I am a proud 'unhygienic' mother; my kids only have to wash twice a week

A mother has divided opinion after revealing she only lets her children bathe twice a week.

Sharon Johnson, a mother of six from Utah, shared her confession on TikTok, causing many people to worry about the lack of hygiene.

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“Bath and shower days are Sunday and Wednesday. If you need a bath in between, then absolutely, but otherwise that's good enough,” Johnson, also known as @Sharon.a.life, said in the viral clip with more than 8.2 million views.

“I honestly just find it strange that people care so much about other people's bathing habits, especially when it comes to a complete stranger on the Internet,” Johnson told The Post.

Many people were disgusted by Johnson's bathing schedule.

“How often can they brush their teeth? Once a week?” one viewer scoffed.

“Very unhygienic… it should be mandatory to shower at least once a day,” someone scolded.

The mother of six children, ages 4 to 13, created a video series in response to the backlash, titled “Bath Gate 2024.”

In a follow-up video, the content creator, who focuses on mental health and motherhood, clarified her reasoning behind the shower guidelines.

“We live in an incredibly dry climate and all my children have very sensitive skin,” Johnson said.

“If they showered every day, their skin would be so incredibly raw.”

She admitted that lotion doesn't help her children's skin conditions, but they can always shower more often if necessary or use other hygiene techniques to freshen up.

“The older children are preteens and teens and are more likely to shower alone,” she added.

“I don't manage their showers, they can take care of their own hygiene.”

The American Academy of Dermatology Association has said that children between the ages of 6 and 11 can bathe daily, but it is not required.

Instead, they should shower “at least once or twice a week” if they are dirty, sweaty or have body odor.

“Bathing habits are incredibly personal,” Johnson said.

“You never know how someone else's body will react to soaps, frequent water, their health concerns, how they understand the climate they live in, or what their personal doctors recommend to them.”

Johnson chooses specific days of the week to bathe because Wednesday is the middle of the week and Sunday is the day the family goes to church. The shower guidelines help the busy mom stay organized with her daily schedule.

“I don't restrict their bathing or say they can't bath on other days. My kids get enough bath days, they just have to always take a bath on those two days,” she added.

Although she has faced backlash for her hygiene routine, some parents are concerned about Johnson's showering habits.

“My two children have received an average of one to two washes per week since they were born. I'll be right with you!” wrote one of her supporters.

“My son has eczema and his pediatrician advised him not to wash unless absolutely necessary as it dries out his skin!” another agreed.

The mother of six is ​​not bothered by the naysayers and appreciates those who support her parenting method.

“Reading all the comments, both for and against our bathing habits, has really fascinated me,” Johnson revealed.

“Are [intriguing] to see the conversation unfold and also a little disappointing that so many people can't fathom that not everyone in the world does things the same way.”

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and is republished here with permission.