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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to bring my baby in the shower with me?

181 replies

Flingmoo · 09/02/2015 22:02

He's 8 months old and I am fed up with being stinky and greasy where I seem to have no time for baths and showers these days, he sits, crawls and climbs things so can't just stick him in a bouncy chair for the duration. He's a light sleeper so can't make noise showering or bathing while he's asleep.

DH and I usually bring him into our bath but won't be practical if I'm home alone. Wondered if shower would be possible though as it's an enclosed en suite shower so maybe he'll just sit down while I shower? I could sit down with him... Anyone else done it? Or am I being completely crazy?

OP posts:

slithytove · 10/02/2015 12:32

Stairgate on his bedroom and playing on the floor? I'm sure his room is for playing even if the cot isn't?

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 10/02/2015 12:34

I agree with Purple, when DD was in the midst of separation anxiety I would never have chosen to leave her screaming in another room. Too distressing for both of us. She's 15 months now and more than happy to toddle off with other people/play with other children at playgroups etc so I don't think keeping her close to me at that time did any harm.

yonisareforever · 10/02/2015 12:34

My baby hated baths, I always took her into the shower with me. I soaped my hair first I think then rinsed off with her.

DisappointedOne · 10/02/2015 12:35

anothermonkey I did try out having her in a sling at one point, yes! But mostly just used one hand for washing body and hair while holding her in the other, limited hair washing to every other day (dry shampoo in-between). I once broke 3 fingers on one hand and couldn't get it wet for about 3 weeks - it turned out to be good training!

DD was sitting up safely fairly early.

We did zero baby/child proofing bar a gate at the top of the stairs and a lock on the cleaning products chemicals. Made much much more sense to me to have DD in the shower with me than rolling around in a room full of hard wooden furniture unsupervised.

DisappointedOne · 10/02/2015 12:36

Oh, and at 8 months DD didn't have a room. She still slept in our bed.

SistersOfPercy · 10/02/2015 12:37

I worked 3 nights a week when DS was small and was a single Mum living with parents who worked. I had a playpen and it was a godsend. I'd drop him in and nap for an hour on the sofa and then when he had his afternoon sleep I'd sleep.

I genuinely couldn't have functioned without it and DS played happily on his own for an hour from about 4 months to 2 years.

DisappointedOne · 10/02/2015 12:38

GotToBeInItToWinIt Yes, that's exactly what research suggests. At about 2 she'll probably become a bit nervous of people she doesn't know (particularly men). Completely normal and probably something where being close to her will show her that it's all fine and she can develop her confidence at her own pace.

ChangingItUp · 10/02/2015 12:38

I always stuck mine in his highchair-strapped in with a few toys in front of the tv with the bathroom/lounge doors open.

slithytove · 10/02/2015 12:38

Or if you say he is happy in his high chair, maybe buy an antilop best high chair ever to keep upstairs for shower time?

When my kids are a bit older (currently 23mo and 4mo) I'm going to do this. Have Ds in his gated room, dd in the high chair in the bathroom with me.

ChunkyPickle · 10/02/2015 12:42

I always put mine in the bouncer, or brought him in with me - he sat on the floor happy enough with some bits to play with, never had any issues at all (in fact, I reckon it helped out because he was less worried about water in his face)

Before he could sit I didn't generally take him in, because he got too slippery to carry - DP could because he had bigger hands, and a hairy chest for DSes to cling onto.

perhaps I should read some of the middle pages to see why people think it's a bad idea.

Rabbitsnap · 10/02/2015 12:44

If you don't want to leave him in his cot, and he is too big for a bouncy chair, you need to get a jumperoo/ jungle gym type thing. Both of mine have used it until age 2, allowing me to shower every morning in peace. The one we have has lots of loops on it so I can attach different toys/buggy books. You can get them second hand for about £30 on ebay, and I def think it is worth it.

