Newborn Baby Bath Time

[doctorwho2000]

Can anyone suggest the best way to bath a new born baby.

in a bath seat in the main bath?

in a baby bath on a stand?

in a baby bath on the floor?

in the sink?!

which is the most comfortable and easy for the mother/father?

I think we will use a bath seat in the main bath after 3-4 wks but slightly worried about when they are tiny.

I cannot recommend the Mothercare "Superbath" enough. Not sure if they still sell them as we got ours for our first born 5 years ago, but it's still going strong after 3 babies. It is a standard baby bath with "wings" that hang over the edge of the normal bath so less bending for grown ups and can be filled by shower attachment. My lo is now 8 months old and sits up in it now while I sit on the floor at eye level with him. It's been my single best bit of baby equipment.

Sorry fingerwomen let me be clearer for you:

It is a lay-back seat thingy that has suckers on and attaches to the bottom of the bath. The baby sits in there (albeit in a reclined position), leaving both your hands free. She does not sit up in it.

ahhhh was imagining one of those things that look like a seat off a swing. iykwim? lol
I just couldn't picture how/why you could get her into it and why it would make any sense if you had to hold her.
didn't know you could get a reclining one. learn something new every day on MN lol

Occasionally in bathroom sink but ours is quite big. In bath with you is lovely.

What we did most of the time when ours were teeny is run a very shallow bath in normal bath so that the baby can lie in it but the water does not come over their ears. All you need to do is keep a hand near their head in case they turn their face into the water (but ours hardly ever did) and you still have a hand free to wash them etc. Ours absolutely loved this and were soon kicking their legs vigorously in the bath!

It's true NBs don't need bathing that often but once they get used to it, it is very relaxing for them and they enjoy it!

LOL fingerwomen yes I do know what you mean. I also have one of those that looks like a swing for older DD. I agree my post did contain references to both, and I wasn't clear which went in what! (sleep deprivation what can I say!)

No need for a bath more often that once a week or 10 days when they are tiny. Most of them don't like it and it's not good for their skin so why do it? Sponge faces hands and bottoms. And heads if necessary. And no, my babies never smelt anything but delicious.

Gemy - just to add (sorry if I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs) but if she likes her ears under it's a good idea mot to use any soapy stuff or bath wash. Plain water's fine,but there's something complicated and scientific about the nature of soapy water which means that it can get into ears easily when plain can't. I understood it (something about surface tension) once, but I don't any more

Bathed my little one every night to establish bath time routine (looks like no one else did!) Used one of those bath sponges that they lie on ( in the big bath)and just splashed about a bit. your hands are free and you can wash and play. Dont know if this is anything to do with it but DS absolutely loves water. jumps into swimming pool on his own can swim (doggy paddle )back to side and is only 3yrs

Seeker no I did nmot know that - thx for the tip actually. We usually pop in some bedtime bath but will add it only after she's done her ears under thing from now on.

You don't really need to bath yet, its all very awkward because they are so tiny, they are better off with a good strip wash on the changing table. You def get a much better job done.
We moved on to using a lie down bath support in the big bath til about 6 months, once sitting up you can get a bath seat.
Good luck and enjoy