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??

The Danish one we went to last year had the IKEA tubs available! But when ours were quite little we used the handwashing sinks and I’ve seen others do that if baby is slippery/wriggly

I think it's fine, so long as you don't put him in the washing machine.

If the mum isn’t in the pool for the lesson, surely she can still just hold the baby under the shower but not take a shower herself? I’m struggling to see the problem here. Sure, I used to stick my babies in the laundry basket for a few minutes while I got on with things at home (though they were definitely at the sitting stage by then, I doubt a plastic laundry basket is very comfortably for lying down babies) but it wouldn’t have occurred to me to take it to swimming! Just seems hassle really. I just rinsed my children at the pool to get the chlorine off. Proper bath later.

We had one of these for the bath which was brilliant. You can use it on the floor in the shower. But unless the shower head detaches I'm not sure how clean you could get your baby. We've always just done a quick rinse off and the a bath at bedtime. Even on holiday when we have been swimming everyday. And our child's skin has always been okay.

https://www.johnlewis.com/angelcare-soft-touch-bath-support-white-grey/p5057097

they have these at my swimming classes and they are amazing and its £8!!

Bath Support Seat – White/Grey – Mamas & Papas UK

Why is stepping under a shower with your baby in your arms a disaster waiting to happen? Its what literally everyone else is doing after the class. You’ll look a total lunatic if you take out a washing up bowl after swimming and start filling and swilling your 4mo around in it 😂

Surely if babies are very sensitive to chlorine it would be better to not take them swimming while they are still so young. Just practice splashing around in the bath at home would be less of a faff than carting washing baskets along with all the other paraphernalia that goes in the changing rooms . Then when they are older and skin less sensitive try swimming pool then. I doubt a 4 month old really benefits from swimming pools until able to toddle or sit up

Sounds like a much better plan than risking holding him and slipping over or him slipping out of your arms or putting him down and him falling backwards on a hard floor.

The foldable ones are quite small, aren't they? I think it's a genius idea and it wouldn't look out of place to take it in with you at all.

Really good idea, OP!

Would a bath insert work?

Maybe too bulky?

We have this in Germany as well.

I mean I think this is genius and I would have totally preferred to wash my baby properly once, at the swimming baths, then have to do it again at home. It's simultaneously most excellent parenting - removing the chlorine from their delicate skin, yes yes! - and SUPER lazy. I'm down with it, I would think you were a parenting goddess, and I'd turn up next week with my own.

At our swimming pool they had the cheap ikea highchairs in the showers secured to the wall so you could put the baby in them. Perhaps your place would buy a couple if you suggested it. Otherwise, is there a sink you could wash the baby in instead?

Are you afraid of dropping a slippery/soapy baby in the shower?

I go to Water Babies and all the Mum’s get out and shower whist holding their babies. Most don’t bother with hair washing, shower gel though.

In our pool the disabled toilet/ shower has an adjustable hand held shower.

Completely agree with this.
I would tell you off for this OP, if I were there. 💯

I couldn't be bothered dealing with a damp basket afterwards personally.

I hsed to step into the shower for about 30 seconds just to rinse the water off. Then come home and if my hair needed washing if it had got wet then i would leave it wet and wash it at home. I dont think you need to do a proper wash or bath after swimming, its much better to get dry and dressed as fast as you can and then have another shower or bath when you get in ir in the evening if you really need to.

Are you worried it will look like you don’t have hot water at home? I think it will be more faff than it’s worth as you’ll have a dripping wet basket to deal with because water won’t absorb in like it does with fabric. And will you be able to easily bend, empty and collapse it while holding baby?

Hard agree! Swimming with little babies is such a mega faff for very limited rewards in my experience (ymmv of course)….

Get one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hugs-Suds-Shower-Baby-Carrier/dp/B0FPMBPRGH/
The mesh fabric doesn't absorb water or soap so you can wash yourself and your baby without worrying. I agree with you OP I wouldn't want to try to wash a baby while standing in the shower myself the little critter might be so slippery and wriggly that I dropped him but a sling link this would do the trick and also lets you wash your hair while you are at it.

For what? Cleaning herself and baby? What about this is so problematic?

I can only assume she doesn’t want to get wet also?!

For being selfish and making other people wait longer of course.
Not sure what is so hard to see about that.🙄
You don't get to faff around and do whatever you like in a situation like that, it is incredibly RUDE!

She'll have been in the pool with baby though.