Baths and STTN

My kids are now sleeping well through the night (tg) but, I bathe them every night. I am trying to work up the courage to take care of them by myself but that is almost impossible if i have to bathe them myself every night. DH works late a lot. Does bathing have anything to do with them STTN or can I cut the baths down to three times a week. Skin is also getting a little dry. Thanks for your advice.

 

Three times a week would probably be fine for a bath. I have no idea if it will make a difference in their sleep habits. Only one way to find out! Good luck!

 

I doubt it will make a difference. Maybe rub them down with lotion to relax them on the nights that you don't do baths?

 

my boys get a bath every other night. jacob on monday, owen on tuesday, jacob on wednesday, etc etc etc. they're not out digging ditches so i don't feel like it's a hygiene problem to go every other day, and it means bedtime routines are shorter because it cuts bathtime in half.

 

I don't know how old your babies are but here's what works for me. I put on baby einstien and take them one at a time to bath. They are so entranced by the video that they never whine when it's not their turn. I do it by myself. I am a big fan of routine. I have been doing this since about 6 months.

 

I actually don't bathe mine at night - I know this is "supposed" to be part of a bedtime routine but due to dh and I's schedule and mainly w/ him getting home and dinner it just works out better to do it in the am. I will probably do baths in the evening eventually but as of now we have no issues w/ sttn. I usually bathe them after their morning feeding/short playtime. I then dress them after the bath and we do another longer playtime, read stories, then I leave them a while to play on their playmat, swing in there swings, etc. At the end of the day after their evening feeding if dh is home we spend time with them holding & talking/playing w/ them until around 7pm then get them ready for bed. If he's not home I do the same just shorter since I have to put both to bed. We then put them in their sleep sacs, turn on the mobile, and they are sleep in no time.

 

I also rarely bath mine at night, I have 2 older kids and it takes long enough to get them bathed or showered. Especially if dh is working his long week (he works 3 days one week, 7 the next), I end up bathing them myself and it's easiest to do it right after their morning bottle, when they are both happy, fed, in good moods and more willing to chill on my bed while I bath their twin!

Mine have been STTN since 3 months old without bathing.

 

my duo was STTN at 7-8 wks and it was because we were bathing them every night. We would bathe them 1 night and then they would STTN, then the next we didn't bathe and they didn't STTN. We were always too nervous when they were really little not to bathe them at night to see if it really was it.

Now that they are older and have been STTN for several months, we didnt' bathe them one night and they still STTN. But again i was too scared not to at 1st.. I needed my sleep too much.

Maybe try it one night and see how it goes..

 

I've never bathed my LO's every night, yet they STTN and have for 4+ months. :lol: I think you could wean them to STTN w/o having to have a bath first. My LO's get lubed up with Vanicream lotion, dressed in their jammies, and then put into their sleep sacks at bedtime. Sleep sacks are only for bedtime so it's our little routine I guess.

I bathe them one at a time. I put one in the excersaucer in the bathroom with us and then swap them when it's the other babys' turn for a bath. Works great.

 

We bathe both babies every other night and I have never noticed a connection between bathing and STTN.

 

I have bathed the girls every night alone since they were 3mths old and i actually find it easier on my own than when DF is hand "helping out" that said mine do not sttn every night. If your not comfortable doing it i don't see the harm in trying it one night to see how they do? Like Becky mentioned lotions and pj's instead of will probably be a good replacement but honestly try doing the baths yourself one day i think you will surprise your self at how easy it is on your own.

 

My girls are 6 mos old and we are on week 3 of them STTN. We bathe every other night. I am finding it hard as I also have a 2.5 yr old boy who gets dirty alot at daycare. Any advise from other Mommies of more than 1 child?