There is nothing worse than a screaming baby who hates bath time. Unfortunately, many newborns don't like baths because they can get too cold or they feel unsafe. But have no fear, there is a way to make bath time fun: take your baby in the shower with you. Babies love
being held close to you and the really love the spray of warm water on their skin. Make sure to play with your baby under the water while having some skin-to-skin time. Follow the steps below to make the best of bath time with your baby.
(1) Choose a time when baby is relaxed but not sleepy. It helps to have the same bath time every time you bath him/her. I bathe Mya twice a week at night right before bed.
(2) Get all your supplies together before hand; here is the list of things that I use.
* GOOD SLIP PROOF BATH MAT
* Two good quality cloth diapers and a receiving blanket, or three receiving blankets
* Two wash cloths (one for the face, one for the rest of the body)
* A few cotton balls
* Hooded towel
* Onesie or other undershirt
* Clean diaper and diaper rash cream
* Baby hair and body wash (if you use it)
* Hairbrush
* Lotion
* Baby Powder (if you use it)
* One hand towel
(3) Make sure to set up your workstation. I use my kitchen table. Place a receiving blanket open on the table. Place a cloth diaper over the blanket. Open the clean diaper so that it is ready to put on (or fold a cloth diaper). Open your lotion, diaper rash creams, and make sure that the onesie is not snapped closed. You don't want to be fumbling around with a wet baby. Also, hang baby's towel close to shower and place all bath supplies in shower, open and ready to use.
(4) If you have some one who can hand you the baby, you want to shower by yourself first so that you can really clean yourself. This way you can focus on the baby. If you don't, no worries, you can clean yourself while holding the baby, it just takes practice.
(5) When you are ready to bring baby into shower, wet the hand towel and place it across your chest. This will provide a slip-proof surface to hold your baby on while soaping him/her up. Also, make sure the water is not too hot and the pressure is not too hard. If you use a massaging showerhead, set it on the softest spray cycle.
(6) To wash baby start with the face. Use just a washcloth and water to wash her eyes first and then the rest of her face. Use the cotton balls to wash in and around her ears. Then use that same washcloth to wash her private area. When done, DO NOT USE THAT CLOTH AGAIN. You can spread bacteria. Use the other washcloth to wash the rest of her body. If you have a removable showerhead, use the spray of the water to clean her hard to reach areas like the folds of her skin, her neck, and her bottom. It also works great for washing her hair and removing cradle cap.
(7) Once you are done, turn off the water and immediately wrap baby in towel. You can place him/her in the sink for a short while to get yourself dressed. Don't worry about getting pretty, just wrap yourself in a towel so that you can tend to baby. Bring baby to your "station" and use the cloth diaper to PAT her skin dry. Don't rub, it is damaging to the skin. Make sure you get in her folds, her neck, and her diaper area. You want these areas as dry as possible to avoid the growth of bacteria and/or rashes.
Note: After putting her diaper on and lotioning her skin, I usually swaddle Mya in two receiving blankets so that she doesn't get too cold. I towel dry her hair and place her in the crib until I can get dressed. If she falls asleep, I leave her. If not, I get her dressed, read her a story, feed her, and it's off to bed she goes.
(July 2006) (
