I’ll definitely clean it,” another user admitted.
However, others could not understand do not have Thoroughly clean the bathtub before bathing the children.
“I was a mother of five children. I flushed the bathtub every night after each child,” one mother commented. Another user wrote: “I can’t imagine bacteria just growing and getting into it.” “Everyone who showers before the kids soaks their feet in the bathtub to wash the dirt off their bodies. Why don’t they wash?” another user wondered.
When it comes to bath time, each family has its own routines and rules, but many wonder how safe and hygienic it is to put a child in the bathtub without first washing it with a solution. .
The first thing to be aware of is the fact that bathtubs are humid environments that can lead to the growth of fungi and mold over time.
“About 10 per cent of the bacteria found in bathtubs comes from fecal matter, which dries and settles into the bathtub ring,” says Jason Tetro, a scientific consultant in microbiology and immunology based in Edmonton, Alberta. There is a possibility.” told the Washington Post.
While it’s important to flush out the bathtub if your child passes feces (which they’re likely to do from time to time), “unless you drink lots of water, you can’t get sick from E. coli or other infectious bacteria.” “It’s not going to be ‘bath water,'” Tetro says.
Even if bacteria are present in the bathtub when taking a bath, they will be much diluted by filling the bathtub with water and will not pose a threat to your child’s health. In fact, the chemicals you use can make you more likely to get sick. clean Steam from chemical-based cleaning products can irritate the skin and lungs and should not be used in bathtubs.
Instead, we recommend cleaning your bathtub at least once a week (not once every bath). Use products like baking sodableach, water and vinegar combination, add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for flavor.
These products are free of chemicals that can harm your child’s skin, lungs, and overall health, and are effective at fighting dirt that forms in the bathtub over time.
It’s always important to keep the spaces where your kids spend time washing themselves clean, but if you don’t clean the bathtub for a week or two, it’s not a matter of life or death. .
Most parents are just trying their best to juggle raising children, careers, and all the household chores. You shouldn’t be shamed or labeled as disgusting or unsanitary if you occasionally neglect to thoroughly clean your bathtub.
It is more important that children are clean and healthy than an inanimate wall.
Megan Quinn is a writer for YourTango, covering entertainment and news, self, love and relationships.