Today Amy is back to share with us her thoughts on making a large family bath schedule. I hope you find these ideas helpful in managing your large family! ~ Jamerrill xoxo
Large Family Bath Schedule
Years ago, when we were a small family, I implemented a Bath Time Schedule at the suggestion of a mom of many. It was such a help to me, even with just a couple of kids, that I have shared this tidbit over and over again with other young moms.
It’s a well-known fact among large family moms that systems make the household go ’round. We have laundry schedules and cleaning schedules, and homeschool schedules, and yes, even bath schedules! Having systems in place make things run on autopilot. You don’t have to think and make decisions for every little minute detail of your life.
For years, our bath schedule was Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, but as we added more kids and kids got older things changed a bit. My older kids now manage their own bath (usually shower) schedules, but I often have to continue to do a bit of micromanaging (otherwise known as reminding) up until about the age of 14. That leaves me with 5 kids under the age of 9 needing a schedule, so I typically divide them up by boys and girls and do opposing nights. Boys on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Girls on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Doing this makes sure our main bathroom (the only one with a bathtub) isn’t in use all evening long!
I also don’t wash hair every bath night. Friday night is usually “Hair Night” for the girls, and Saturday night for the boys, so they all have squeaky clean heads for church. I also try to cut the boys’ hair on their bath night as well.
Of course, there are mornings when baby has wet through her diaper or someone has wet the bed, and nights when the spaghetti supper or the mud pies make a bath a requirement for certain children, schedule or not! But, knowing that certain nights are bath nights gives me one less thing to think about, and that is always a welcome thing in this mama’s world!
Things to Consider When Making a Large Family Bath Schedule
- How many children need you to manage their bath time?
- How often do you like to bathe your children?
- How many bathrooms can be used?
- How long should each bath take?
- Are there any children who can double up in the bathtub?
- Do you have older helpers who can take turns bathing or dressing children?
Blessings,
Amy
Amy Roberts of RaisingArrows.net is a Christ-follower, devoted wife, homeschooling mother of 10, blogger, conference speaker, podcaster, and author. Amy inspires the hearts of weary, overwhelmed mamas across the world as she offers practical and encouraging advice to help simplify the path and enjoy the journey of homemaking, homeschooling, marriage, and mothering. Find her on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
