Guest Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 I just wanted to get some advice from some other seasoned mommies . . . the weather is beautiful and the kids just want to play outside! (Yay!) They are at the age this year where they really enjoy playing together and they really enjoy . . . getting dirty!!! Today my son thought it would be fun to give his sister a "dirt shower". :D Dirt showers or not, it always proves to be a messy time. Messy enough that I don't want them laying in their beds or traipsing through the house afterward. They played in the mud all morning. I fed them outside and then brought them in for baths before rest time. I normally try and limit their outside adventures to once a day - before or after naptime. With them getting older and the days being so long, though, I feel mean for doing that. On the other hand, I don't really relish the thought of two baths per day. (And naps are a necessity here.) How do you handle kids getting dirty and baths in your home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmacnchs Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 I let mine get REALLY gross before naps. They can get dirty on the clothes but no mud baths after naps/before supper so then we just need to wipe off with wipes. They have plenty of play clothes (well the girls do) so the laundry doesn't bother me. How do I do this? We put bathing suits on after lunch or go on walks after/during a rain after lunch. After naps, they are to stay in the front yard and I encourage playing on the swing set or tricycles... If, per chance, they JUST mainly get wet after lunch (hot day = just water play), we will wipe down (or just clean feet in bathtub) and they can have their gross time after naps and we will take baths at night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Robyn Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 I was thinking you could just hose them off and towel dry them before letting them come back inside. I guess that depends on what they're wearing. Maybe they could wear a bathing suit/swim trunks. If they feel like wearing pants/shirt their swim attire they can take the other clothes off outside, hose off, towel dry and come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Hmmm....I think I'm seeing more laundry in this equation... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 I use the hose and a washcloth to get him tidy, he naps in his underwear, and then it's back into the stiff with dirt clothes to go outside all afternoon. Before bed, he takes a shower. Costume changes and dry skin are my big problems, so Luke isn't allowed to change clothes a hundred times a day and I avoid soaping him up repeatedly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Honestly I let them play outside before nap, then fill up the pool with bubbles. Gets them clean, and my bed stays grit free. Then they play again in the evening with dad, and get a bath before bedtime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in OK Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Why not just get the hose out and spray them down. Then dry them with a towel. ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanestMomInMidwest Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 we're pretty rural, and have understanding neighbors (who are usually gone during the day anyway). If my kids are filthy I make them strip down and hose off before coming in the house. Doesn't happen so much now that they're older, and I never had a problem with little naked butts running around in the hose water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Ha. I feel pretty stupid now that I never even thought of using the hose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CroppinIt Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 In the summertime, I let 'em play and get as dirty as they want all day. If they're really icky, we have a hose outside the door for foot washing or general hosing down. Baths before bed are routine in the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 We hose them off before nap do a full bath before bed. Most naps are taken on top of the bed rather than in it, I just fold a sheet in half and they slide between the two sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2squared Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 My kids are outside almost all day, and they get very dirty. Seems like more dirt = more fun. We always have a hose ready and towels to go with it. Whenever they come in the house, they have to wash their feet in either the sink or with wet wipes that I keep by the door. If they are dirty enough, they have to strip down before they are allowed out of the entry way. Thank goodness my laundry room and extra bathroom are at the entrance! Now if you ask about entry way rugs.....those are always atrocious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scmama Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 My kids play outside in the afternoon, evening hours. They come in and eat dinner, or bathe while I'm cooking dinner, then we eat, and then some family time. Maybe a movie. Then bedtime. No worries about extra laundry, no double baths and no extra water usage. That's what works for my family. During the weekends they are usually outside all day playing, or helping me in the garden, or that's when we do our errands. If they go outside too early, they just want to spend the rest of the day inside arguing and fighting with each other. Its easier for mine to burn that excess energy in the afternoon/evening for a few hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropymama Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 We live in the city, so it's probably different for us, but we like to go to fun places where we can't get dirty in the morning... playgrounds, mostly, or museums, library, the indoor play area at the mall, anything to keep them busy and active. Then after lunch it's out to the backyard to dig in dirt and throw cherries at the fence (which is what the boys did today!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 I used to hose my children down before they walked inside. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Why not install an outside shower? It doesn't have to be fancy - even just a hose hooking up to some vertical piping with a shower head on the end, or better yet, one of the hand helds. If you run the hose out in the sun, the water in the hose will be nice and warm - maybe even add an extra hundred or so feet to have more warm water available. I'd also suggest letting them play in swimsuits so clean up time is really easy. An outside rinse off shower, or if you enclose it and provide actual hot water, they can do a full shower and be clean for going inside. Hmmm ... maybe a 3/4 bath wouldn't be a bad idea to eliminate running through the house during the day. Just have plenty of shut offs so you can easily shut it down for the winter months. As long as you're doing this, maybe make it part of a cabana with a changing area, and as long as you've got the cabana, a pool might be nice. ... or you could just give them a hose to rinse off. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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