Putting baby in washing basket in public

[TottenhamCake]

im really keen to find a more practical and safe way of washing my baby (4mo) after his swim lessons. Washing him in the shower feels like a disaster waiting to happen. I like to get him washed there as well, as he’s so exhausted I can’t get a bottle in him before his nap, and hate the thought of chlorine lingering on his skin.

im thinking of getting one of those foldable laundry baskets and using as a kind of bath. The shower heads there aren’t fixed to the wall so this could be done. Will I look like a complete lunatic though? Or does anyone have any better ideas??

I think it’s obvious that the OP is meaning she wants to sit the wriggly 4 month old in the basket to keep them contained/safe and use the shower head to wash them.

I would also hazard a guess that she doesn’t get in the pool with baby therefore is clothed and unable to shower with the baby.

Do people really put such small babies in the pool for lessons and not get in with them? That’s madness. I’ve also never been to a pool where the shower head detaches

French swimming pools have specific baby baths with shower heads for this reason and I really think UK leisure centres should too - so much easier!

A 4 month old isn't having a swimming lesson alone!

I’ve never seen/ heard of any lessons where you don’t go in with them under the age of around 3.

Also never been to any pool with detachable shower heads, even when I’ve been to a fairly swanky gym.

Unless the baby has eczema or another skin condition, why worry about this?

It's far too much on top of everything else. Taking babies swimming is lovely but a lot of faff!

Just dry, dress, take them home and bath at night. What do you think is going to happen?

My baby actually does have eczema and we still don't wash after swimming. I cover him in his emollient and a full body swimsuit before we go in. Never had any issues. We just wash later in the evening at home.

Far too stressy to do all that, after swimming with a tired baby. I would enjoy the peace of the nap, and do a proper wash/bath at home.

I'm confused as to why standing in the shower with a baby for 30 seconds would be a disaster. The bit I found tricky (mine are teens and tweens now), was what to do next. I would be dripping wet and cold while I dried him off and dressed him and left him strapped on to the changing table inside the changing room while I changed.
And there would be no time to dry my hair properly because the baby would be hungry so I would drive home with wet hair.
I would honestly just take him home, let him nap and then just bathe him?

I'm trying to imagine how this would work? So I'm guessing your baby can't sit up unaided? So it lies in the basket and you crouch down and sprinkle water on it (because a laundry basket has holes). Perhaps a solid container (washing up bowl) would be better so you can fill it first. But then you are placing baby near floor (veruccas!) I don't know. I just can't really picture how this would be better than holding baby in the shower?

Some of them wriggle!

I wouldn't have had much success holding DD, wriggling like mad, trying to press the button to keep the water going, let alone getting anywhere near soap. I definitely would have needed both hands just to stop her throwing herself onto the floor.

The OP's option sounds a lot more low-stress.

So what did you do?

I was lucky in that DD didn't react much to chlorine, so I didn't worry. But the OP obviously does, and I do get that.

If I saw that I’d admire your effort but not judge you.

Would this work OP? Folds up and could leave the stopper out so the water flows out.

www.argos.co.uk/product/4635457?clickSR=slp:term:bath%20baby:6:17:1

The OP has stated the shower head is detachable. And believe it or not, some lessons only have the instructor in with the baby-other things exist other than what you know of, did you realise?!

I think that's genius! As someone who's had a few near misses with wet wriggly babies in the shower if you're not comfortable risking it then I think you've figured out an excellent way of doing things! Some people might think it's a bit extra but who cares - works for you and your priorities (quick, safe, not sat in chlorine, nap as soon as possible). No one else's opinion matters.

Do they not? Mine did, well actually from 3 months as they were very advanced 😂0 out of 10 for comedy my love

This is what I did. It makes much more sense than taking a baby bath and nicer for the baby because they are in your arms

I would also hazard a guess that she doesn’t get in the pool with baby therefore is clothed and unable to shower with the baby

A 4 month old swimming unaccompanied 😳 that’s a future Olympian for sure. Mine couldn’t even walk at that age.

I get the reluctance to stand in the shower with a baby, I always struggled with that with mine any time we were in a hotel with no bathtub - she was soooo slippery.

OP is there a reason why you can't just leave the chlorine and then bath the baby later on in the day?

Why do you think they're taking more time and not entitled to that? She's wanting to wash baby and maybe herself, everyone's allowed to use the showers for that.

op, I think it sounds great. I was always scared of baby suddenly wiggling out my arms and they had such sensitive skin but went straight to sleep after swimming so needed a good rinse.

I havent done it for swimming lessons but have done it when camping when mine were little. They were contained and aafe having little splash and I could shower, then put wet towels in the basalt. Easy easy. No one said anything to me but people do allsorts camping and tbh as the woman herding 5 young kids in the showers I wasnt really paying attention to anyone else. I just needed the baby safe.

We are also a sensitive skin family so definitely need to wash off properly.

Wow, what a weirdly aggressive reply to my post, which was not even directed at you.

I wouldn’t. Especially if he’s not sitting up yet. I think holding him under the shower with you is safer. I can’t imagine bending down to wash him and getting back to standing without having to leave him in the basket while you stand up which doesn’t feel safe in a slippy environment. I am quite paranoid about slipping in pools though. If a quick swoosh under the shower with you wouldn’t work, maybe a wet flannel for a quick rub down, or just skip the shower, dry and bath later at bedtime. Unless he has eczema or something and is reacting to the pool water.