Newborn hates bath

[LoveYouHoneybear]

Baby is 4 weeks and screams every time we bath her! Had the water at 37 degrees and then upped it to 39 which she seemed to like better... But it still ended in a massive cry. Any advice here? TIA!

Should also say that I go in the bath with her and hold her in my arms/a baby-shaped sponge.

Stop bathing her. Try it again in a few weeks.

It's normal she might grow out of it.

Give it time! Loads of them hate baths, it’s not always the idyllic experience you imagined. And they’ll go through phases too: love it, hate it, scream at it, poo in it, drink it, hate it, love it...

She won’t need a bath most of the time unless there’s been a poonami. Cross it off your to-do list for a while and try again some other time.

She's 4 weeks old, they hate everything at some point. Very normal, nothing to worry about. Strip wash her if you'd prefer, won't do any harm.

Mine hated it at first too! I used to just make it quick.
After a while she liked it. I think it's pretty normal.

My GS did at first. He is two now and cries to go in, he loves it.

These are excellent ( or similar ) baby doesn’t lie down or back and at 4 weeks can rest against your arm. Mine didn’t like the sensation of lying back. She loved this.

www.amazon.co.uk/Shnuggle-Baby-Bath-White-backrest/dp/B084PP9W5F/ref=asc_df_B084PP9W5F/?hvlocphy=1006901&hvlocphy=1006901&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvnetw=g&hvadid=435764429196&hvadid=435764429196&hvpone&hvpone&hvlocint&hvlocint&ref&th=1&hvpos&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-920524310142&hvtargid=pla-920524310142&hvrand=14828397928036224369&hvrand=14828397928036224369&adgrpid=101204935637

Also maybe have a look at tummy tub buckets for new borns. They were invented by midwives.

@LoveYouHoneybear Our daughter HATED baths. She'd scream and cry to the point she would be sick. She really didn't like her baby bath and she wasnt keen on being in the bath with me. We started filling the actual bath up but left it shallow so she could lay down in it. When putting her in, we dipped her feet in first and the slowly lowered her in and now she's a real water baby! Hope this helps

@LoveYouHoneybear And a bubble machine helped too. Think it distracted her!

Mine hated the bath. We started washing her in a washing up bowl and she loved that as not as big. She now stays in the bath until she resembles a prune and I have to bribe her to get out 😂 x

Mine hated baths at that age and we ended up taking her out of the newborn sling attachment on the baby bath and submerged her more in the water - turns out she was just cold!

Yeah, I'd agree with not using the big bath, it must be such a faff and neither of you are enjoying it. They feel more secure with solid walls behind the water.
I used the bathroom basin for a few months.

Maybe try a different time of day. Evenings can be tearful times with small babies. Otherwise strip wash until she is keener.

39 is too hot. Try a flannel over her to keep her warm.

Lots of people like baths like these. Helps free your hands a bit to wash them.

www.argos.co.uk/product/3287851

Don’t bother, My first born hated the bath so I would undress her on the changing mat and wipe her over. What’s the difference?

The shnuggle bath recommended above is the BEST! It is the thing I would gift any new mum (that I knew well enough to know hadn't bought a bath) and the best thing we bought for our kids (DC3 en route). Makes bathtimes soooo much easier.

If they still hate it then you can whip them out and its taken you all of 5 mins to run! Plus you can use it anywhere.

Agree that evening might not be the best time. Get them used to it during an easy going part of the day and then you can move it to evening if you want a bedtime routine. But don't stress, if they still hate it then stop for a while and try again later.

Mine only liked it when I covered her in a flannel. She was a Victorian baby very modest!

DD hated the bath when she was newborn. I bathed her as little as possible and made them quick. Over time she started to enjoy them.
She preferred it slightly warmer and I'd put a flannel on her tummy and pour water on it with my hand to keep it warm.
I just used a baby bath in the lounge which was nice and warm and made sure her towel was ready to wrap her up when we were finished.

Ah most newborns hate the bath!

I had a Shnuggle bath for both of mine they loved that! Gives you both hands free too and when they're a bit bigger (and have stopped hating it) they can have a little kick and splash around in there too whilst being more sat up. Managed to sell it on easily after too.

@Littlepaws18

Mine only liked it when I covered her in a flannel. She was a Victorian baby very modest!