Clean baby bottom, cultural differences?

[user1471523870]

Hello my fellow mums. I am from another country, but have been living here for a long time. And as a first time mum the British way is the only way, if you see what I mean.
I didn't think much of the task of changing a nappy to be honest: changing mat on the floor, wet wipes or reusable wipes, nappy cream, nappy, job done.
But after more than a year, when I visited my home country over Christmas, a friend offered to help me changing my little one at her home (she has two children herself) and did something different. Instead of cleaning his bottom with wipes, she flipped the baby, turned the bath tap on and cleaned the bottom under it with one hand, holding the baby with the other (not sure I can describe it well, but it was very easy). She pointed out this is standard over there and baby wipes are just for when you go out.
It made me think.... And now that baby is over a year old, I really like this way. In fact most of the time I make the baby stand in the tub and clean him with the shower attachment. There are lots of benefits:

• baby can't stay still on the mat anymore and there are less accidents if he stands in the bath tub
• so much cleaner as everything gets washed away
• no nappy rush from rubbing wipes multiple times a day
• no wipes at all, so reduction in waste

Not sure I have a question here, but is it something done here too and I wasn't aware somehow? Makes me wonder how many more babies should I have to completely master the art of raising one!

[GrumpyHoonMain]

Er isn’t that how we are meant to do it in the UK too? Wipes are not a substitute for water.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

Sounds like a good practice. Especially if there’s a blowout of poo.
It’s probably cultural, I agree with you. But also must be in a place with plenty of water to go around.

[Khione]

I'm uk, my babies are now in their 40s. Frequently did it this way. No baby wipes then anyway, it was bowl of water and cotton wool with baby on my knee - or straight under the tap.

[Onceuponatimethen]

I think your “new” way makes a lot of sense! Never seen another mum do it at a play date tho

[tryingtoconcieve1]

I always used wipes

[Cohle]

I think most parents have done that if there's been a total blowout, but I would certainly have found it too inconvenient to do every time e.g. middle of the night changes, or when baby is dressed to go out, or when out and about etc etc.

[user3274826]

Do you do that @grumoy? I've never known anyone do that and I've had three children in nappies and worked in nurseries.

OP, this seems very sensible. I think it would be intuitive in places that practiced EC, but the biggest reason I can think of for it not being standard here, is because UK houses traditionally have seperate taps for hot and cold (though mixer taps are finally becoming more commonplace) and because we have such cold weathers it would mean blasting baby with freezing cold or potentially scalding water!

I do wish more people would use cloth wipes and water though.

[Sunshiness]

I always wonder whether the bath tub then doesn't need cleaning each time though?

[AmelieTaylor]

Reusable wipes (dedicated facecloths) absolutely. Taking all their clothes off(at least bottom half), not a fucking chance -unless massive explosion. Bath every night though

[Duckchick]

Like others, I've done it after an explosion. It seems a lot more work than wipes if they've done a fairly solid poo though - it normally only takes 1 or 2 wipes for DS (8 months). I also think it depends on what they are wearing, you'd have to take socks off and with vest tops or dungareea they dangle down so I'd have thought there's a significant risk they get wet?

[JuanSheetIsPlenty]

It’s definitely a cleaner way of doing it. I think we should all have those bum cleaning sprays on our toilets to do the same tbh.

[JuanSheetIsPlenty]

For adults I men.

[JuanSheetIsPlenty]

mean

[dementedpixie]

I didn't change mine in the bathroom as it's too small so it would be more work for me to cart them up the stairs just to clean their bum. I changed in the living room and used wipes

[okiedokieme]

Water in a bowl and cloth wipes use less water than a shower head, I only used disposable wipes out of the house

[madcatladyforever]

I did this in the 80's because I couldn't afford wipes. it was much better not relying on them. Cleaner baby, all nasty uric acid washed away, less chance of nappy rash.
I had a utility room downstairs so would use the sink in there as it was not used for food preparation.

[Fivefourthree]

I used water in a bowl unless very messy 30 years ago. I think wipes are easy but so wasteful, and create more nappy rash.

[IHadADreamWhichWasNotAllADream]

I used wet cotton wool balls for mine (filled half the top and tail bowl with warm water and took it into the nursery) and wipes when out and about. I’m not one of those people who are paranoid about “Chemicals!!!” but it just seemed cleaner and not significantly more difficult.

I had to make a special request to nursery for them to use cotton wool and water instead of wipes but they didn’t seem to mind.

[fuckinghellthisshit]

I always washed in the sink - I can't stand the waste or smell of wipes.

[Danetobe]

Cloth wipes rinsed under the bath taps and put in the washing machine for home poos, wipes for out the house changes , baths for big blow outs. Ime I do think there are cultural differences, it's the same for adult toileting habits too.

[JuanSheetIsPlenty]

I can't stand the waste or smell of wipes.

Yes they’re a horrible smell aren’t they?

[WoollyMollyMonkey]

Bowl of warm water and some cotton wool is how I did it.

[Iwalkinmyclothing]

I used water and cotton wool, and then water and reusable cloths- not least because wet wipes seemed so harsh on newborn skin. Growing up all my aunties and cousins and my mum's friends used water, wipes were only for out and about when you had no other options.

[raffle]

I’m I’m early 40s and everyone I know, including myself used wipes.

[Standrewsschool]

My dc are late teens and we used wipes.