Bath time...not a fun time

The boys hate baths. They scream, turn red and hold their breathe. That of course makes me put it off lol Does anyone have any tips to make it a bit less stressful for them? And for me too of course LOL


Dianna

 

Sofia hated baths and I figured out it was because she was cold. I cranked the heat, made the water warmer and added more so she was more submerged and she liked it much better.

Good luck!!

ETA: typos

 

How often are you bathing them? At one week I was only bathing mine about 2-3 times a week. They hated it at first and at about 6 weeks it got much better. I bathed them as fast as possible in the early weeks.

 

QUOTE(cohlee @ Mar 19 2008, 04:42 PM) [snapback]677939[/snapback]
Sofia hated baths and I figured out it was because she was cold. I cranked the heat, made the water warmer and added more so she was more submerged and she liked it much better.

Good luck!!

ETA: typos



This worked well for us too!

 

Mine hated it in the beginning too! I wound up bathing them about once a week. Newborns don't get dirty the way older babies do, so it's totally ok.

One trick I heard of from NICU nurses, though I never tried it myself, was swaddle bathing. You swaddle the naked baby, put them in the water like that, and just remove one limb at a time to bathe. The nurses swore by it. Worth a try?

 

QUOTE(Dianna @ Mar 19 2008, 07:38 PM) [snapback]677935[/snapback]
The boys hate baths. They scream, turn red and hold their breathe. That of course makes me put it off lol Does anyone have any tips to make it a bit less stressful for them? And for me too of course LOL
Dianna


It will probably just take time. Mine didn't like them at first either. I hardly ever bathed them b/c they were hardly ever happy ... and if they were happy I didn't want to make them unhappy ... and if they were unhappy I didn't want to make them even MORE unhappy =) You can also try to put warm, wet washcloths on them like blankets while they are in the bath ... to keep them warm. They will like them eventually ... then in like 18 months or so ... you won't be able to get them OUT of the bath to put them to bed! =)

 

You could also try the way they do it in the hospital (at least around here) and wash them under the faucet very quickly then wrap them in a towel. Really speeds things up.

 

I feel bad, they have had one since being home. Giving them on tomorrow. I do keep them well wiped down with just a wash cloth every day. I really hate stressing out the babies. I feel so bad. But I know they need to get use to it. Will see how it goes tomorrow.

Dianna

 

My nurse advised to hold their hands tight to their bodies (with one of your hands) - it calms them considerably. I spose it is the same as swaddling as previously suggested. They go from thrashing and crying to still frogs legs.
It def is an age thing - we were in the same boat but 4 months on and my boys LOVE nude and water!

 

QUOTE(Dianna @ Mar 19 2008, 10:33 PM) [snapback]678250[/snapback]
I feel bad, they have had one since being home. Giving them on tomorrow. I do keep them well wiped down with just a wash cloth every day. I really hate stressing out the babies. I feel so bad. But I know they need to get use to it. Will see how it goes tomorrow.

Dianna


Don't feel bad- they're newborns, so they're really not getting that dirty. PP's have had some really good suggestions. Good luck- like everything else, it will get better (and easier!)

 

When my girls were tiny I did a modified 'swaddle'. I bathed them in the bathroom sink (because they were too small for the infant tub). I lined the sink with a towel, filled it with water, then kept the baby wrapped in a towel and only exposed the part I was washing. I also cranked up the heat in the house. It wasn't until they were about a month or two old that they started to like baths (it was also warm out by then so that may have contributed to it)... Now my girls LOVE to be nakie and run away from me when I try to put clothes on them... I wish I had my video camera last night as both were running around their room nakie except for hooded towels.

 

Looks like you got some good suggestions. I maybe bathed my girls twice a week at the beginning, but wiped them down with a warm cloth (w/apricot oil) in between. Don't worry...they'll start to LOVE their bath soon enough!

 

I only bathed my girls once a week until they were about three months old. They didn't get dirty enough to need baths more often. I used wet washcloths in between when I thought they needed any extra cleaning. Don't stress! It's not worth it...

 

Well both boys have been bathed after reading all the great advice here Actually went pretty good, actually much better than other baths have gone. I feel like these are my first babies since it has been so long, over 11 years is a long time to not have given a newborn a bath and so on. We were dealing with them screaming, turning red and holding their breathe during bath time. Used the suggestion to keep them swaddled in a towel and expose just the part being washed....well it worked....had crying of course...but no screaming bloody murder ....big sigh of relief. It wasn't a horrible experience like it has been. They were not too happy but have been a lot madder LOL Thank you everyone.

Dianna

 

My quote button isnt working but ditto the cold thing. I had to make sure the water was at least covering their laps, and warm. Then shut the door and turn the heat up. Helped alot. Also I noticed if they are already overtired at that point, they will scream anyway. Make sure they are going to bed early enough, because that will make a difference.

 

I've started doing nightly baths and it has made a huge difference in how they sleep at night. When they are in the baby bathtub, I take a burp cloth and get it really wet with warm water and cover them with it and raise up where I need to wash. It keeps them warm and happy.

 

Mine hated baths at the beginning, it does get easier, they now love their bath!!

to begin with, I would bath them 2-3 times a week, now they get a bath everyday as part of there evening routine

Gald to see tonights baths went better

 

I have not read pps but mine hated baths in the VERY beginning as well. We only bathed them once or twice a week for a long time. Our ped. said it was fine and even better for their skin to only do it every once in a while. We also do sponge baths as part of our bedtime routine so even as they got older we still held out and only bathed on Sunday and Thurs. NOw they are almost 10 months old and for the past 2 months they have started to LOVE the bath. They come speed crawling into the bathroom when they hear the bath running and pound on the side of the tub until they get to get in it. We now bath every other day and believe it or not, it is fun for everyone!

I am sure it will change for you also!

 

For those who give baths at night to help calm the babies for bedtime, is it b/c it calms your babies or just wears them out? I can't imagine bathing my boys making them sleep better. We are thinking about trying massages. I got some lavender night time massage stuff. When we do put lotion on them and massage it in they do love it and seems to calm them. So we will see.

Dianna

 

my mom's suggestion.... put them in on their tummys then when you take them out to dry them -- also put them on their tummys. You could get your husband to bath them. You could try taking them in the shower (hold them in a towel). You could take them in the bathtub with you. they will get better and like it more as they get used to it. Mine are 4 months old now and having them in the bathtub with me is SO MUCH FUN !!!

 

I use to bathe my baby twice a week I used wet towel when they needed any extra cleaning.