Bathing a newborn

[ANiceSliceOfCake]

Baby is 7 weeks and so far at bath time we've avoided getting water in his ears and eyes. Is this the right thing to do or am I causing problems for the future? Do you pour water over their faces and let their heads go back so ears go in? Thanks

If I remember correctly we had her head back in the water so her ears were under. Also poured water on her head but only if her head was tipped back so it didn't run down her face. Just used a wet flannel on her face.

Pour clean warm water down her face in tiny trickles, very gently. You can also shower with a baby and have them under the stream of water with you (watch out, wet babies are slippery!). A baby will blink the water away with no problems. As a swimming teacher, if all parents did this from birth, there would be no fear of submerging in the pool later on. Google Laurie Lawrence, ex Olympic swimming coach and now grandfather who is a huge advocate of water familiarization from birth.

Thank you. That's what I'm trying to avoid when he's older. I was terrified of water as child and screamed having water on my face. Thanks. I'll try trickling it over him. What about the risk of ear infections with submerging their ears?

Water trickles naturally out of ears, especially if your lo is upright, out of the water and having cupfuls trickled over her face / back of her head. Do dry ears well but just think how many ear infections you've had through showering, it's pretty unlikely.

Sorry, he. Don't particularly recommend submerging ears, infant ear canals drain less easily than adult ones.....