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Original poster

Bathing a baby - is everyone overthinking it??

51 replies

MrsRose2018 · 19/05/2020 21:37

So this is my first baby so please correct me if I am wrong but, it sounds like everyone massively overthinks bathing a baby?

We just had an NCT class discussing bathing a baby and I coincidentally read the NHS guidance on birthing a baby yesterday and it’s all

  • don’t take off all their clothes
  • first wipe their face
  • then wipe their arms
  • then take off their nappy
  • then put them in water
  • then wash their body
  • then wash their hair

Like I said, never had a baby but my mum friends, and certainly when I was a baby, just plonked their baby in a warm baby bath and then just....washed them?

Do you need this all rigmarole?

TIA x

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DennisTMenace · 19/05/2020 21:41

Definitely never heard all of that! Ds1 went in crook of my arm for support in the baby bath. Ds2 went in one of those recliner support seats in the bath with ds1. Definitely just wash, we never would have survived as a species if we had to do all that through history.

MoominKitty · 19/05/2020 21:42

For the first 4 weeks I didn't bath mine, just top and tailed and quick wipe downs, but after that I just lay him in the little support thing in his baby bath, it doesn't submerge him if that makes sense just makes him float, but I don't bother with all that you posted 😂 seems very long winded to me.

vinoelle · 19/05/2020 21:43

I don’t know I worry about them being slippery 😂🤷‍♀️

InkogKneeToe · 19/05/2020 21:43

I always did face/hair first, dry hair a bit then plonk in and wash everything else, purely for the same reason I wouldn't use my flannel to wash my arse before I wash my face

Si1ver · 19/05/2020 21:44

Yeah that's all a giant faff. My NCT classes were less than eighteen months ago and the advice was strip them off, wash them in warm water, don't be surprised if they don't like it, don't feel you have to do it everyday unless you want to.

rottiemum88 · 19/05/2020 21:44

Definitely didn't bother with any of that. Bought a shnuggle bath (best investment ever), put baby in it, sponged him down a bit, job done Smile

mynameiscalypso · 19/05/2020 21:45

Definitely just plonk baby in and wash here - first bath was when the cord fell off. That all sounds very complicated. The only thing I do is wipe DS' face first and his bottom last to minimise the risk of getting poo in his eyes. Other than that, it's mainly just a lot of hoping I don't drop him or he doesn't wee over me.

ScarfLadysBag · 19/05/2020 21:46

Yes, it's not really rocket science! They don't really get that dirty anyway outside of top and tailing them until they start weaning, really. We didn't even bother with a special baby bath, DH just held DD in one hand in the bath and washed her with the other until she was big enough to sit up herself!

Brenna24 · 19/05/2020 21:46

I just topped and tailed mine for the first y weeks. Then she went in a basin in the kitchen sink. All clothes off, no faffing around.

allfalldown47 · 19/05/2020 21:46

I never had anything for my 2 apart from something to wash them with. They bathed with me and I laid them on my legs when they were tiny, like a free, very convenient bath support!
I look at all the tat that is in the shops and despair. Your hunch is right, why complicate something so easy & natural?!
The only downside was that it was years before I could get the buggers out of my bath!!! Grin

Wheresthebiffer2 · 19/05/2020 21:47

It does make sense to wash their face first - with the flannel, before you put their body (bottom) into the water. Think about it.

I never used my arm - too scared of the slipperiness, and always used a little bath seat for the baby. They're adjustable, so as baby grows, you enlarge the seat.

Original poster
MrsRose2018 · 19/05/2020 21:47

Right?!

Literally I was saying to my husband yesterday that sounded ridiculous after reading the NHS info:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/washing-your-baby/

And then literally just now the lady was showing us how to bath a baby over Zoom (lol) and I was like jeeeeesus!

Like obviously make sure your bathroom is nice and warm and have all your towels and stuff ready so you don't need to faff and don't strip em naked till you need to but seriously...

Get em in, wash em quick and do their hair last as I hated having my hair washed as a baby and it used to piss me off apparently and ruined what was otherwise a nice pleasant bath time!

OP posts:
barneymcgroo · 19/05/2020 21:47

Mine hated baths when tiny until we had one with him. He just lay on our tummy like a little tree frog, and was so calm and quiet. Still loves baths, though a lot splashier now...

Original poster
MrsRose2018 · 19/05/2020 21:48

@rottiemum88 we've got the schnuggle bath as well :)

OP posts:
avocadoze · 19/05/2020 21:49

I just stripped mine off and dunked them in warm water. They are slippery but somehow I’ve managed to bring them up to a point where they washed themselves.

PawPatrolMakesMeDrink · 19/05/2020 21:50

How are they meant to be having a bath with clothes on? Getting a wet, crabby baby out of a wet and rapidly cooling vest sounds like an utter nightmare.
I just plopped DS in the washing up bowl, propped up on my hand. He hated it.

PorpentiaScamander · 19/05/2020 21:51

I vaguely remember being told that when ds1 was born nearly 16 years ago.

Whether I did it or not is anyone's guess. Grin

Selfsettling3 · 19/05/2020 21:51

Up to 8 weeks, wash face then hair and then pop in the bath. After 8 weeks chucked in the big bath.

Original poster
MrsRose2018 · 19/05/2020 21:53

Ahahahaha thank you these responses are hilarious and exactly what I was looking for!

Agreed wiping their face clean before submersion sounds sensible to avoid poop transfer but the rest??

Thanks mammas 😊

OP posts:
PorpentiaScamander · 19/05/2020 21:53

Well not that exactly. I think we were told to undress them and wrap them in a towel
Wash face with cotton wool and water.
Wash hair. Dry hair with
Put in bath
Wash
Dry and dress.

ParkheadParadise · 19/05/2020 21:54

Dd1 went in the kitchen sink.
Dd2 went straight in the baby bath.
Both of mine were born with full head of hair that kept on growing and growing. I can remember blowing the hairdryer in their direction which they both loved from newborn.

Bumfuzzled · 19/05/2020 21:55

When mine were tiny I used to get in the bath with them. It was so much easier than all that faff! They used to love it, it really calmed them. I miss those times!

WildCherryBlossom · 19/05/2020 21:57

Yup, pop baby in warm water and wash. I sed washbasin and / or sink when tiny. Got in the bath with them myself when they were a bit older.

bluebluezoo · 19/05/2020 22:00

I always found it weird that people come round the post- natal wards to show you how to bath your baby.

Sod breastfeeding, how to make up bottles, how to change a nappy...

Bathing is the thing you need to be taught Hmm

The strip wash thing is odd. Baby ends up freezing, crying and grumpy. There’s no need now as most people have unlimited hot water, and also babies don’t need to be washed every day.

Mine hated the wiping with cloths crap but loved a nice warm bath. It was my go to to calm her down, even as a toddler a bath gave us both a bit of respite at the end of the day..

Tootletum · 19/05/2020 22:00

That's hilarious. Just waited for cord to drop and then washed them down on a baby support thingie.