Touchy Aren’t We!!!

       Yesterday after reading a post about a woman who decided it wasn't necessary to bathe her baby every day or even every week! She said she was incited to write her blog post when she realized that she couldn't remember the last time she used her four month olds bath tub. After reading her blog post and checking out the recommended views of interviews she had I decided to publish my own blog post, which many of you have read 'Thank God Your Not My Mom' and shared it with my Google plus page and communities that I thought would at least respect and appreciate a difference of opinion, but I was wrong. Apparently member of Google plus 'Go to Parents Community' were not pleased with my objective points of view within a post I responded to by a fellow community member. In his post he linked the very same article by Claire Goss, but I guess when he asked for different points of view on this "outrage" he meant the fact that people, like myself, found it to be an outrage that people don't think it necessary to bathe children habitually or themselves. Yes, I realize that babies aren't as active as the rest of us, so they probably don't sweat as much and accumulate dirt and grime on their skins as toddlers and adolescents do, still they are human and they do sweat regardless of whether or not it is noticed. I had the same gentleman who I made the 'horrid mistake' of responding to his post take offense because I didn't agree with his point of view and from their began with condescending remarks like ' Well in the Caribbean its hot so babies would need to bathe, but we have AC'. After I kindly reminded him that the U.S Virgin Islands is no third world country and we do have AC as well as many other materialistic things (like Benz, BMW's, and we spend 'Benjamin's'), but I soon realized that no matter what was said on my part this was a lynch mob out to get the island girl. After a while I just became a spectator within the conversation as people continuously kept mentioning me in their condescending remarks, and honestly just to piss them off I keep repeating what we all in the Caribbean knows, not bathing your child regularly is NEGLECT. I guess they felt the need to justify their own actions for not one of the seven people leading this lynch mob bothered to comment on the discussion at hand, Claire Goss neglecting her baby a bath for over a week, but their own practices. Justifying their beliefs with the excuse that it may cause dry skin, well from what I've seen dry skin must appear if skin is not regularly hydrated; water. The pediatricians that advise parents to do this, don't say that they should, only that it's ok for three days out of the week, but of course the American people decided to take it to church and that is where it is being held. I sincerely would like to ask my readers, anonymously of course, do you all practice not bathing your child for a week or more like Claire Goss, and if not but you do practice it, what would be considered by you and your standards an appropriate ratio in which it isn't necessary to bathe children. Thanks for your thoughts and responses so far; looking forward to reading more!!
Please email me if it better suits your privacy needs @ usvi.childhood.learning@gmail.com .

Thank God you’re NOT MY MOM!!!

    This morning I woke up, and after finishing my motherly chores (cleaning up my baby, feeding him, etc.) I opted to check on the news updates, and see what was going on in the world, but what I saw really shocked me, and the reason for this is because no one seems to think there is anything wrong with it. Claire Goss, a mother of three and part time blogger, came out to the world saying she doesn't have the time to bathe her baby and that she does bathe him maybe once a week, but she does admit that she does go longer. I was personally filled with rage after hearing about it in an online forum and then watching parents advocate for this fact. How is it possible that bathing your child is hurting their skin? Last time I checked if they're not changed regularly they get rashes so how can they not bathe regularly? And why is the nation agreeing with such a mockery of parenting; we aren't allowed to spank children for its abuse, but letting them go for days or weeks without a bathe isn't a crime?

    In her blog post Claire states that her pediatrician's office says that there is no need to bathe babies daily and that it causes dry skin. I sincerely don't understand how bathing can contribute to dry skin, maybe the soaps or water being used but not the simple act of bathing. Also there is plenty of merchandise on sale everywhere that can be used to lubricate a baby's skin, organic, cheep or otherwise; lotion, Vaseline, baby oil, etc. Being that I am from the Caribbean, U.S Virgin Islands people seem to think that it is more necessary to bathe a child here as opposed to the U.S mainland, my question is though if that deductive reasoning was derived through weather patterns, then I don't understand how they would still insist that bathing a child in Georgia during the summer would cause complications or that it wouldn't be necessary seeing as the heat index clearly indicates that many states are habitually hotter than in the Caribbean due to humidity.

    I am a part of an online community of parents and educators, of which both groups seem to have slightly different opinions, but none are saying what I personally think they should which is "This is wrong:". Any advocate for children or a parent with a heart would treat their own child as they would treat themselves, with that being said how many parents don't bathe for a week or more because it may cause dry skin. I tried to reach out to my personal pediatrician, but they were unavailable within their office this morning and in the afternoons usually she's at the hospital. Child care is one thing that is done universally but in different ways. It is not my intent to 'condemn' those who choose alternative practices, but I would implore upon those 'modern parents' to seek knowledge in the area prior to implementing new practices and be prepared to be scrutinized especially if you have no reason for your actions other than 'Mother knows best'.

 

While I'm sure that the original blog post by Claire Goss and the Good Moring America interview are linked within my blog page I would like to share once more so everyone can get all the information I did before commenting. If anyone would like to discuss this further or provide any other insights they are more than welcome, even if not aligned with mine. Please comment or email me at usvi.childhood.learning@gmail.com

 

GMA Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_honYXGUc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Original post by Claire Goss http://babble.com/baby/i-dont-bathe-my-baby/

I sincerely don't understand what they found funny; mothers Usually know best but w/ there females I am not certain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_honYXGUc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Baby sitter not guilty in 4-month-old's death - News - Virgin Islands Daily News

Baby sitter not guilty in 4-month-old's death - News - Virgin Islands Daily News


Proper childcare is costly, within the Virgin Islands and abroad, but it is also necessary to ensure not only the progression of the children but their safety. My heart goes out to this family, I could never forget this story; I wish peace, solace, and justice for all loved ones who have lost.