DisappointedOne · 10/02/2015 12:47

"you need to get a jumperoo/ jungle gym type thing"

Erm, no she doesn't. She took a baby with her in the shower this morning and all was well.

Ever likely the baby and child equipment industry is worth so much money!

squoosh · 10/02/2015 12:49

Jumperoos are great.

DisappointedOne · 10/02/2015 12:52

Depends what you're using them for.

(We had one. DD was only interested from about 6 to 9 months, when she started walking. It was nicknamed the Circle of Neglect after being lent to BIL and SIL who had their little one in it for about 6 hours a day because it saved them having to interact with their child.)

GothicRainbow · 10/02/2015 12:54

When DS was 8 months (now 20 months) I used to take a shower before DH went to work, now DH leaves for work before DS is awake so he runs around the bathroom/landing/his room whilst I shower. We baby proofed the bathroom and his room so I know he's perfectly safe pottering about.

I totally understand why OP doesn't want to shower in the evening - we have a light sleeper and its a nightmare - sometimes even just walking up the stairs can wake him. I would never dream of showering when he goes to bed - way too noisy especially with the hairdryer on afterwards!

OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 10/02/2015 12:54

What do people think will happen if a baby doesn't spend a lot of time on their own in their cot?

Because my son really didn't spend any time alone before the age of 18 months or so, separation anxiety saw to that. At four, he's confident, outgoing, independent and happy. He's not damaged in any way.

This thread is weird.

GothicRainbow · 10/02/2015 12:54

Also agree that jumperoos are great! Mine was a godsend!

squoosh · 10/02/2015 12:55

'It was nicknamed the Circle of Neglect after being lent to BIL and SIL who had their little one in it for about 6 hours a day because it saved them having to interact with their child.'

Did they really leave their child in it for 6 hours a day or are you exaggerating? You do have quite a 'disappointed' and disapproving tone so it's hard to tell if you're embellishing.

Themirrorcracked · 10/02/2015 12:58

You can take him in the shower with you.

We don't have a bath so ds has been in the shower since a couple of weeks old.

He does exactly what you suggest now he is 10 months and sits on the floor with toys while I shower.

It cleans us both, he enjoys it, I don't have to rush at all and he doesn't have to sit and cry in his cot.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 10/02/2015 12:59

DD also wasn't interested in her jumperoo after she learnt to crawl at 8 months. It was only useful to us for about 2 months. I was quite disappointed as everyone had raved about what a lifesaver they are!

Passmethecrisps · 10/02/2015 13:00

We had a jumperoo. It was brilliant but far too much fun was had watching the bouncing to neglect.

squoosh · 10/02/2015 13:01

'What do people think will happen if a baby doesn't spend a lot of time on their own in their cot? This thread is weird.'

It is indeed 'weird' if you classify the ten minutes it takes for someone to shower as a 'lot of time'.

McFox · 10/02/2015 13:02

My 8 month old is also very active and he comes in the shower with me every day, he loves it The only thing is that he can pull himself up too, so I spent half the time telling him to sit down!

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 10/02/2015 13:06

Dissapointedone- this research you keep going on about I believe is the research which has shown babies who get their needs met and their cues responded to have better brain development and attachment? I don't think somehow a parent going out of sight got fifteen minutes to take a shower will impede this somehow

DisappointedOne · 10/02/2015 13:06

"Did they really leave their child in it for 6 hours a day or are you exaggerating? You do have quite a 'disappointed' and disapproving tone so it's hard to tell if you're embellishing."

Sadly not embellishing. It wasn't a solid 6 hours, but they'd stick him in there at every opportunity totalling about that every day, especially when he (eventually) started crawling and rather than let him explore they wanted him kept in one place. They had a large dog and felt it was safer for him to be in the jumperoo than where the dog might stand on him or lick him (all discussions about confining the dog to the kitchen or whatever went in one ear and out of the other and the concept of actually managing the situation was extremely foreign). DN has had hip problems from it. His parents are now split and going through the courts and SS are involved. :(

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