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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Question about showering when you have a baby

41 replies

Clarabell33 · 01/10/2014 14:31

I've heard a fair number of mums saying that they can't put their baby (usually fairly young, but also heard same about toddlers) down long enough to have a shower (or go to the loo), both on here and IRL. I am pregnant with no experience of babies, and only limited experience of small children, so please tell me your experiences - is this really true? Is it every day, or just bad days? Or does it depend entirely on your baby's personality and/or their mood?

In practical terms, I take about 5min to shower, and a couple of minutes on doing teeth/faffing around beforehand and then drying off/moisturising afterwards - will it really be impossible to put a baby down for 10min? Do you wait and do it when they're sleeping and hope they don't wake, or do you just go for it and let them cry for a few minutes, or have them in the bathroom so they can still see you?

Btw I'm just curious and utterly ignorant, not trying to be contentious! Trying to imagine how seemingly small things will change next year...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Artandco · 01/10/2014 17:21

I just brought them in. They either came in bath also, or laid on folded towel on floor. Once moving I just shut door, add few toys and let them crawl about/ play.
If they are in bathroom and screaming then I just got on with shower as could see they were fine right in front of me and would survive 5 mins. Feed beforehand and most are happy to lay there or fall asleep

mrsannekins · 03/10/2014 12:58

I put DD in a bouncy chair on the bathroom floor while I showered, and sang her little songs and made silly faces as I went. Probably took twice as long doing that, but it kept us both sane!

Balderdabble · 03/10/2014 13:25

I've had one day when DD was attached to me all morning so didn't shower till about 1pm and one day where I desperately needed the loo so put her in the pram, left the door open and sat there rocking her backwards and forwards. And hoped the postman didn't come to our glass front door! Other than that, she's been in her crib, usually. I've learnt to shower in the time it takes for the mobile music to run out, but I've never once not showered at all.

weeblueberry · 03/10/2014 15:52

I always brought DD into the bathroom in her baby bouncer. I would just sing and talk to her the entire time and she was generally quite happy! I wouldn't have left her in another room while I did it I don't think...

When she got to crawling stage I'd put her in the walker and she's just bump about quite happily.

Now she walks and it's no holds barred!! I just shut every room door other than the bathroom so the only place she can go is the hallway. I put some toys in the bathroom for her and she's quite content to talk away to me while I'm in there. Probably because she's so used to it now tbh.

ChazzerChaser · 03/10/2014 15:56

Mine just lay on his changing mat for about the first 18 months. Now he potters around in the bathroom playing with things and watching me. I could take as long as I liked really. He's very patient by nature.

ilovemonstersinc · 03/10/2014 16:01

Ohh god I couldn't leave my 3 for long enough to shower. I have one once dh gets in from work. Cleaning needs doing first.
ps
mine are 4,1 and 7 weeks

ouryve · 03/10/2014 16:05

I just stuck DS1 in the carseat in the bathroom with me.

With DS2, though, I had to do it when DH was home, as I couldn't leave DS1 unsupervised and the bathroom was under his bedroom, so I woke him up if I tried while he was in bed.

The new baby stage is possibly the easiest, in that respect.

LBNM19 · 04/10/2014 08:08

Always used to bring my son in the bathroom with me, in he's bouncer he was always good as long as he could see me :) xx

Jenninlw · 04/10/2014 08:27

I never had any issue having a shower - I used to have one in between her early morning feed at about 6am and her next feed at 9am from birth as she always napped in between. As this changed I always waited until she did have a nap and then get myself sorted. I just left her in her crib asleep, didn't see the point in bringing her in with me as if she woke up it would only be a few mins at most. I almost always got to do my hair, makeup get dressed etc as well - my routine usually took around 20 mins. I think my dd was a good sleeper/napper which made the difference! If I needed the loo we have one downstairs so i just left her in crib/mat/bouncer while I went! Now she's 20 months she's happy playing while I get ready and just shouts for me if she wants anything!

FromagePlease · 04/10/2014 08:29

It's really simple and the same method applies for doing anything in the house; eating, cleaning, cups of tea etc

You either shower when they are asleep (either in the bathroom with you if you are worried, or in another room alone for 10mins), or they are awake and with you, or awake and in another room (bouncer chair, play mat etc in either option)

I've managed to shower every day since my baby was born. I made a pact when pregnant that I would do this. Really don't over think it, babies are pretty robust creatures and won't come to any harm occupying themselves for 10 mins

SpanielFace · 04/10/2014 08:54

When DS was tiny he came in the bathroom with me in his bouncy chair, or I showered when he was asleep.
These days it's harder (busy active 2 year old). Sometimes I shower before he wakes up, sometimes he just potters around the bathroom while I shower, but he's quite likely to be emptying the bathroom bin or dropping things for the loo . I often actually bring him in the shower with me (it's over the bath so lots of room and he has all his toys). He loves it, and means I can see what he's up to!

merrymouse · 04/10/2014 09:01

I think its harder when they start moving around.

I also used a car seat and my children found the sounds and light in the bathroom quite calming - even if they got fed up they weren't going to come to any harm, I was in the same room and as you say it is only 5 minutes.

It can be far more traumatic when you are stuck in a traffic jam and your baby is just incensed that they are still in this seat in this ridiculous box and what on earth do you think you are doing not pulling over this instant - but sometimes that is just life.

Darksideofthemoon88 · 04/10/2014 11:50

My DD (now 16 weeks) has always been fine with me popping to the loo or in the shower - unless I've really had to go the loo before feeding her when she's hungry, in which case she's cried. You can always take baby in with you as well you know - DD had her first shower with me at 4 days old, and she's always happily lain on her mat watching me shower myself once I've done her

Pregnantagain7 · 04/10/2014 12:24

I've never had an issue with getting a shower with any of mine (pregnant with dc4) before they were mobile they would lie on the play gym once on the move in the cot with toys. I would mainly have one first thing before dp left for work.

Allisgood1 · 04/10/2014 14:55

My baby is 5 weeks old. I can put him down happy for around 10 minutes. If you can get in, out, and dressed in 10 minutes then you can do it. I personally find that way too stressful so I wait for DH to come home and shower then.

Azquilith · 04/10/2014 15:02

Worst case scenario you can put a baby in their cot for 5 minutes. 5 minutes grumbling won't hurt them. I tend to take DS in now and he plays with some toys.

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