For many families, bath time is a struggle. For this reason, many parents will be glad to know that a daily bath may not be necessary for their kids, according to dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology.

“Depending on their age and activity level, most children only need a bath a few times a week,” said board-certified dermatologist Robert Sidbury, MD, MPH, FAAD, associate professor, department of pediatrics and division chief of dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine. “For children, a few germs here and there are healthy, as this is how their bodies learn to fight off bacteria and build stronger immune systems.”

To help parents figure out how often their child needs to bathe and wash his or her hair, Dr. Sidbury recommends that parents consider the following: