Feel like you’re fumbling your way through bath time? Don’t despair – it’s a problem easily solved.
After the comedy of errors that was our daughter’s first ever bath, my partner and I seriously wondered why we’d been left in charge. But like any new skill, bathing your baby becomes a whole lot easier when you’ve got the basics under your belt.
Try these tips for size and you’ll not only get the job done but you’ll have fun in the process.
1. Choose your moment – with young babies there’s no need for a strict bath schedule. It’s better to go for a time that suits you both i.e. when you’re feeling reasonably rested and bub isn’t hungry or tired. If this happens to be in the middle of the morning or afternoon that’s fine – you can start incorporating a bath into bub’s bedtime routine as he gets bigger.
2. Do not disturb – it’s a good idea to minimise interruptions so take the home phone off the hook, switch off your mobile and if the doorbell goes just ignore it. This will save you manhandling bub out of the bath only to find someone selling mops door-to-door.
3. Pick your place – when bub’s very little you may prefer to use a baby bath on the kitchen table or even the kitchen sink. While you’re still getting used to handling your baby, it helps if you can avoid the kneeling, leaning and twisting that goes with using a regular bathtub – and the last thing you want is to put your back out.
4. Ready for action – placing everything you need within easy reach is the best recipe for bath time success. Once you’re holding bub in the bath you’ll only have one hand to work with too, so unless you’re particularly nimble fingered, going for a pump action baby wash will also make life easier.
5. Get a good grasp – wriggly babies soon turn into slippery little fish in the bath, so you’ll need to master the art of a secure grip. Slip one arm around the back of his neck to support his head and then grasp him securely under the arm furthest from you. With your other hand supporting his bottom, lower him gently into the bath feet first – you can then free up that hand for washing.
6. Top to toe – it’s a good idea to start from the top down while the water’s clean and then move on to the dirtier parts. While you and bub are still getting used to the bath, you can even do his face and eyes before you put him in the bath and make sure to give his bum a good clean if his nappy’s dirty.
7. Warm and cosy – no one likes to take a bath with a cold draught blowing through the room. To keep bub happy, make sure the room is a comfortable temperature and the bath water is a warm 36 degrees and deep enough to cover his shoulders. Once he’s in, keep sloshing water over his chest and belly to keep him warm – another option is to soak a flannel in the water and then lay this across his chest, which also helps him feel secure.
8. Don’t force it – if despite all your preparation bub is just not having a good time, singing and talking in a soothing voice will sometimes help. But, if not, don’t stress. Just make it a quick top and tail and try again another day. Until they start wriggling and crawling on the floor, babies only need a wash two or three times a week and it’s no biggy if you miss a few bath times.
These tips should help to boost your bath care confidence and help things to run more smoothly, but regardless of how you get on in the early days, the chances are your bub will come to love their baths. These one-on-one moments provide a great opportunity to bond with one another and when you start to bring bath toys into the mix you’ll both enjoy some serious playtime too.
This story was first published on the Bubs Australia blog in Oct, 2016.
