How to wash very little baby alone when they scream and writhe? Please help!

[Electricio]

Just that really. He needs a wash and I physically can’t hold him down to wash him. Any tips?!

A bath support and slosh some water over with a cloth or sponge. Or get in bath with baby.

Newborn? Is there any reason why you can’t put him in the bath, just an inch or two of warm water? He won’t do any harm wriggling in there.

Bucket? Kitchen or bathroom sink? It doesn’t need to be an actual bath.

I remember being post section lying my 9.5lbs DC in a towel on the draining board to wash their hair. Dry that, the quick dunk for the body. Only took a few minutes.

Just a wipe with a warm flannel?

Don't use a bath

Put a towel on the changing mat.

Use a bowl of water and different cloths for top/bottom.

Uncover body parts as needed wash and redress.

Some babies don't like being naked/cold so do it in bits - ie face/neck with cleanest water when clothed, then top half, armpits/hands and finally legs/feet when you're changing the nappy.

A bucket that you dip him into while you grip under the arms for dear life. Lift him out and rub quickly with baby oil as he lies on your knee, picking your armpit to cling to first, then reimmerse in bucket allowing his writhing to help rinse, humming determinedly all the while.

Wet cloth or in the bath with you.

In the bath with you unless he is covered in poo

How old is he? You don’t hold them down like, you support them on your arm with one hand and wash with the other. If he’s bigger than newborn get a bath support, or do it in the sink.

We used a bucket. They prefer it as they stay upright.do it on the floor though not on a cabinet

With my boy I found putting a warm wet flannel on his tummy helped - there’s a security to the weight and warmth that helped I think.

Also using a little bath seat where he was totally held and safe helped. Something like this - www.amazon.co.uk/Just4baby-Foldable-Adjustable-Travel-Bather/dp/B08776FT6J/ref=asc_df_B08776FT6J/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=435727765122&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7381744933384218216&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006964&hvtargid=pla-921745599729&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=104109507311&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=435727765122&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7381744933384218216&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006964&hvtargid=pla-921745599729

I think sometimes babies just feel very scared of the experience and need to be held tight, which is hard when they’re flailing!

I didn’t get on at all well with bathing him with me as I was slippery and so was he - just made it hard to hold him tight and keep him feeling secure, and I needed DH there to hand him to me and take him afterwards.

A bucket that you dip him into while you grip under the arms for dear life. Lift him out and rub quickly with baby oil as he lies on your knee, picking your armpit to cling to first, then reimmerse in bucket allowing his writhing to help rinse, humming determinedly all the while.

This wins my vote ^^
especially the determined humming .

The buckets are really good, just plop them in for a quick dunk. Alternatively a quick top and tail or bath with you. Remember that babies don't need to be bathed too often if it doesn't suit you or them. Good luck!

They're like cats don't like to expose their tummies I decided. So my babies came in the shower with me skin to skin when I held them against my shoulder they relaxed.

By the time they were crawling and walking would climb into the shower tray wanting mummy to switch it on 🤣

Run bath, get in, put baby on your lap. Adjust the water so their body is covered, and they’re nice and warm. Can’t drop them that way, nor can they escape. Have towels ready laid out to wrap baby in as you get out, so they can be cosy while you quickly get dry and dressed.

In addition to everyone else's advice, I would say do it quickly rather than effectively at first. Little babies don't know what's going on other than a change in situation - after a few baths they realize it's okay, and the resisting becomes less and less.

(I used the snuggle baby bath, which supports their back and helps them sit. Gives you a bit more freedom with your arm)

Angelcare bath seat so that you have both hands free.

You don't have to bath a tiny baby.
Lots of cheap flannels, old soft towels, a couple of colour coded bowls and a squirt of baby wash into warm water.
Get all your lotions and potions together, clean clothes, lay a big towel on the floor of a warm room and treat it as a game of two halves, top and bottom. If bottom area is soiled, use wipes to clean first. Give baby's hair a skoosh with a clean wet but not drippy flannel. Pay lots of attention to creases, and make sure creases are dried thoroughly but gently. Finish with a big cuddle and a sigh of relief.

I'd agree with wiping if possible - it's better for their skin. But I really rated the kitchen sink and maybe an inch or two of warm water. It's a much better height and more stable than buckets/baby baths. If you swing the tap out of the way it doesn't matter if they wriggle really. You can also tuck a towel over the draining board side so there's a soft thing for them to lean back against - it'll get wet but it's nicer than cold metal/plastic.

Thank you all so much! I have this angel thing but it seems so big as she’s not even a month old!!

im honestly dreading it, they hate their clothes being off and it will
be screams from start to finish.

Baby oil would make the baby slippy no?

I would be fearful of that.

Do people not use a baby bath inside the bath anymore?
Back in the day they didnt let you out of hospital until you had given the baby a bath on your own.

We used a washing up bowl and a firm supporting hold around the back and under one arm. She eventually grew to love her baths (but now as a teen would never wash at all if she could get away with it 😂)

No. You're encouraged to not wash your baby at all for the first week or so, or at least until their cord falls off

Veteran granny and mum here . Line the washing up bowl with a towel and full it with water slightly cooler than you bath in. Put that infront of the tv with something musical and relaxing on make sure there’s a big fluffy towel beside you aswell. and grin and coo at baby while they are sat in it . Mine always learned to love a bath pretty quick with this technique . The wet towel is a PITA to deal with but it makes them feel secure in the water as it’s soft and they are laying on something.