Firstly, I don't like that hospitals wash the babies so quickly with, no doubt, J&J baby soap (thinking it's gentle but it's full of chemicals!). I love the idea of rubbing the vernex into a baby's skin (my son was very ripe and had no more vernex :-( )!

Once they are home, I wiped his neck clean every day with a warm washcloth b/c of the stinky neck 'cheese'. I typically wiped my son down with a warm washcloth and maybe wash his hair in the sink but we only did baths a couple of times a week for the first six months or so. There's no need for soap. I've got dry sensitive skin and he had a bit of excema so I was not one of those mom's that did a daily bath out of concern he'd turn out with my dry skin. I have to say my son has always loved baths so I don't think infrequency breeds discontent of the water-- some of us are just born landlubbers!

As he got older, sometimes I would just put him in the water for play, or an attitude adjustment. During teething, or rainy days stuck in the house while he was bored, putting him in a nice warm bath was just what he needed!

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With my son, the hospital forgot us and we didn't get the obligatory 'how to wash your baby' lesson.  So he stayed all nice and baby smelling.

We just cleaned him up when we got home.

And yeah...top and tailing is STILL the way we go around here as much as possible.  Unless they are totally greeby.

They love baths and showers now...but I grew up in scotland with no fancy hot water tanks and we only did once a week hair washes and baths.  I figure unless they are rank or dirty...save their nice skin.

We only did the top and tail daily until he started crawling and getting dirty.  At that time, we gave him baths about 2 times a week.  Now, he gets a bath every night before bed at 15 months.

Every other night for my two kids and less when they were babies.  Their skin gets all dry.  We wash the dirty bits nightly (face, crotch, hands and feet).  Besides, too many baths waste so much water.  

my 90-year-old grandmother told me that i shouldn't wash my baby for a while but instead rub them down with baby oil. for the first week or so, this is what i did. it worked nicely, made the baby's skin all soft and smooth, and saved the stress of a bath. plus there are all sorts of people who say baby massage is a good thing so this fit that bill too....always listen to grandma.

When our monster was really little, he got maybe a twice a week quick warm water dunk because even with the regular top n tail treatment he still got kinda cheesy. That kid had stinky shoe feet even before he wore shoes! Now at 19 months he gets an every other day thorough scrubbing, but with minimal soap. More if he decides to style his hair with apple sauce or yogurt as he is known for.

Hey HDCS, I remember at about 3 or 4 months, I asked my son's pediatrician about his stinky feet (he too, had not been in a shoe yet but had that sour hue every once in a while). The ped enlightened me to the fact that stinky feet are hereditary so either myself or my son's dad had them. I had to fess up, he got stinky feet from me. As a kid, mine were so bad that the neighbors would put my shoes in the garage when I came over!

My little girl loved bathtime as a baby.  We had a Primo Eurotub that sat in between our double vanity.  It's a great tub that is molded to fit the baby's body.  No slippage.  I'd put one of those cheapy, flimsy towels (i must have gotten a half dozen for my baby shower) in the tub.  I would fill it up with warm water, place my baby in the tub, and then wrap the warm, wet towel around her body.  We called it baby spa b/c she would just lay there so peacefully.  She never once cried during bathtime...  not even the first time.  She did eventually cry every now and then once she became a toddler, but mostly because she wasn't getting her way.  

I did limit her baby baths to every 3rd day until she was one.  Then I went to every other night.  That's still our routine at 4yrs old, unless she gets really dirty.  Otherwise, we just wash up really well.

I have a friend (well, whatever you want to call her) that grosses out at the thought of not having a squeaky clean child.  Her baby has gotten a daily bath since birth, and now occasionally gets two a day (one shower with mom, and one bath at night) EVERY NIGHT.  It's ridiculous.

Our son likes baths, and it is part of his night routine.  He's 5 months old.  At first, we only washed him a couple times a week, or sometimes even once a week.  But we follow up each bath with baby oil or lotion and he really loves his 'baby massage' each night.  The bath and baby oil are great routines, and it clues him in that it is almost time for bed.

Glad to know I'm not the only slacker, especially when I have to do it myself during the week. Think I'll stick with my evry 3-4 days. We've found he kind of likes showering with us, though, since the air stays nice and warm. Wastes a lot of water, though. But it's fun to get all 3 of us together for some skin time.