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??

Well my DD reacts badly to chlorine, as do lots of others kids. She swam several times a week and needed to wash thoroughly as soon as she got out otherwise she would be sore by the time we got home and even if she showered as soon as we walked in our house, she would be sore in certain sensitive areas for days!
it’s also more common than you think, her swim club had several kids that put a thin layer of Vaseline on the themselves to protect their skin

@TottenhamCake who cares what others think?… if you want to bath your baby and get the harmful chemicals off their skin so when you get home they can go straight to bed then do it!
I wouldn’t look twice at someone doing this.. in fact I’d probably tell them what a great idea it was!
Do it… I bet there’s at least one other parent that copies your idea!! The other option would be to wash baby in the hand sinks

This. Plus as a swimmer I'd be really annoyed at someone hogging the shower giving their PFB a full on bath. It's inconsiderate and totally unnecessary. I thought at first you must have some kind of disability for showering with your child to be a disaster waiting to happen.

TBH i think baby swimming is nuts. Its totally unnecessary for such young babies, a lot of faff and tiring for them to boot. Just find a different activities to fill your days.

I agree with you 100%, @ZenNudist

A baby can get a lovely, warm, clean introduction to the water in the bathtub at home.

Yes, swimming with mum or dad from a young age can be lovely. But taking the baby to a class at a set time in hopes of any real learning is daft with a baby so young.

One of the OP's reasons to consider the laundry basket was the bad timing of the class - her baby is ready for a nap at the end of it and she doesn't think she has the option of a proper bath at home to deal with the chlorine, since his nap would be disrupted.

If she really insists on taking the baby to the pool, it would be a better idea to find a family swim time that would work better with the baby's nap routine.

Well, as a counter example, I took my daughter to lessons from a month old; DH continued when I went back to work; and I have never seen a baby so happy. The warm water, the lights.... she has gone on to enjoy swimming her whole life never mind if in a pool, a lake, a river or the sea.

It was a very positive thing for all concerned.

Yes my DS‘ eczema has always flared after chlorinated water. But a word of warning to anyone thinking of using Vaseline to protect a baby in the water. It makes them incredibly slippery and difficult to hold safely in the water!

Sorry I posted and vanished for a couple days 😂 I’ve been doing the holding him in the shower thing for the past 3 weeks but to be honest I am very clumsy and with how slippery he becomes with soap I just feel like it’s an accident waiting to happen

And respectfully I didn’t ask for advice on whether I should take him to swim lessons, we both love it so I am going to continue to do so.

This is why I love it, we have also made friends with some of the other mums and babies there

I wouldn’t think you were mad but I think in reality you are making more work for yourself as you’re then going to have to hold the wet baby, shower products and the wet washing basket which will be even worse

You say that but last weeks post swim nap had me up from 1-4am 😂

My kid never slept for m9re than 45 mins stints until he turned 2 (recently).... so i was so grateful for post swim naps 😂😂

Oh yeh, never let them nap longer than usual! Always backfires!

I wouldn’t be overdoing with soap. Mainly just rinse him under the shower head. A bit of shower gel at most. Then bath him properly at home

I used to use those flannel mitten things for after swimming. I’d bring them in a zip lock bag with a bit of baby body wash squirted on, they make holding the baby less slippery.
I’d have the pushchair right next to the showers with a fleece blanket and towel ready, wash the baby, bundle them up in the pushchair then shower myself.

Oh yeah erm I thought swimming lesson with a swimming teacher but you’re right! In this case I don’t get it!

Oh no op, just a rinse under the shower is fine. I’ve taken babies as young as 6 weeks swimming, my own and at work as a nanny. Rinse under the shower, strip and wrap in towel and pop in pram if you can have it in with you. Get yourself sorted then baby. Job done.

Would taking a bumbo seat be easier than a washing basket that you have to fill & then empty? You could strap him into the seat & put under the shower while you're in washing yourself down then get him washed while he's sitting in the seat. Less slippery & not being held at a height while you're both wet.