Clean baby bottom, cultural differences?

[user1471523870]

Hello my fellow mums. I am from another country, but have been living here for a long time. And as a first time mum the British way is the only way, if you see what I mean.
I didn't think much of the task of changing a nappy to be honest: changing mat on the floor, wet wipes or reusable wipes, nappy cream, nappy, job done.
But after more than a year, when I visited my home country over Christmas, a friend offered to help me changing my little one at her home (she has two children herself) and did something different. Instead of cleaning his bottom with wipes, she flipped the baby, turned the bath tap on and cleaned the bottom under it with one hand, holding the baby with the other (not sure I can describe it well, but it was very easy). She pointed out this is standard over there and baby wipes are just for when you go out.
It made me think.... And now that baby is over a year old, I really like this way. In fact most of the time I make the baby stand in the tub and clean him with the shower attachment. There are lots of benefits:

• baby can't stay still on the mat anymore and there are less accidents if he stands in the bath tub
• so much cleaner as everything gets washed away
• no nappy rush from rubbing wipes multiple times a day
• no wipes at all, so reduction in waste

Not sure I have a question here, but is it something done here too and I wasn't aware somehow? Makes me wonder how many more babies should I have to completely master the art of raising one!

WoollyMollyMonkey Tue 31-Mar-20 15:23:53
Bowl of warm water and some cotton wool is how I did it.
......
Yes, that's what I did.

I always did this too. Wipes were strictly for going out as I hated the smell and the waste. DH used to use them for wiping his (and kids') hands before eating when we were out and the smell put me off my food!

I’d be wary of having long involved discussions of cleaning up children with a new poster with a number username?

Sounds sensible! I guess there's cultures where adults don't wipe their bottom and use bidets or those "toilet shower" attachments.

We used cut up j cloths and water. I think my mother used to wipe off the worst with the clean bit of nappy then use cotton wool when siblings were little then wash them when older although there was less pooing in nappies then, as they used to get sat on the pot from a young age.

We were told, at least until 20 years ago when I did it last, that all a baby needs is warm water and cotton wool (presumably the latter was because most people at least initially have an aversion to baby poo on their hands). I know there were times when DD just got dunked in the bath/sink - didn't have a mixer tap - because there was just so much to deal with - she never got nappy rash.

But even though they were available, most wipes felt like they were made of pure acid to my skin, never mind hers - the only ones that could be used without a reaction were Johnson's.

I'd definitely agree that we need better hygiene in this country, too - my ideal situation would be a Japanese style toilet for that reason.

"...she flipped the baby, turned the bath tap on and cleaned the bottom under it with one hand, holding the baby with the other (not sure I can describe it well, but it was very easy). "

I did that too but I would have thought everyone did when they are at home or at grandparents.

Some of us managed to raise an entire family without using wipes!

Long before wipes we used cotton wool and baby lotion when out for the day, Cotton wool and water at home. Op you’ve not discovered anything new, you’ve discovered something old!

A wet face flannel in a sandwich bag worked just as well for sticky fingers on day trips.....yet somehow Greta Funsponge tries to blame me For destroying her planet!

Washing a baby with water really isn’t a discovery.

I’m not sure poo should be going down the same place as grey water. Yes I know it’s just a bit of baby poo but it’s the if everyone dies it arguemrnt.

Wash with a bowl is all good.

I always used wipes with my two unless there was a poo explosion. If I were to have another one (no chance!) then I would wash under the tap for environmental reasons.
Although I have to say I was horrified when I went to my brother in laws and he washed my nieces shitty bottom under the kitchen tap. We had just eaten lunch there too 🤢

I only used wipes very rarely when out and about with mine. Exclusive water wash otherwise. In UK but from different country. I thought that’s what everybody does all over the world.
I never liked the idea of wipes so used my stock for cleaning skirting boards in the end 😂😂

Yes, I think it's cultural. People in my culture will wash baby's bottom in the basin at home, but use naps out and about.

I'm late 50s and I think wipes had just been invented when I had my two. HV and midwives told me absolutely not to use them as they were bad for the babies skin. Perhaps they are kinder now?

We do it for explosions but otherwise now she's on solids there's often very little 'residue' left, so one reusable wipe usually handles it. Non-reusable wipes are not very effective, though. I had to use some on holiday recently and they just smeared the crap around. I felt like I used half a pack per poop.

I used to pop mine in the bidet. Ancient bathroom, don't think they're common now.

Yes I have done this, and used cotton wool and used cloth wipes and disposable wipes. There is more then one way and there is no right or wrong, but some ways are more convenient then others. I work in a nursery and believe me there are times I wished I could just wash the baby like that. But most time not needed. Not a cultural thing either.

Oh wow so many replies! And this conversation is getting very interesting. It does indeed make me wonder what else I took for granted and could be done in another way.

To the poster worried about my username, sorry for that! I promise I am a real normal person! When I set up my account few years ago I didn't notice I could customize my username and left the default one. Now I have no idea how to change it! Not sure if you can read my previous posts or replies, to check if I am real?

I'd be scared of the baby falling and whacking their head on the bath/wall/tap. But then I don't have good mobility or arm strength and had very wriggly babies and toddlers!

I filled a plastic box of water each morning and used cloths to clean mine, at home - wipes just for when out and water was unavailable or I ran out of cloths (I used washable nappies so the cloths and the nappies went in nappy sacks until I got home).

I used wipes when out and bowls of water (dirty / clean) and cloth when at home. The cloths were rinsed and put into the hot wash. DC never had a rash.
I also used sunflower oil to clean the folds (DD had fat little legs) and prevent soreness.

We use a bowl of warm water and cloth wipes for poo, and shower is lying on the changing mat on the shower tray and we use the hand held shower on a gentle setting and wash all over. Hopefully overall water and energy efficient.
We don't usually have to shower during a normal change but we have done where necessary. I heard it's harder on girls than boys to deal with.