Bathtime Follow Up

We've had such a tough time bathing our little ones. At first we did it in the baby bathtub on the dining room table, but it was too drafty and they got cold. The way our kitchen and bathroom sinks are situated, we can bathe them there. So I've been trying to do it in the baby bathtub in our bathtub. But, MAN, MY ACHING BACK! I am still using the infant sling, as I cannot hold them up at that angle. I think they'd be happier covered with more water, but I can't do it until they sit up. So I hunch over the tub and wash them, knees and back aching. Then I take them out, wrap them up and lay them on a towel on the floor to diaper and dress. That's not so good for the ole knees and back either, but it's warm in the bathroom and I don't want to take them out while they are wet. (we also have a very narrow bathroom, with no room for a table or anything.).

So how do you do it? Any advice for making it less painful for me and more pleasant for them? I would do it more often if it wasn't such a strain!

Thanks!

 

Maybe you could sit on a step stool or something.

 

At this age, I'd take a bath WITH them. I'd get in, DH would bring me a baby, I'd wash 'em up, then we'd trade out for the other. You can also use more water this way, so they're staying warmer. And once they can sit up fairly well on their own- I HIGHLY recommend getting one of those inflatable duck bath tubs. THEY ROCK! We started just letting them take baths in their plastic infant tub in our tub, or just in our tub w/ an inch of water, well not only was it bad on our back, but whenever they'd lean back or to the side, we'd risk them slipping in and hitting a hard surface. THe duck tub lets them play more, and they can move around some and wont' get hurt. Plus, I don't have to fully keep my hands on them for protection during bathing or play time- so I can just kinda sit next to the tub, and it's MUCH MUCH easier on my back! :good:

 

Ugh, baths are the bain of my existence! We were pretty lucky in the beginning. We have double sinks in our bathroom, we the infant tub fit perfectly between them. So I could stand very comfortably and bathe one with the water running and it all went very well. Fast forward to my big son not fitting in the tub anymore! We bought those bathrings that they sit in and hook over the side of the tub. DH and I were excited because we could give them baths together, instead of one after the other, but this idealism was only because we hadn't done it yet. All I can say is "Oh my aching back!". Unfortunately, I don't know if there is an answer. We bought those tubside kneelers, and although it makes it slightly easier on the knees, it does nothing for my back! I have no advice, I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone. It must be new moms that are keeping chiropractors in business!

 

I've always done it in the kitchen sink. First before they could sit up - I'd put baby tub in the sink - now that they sit up, I have them just sit in the sink - first I put a towel / cloth diaper on the bottome to avoid slipping, but now I use nothing. I like the idea of bathing with them if this an option. I never did as both places I've lived in I rent and no matter how much I clean the tub etc. I just don't feel comfortable putting my bare bottom on the tub, never mind theirs, so this was never an option for me - I would have done it if it was! Maybe try the towel thing in the kitchen sink to avoid slippage etc. and see how this works? good luck

 

QUOTE
I'd take a bath WITH them. I'd get in, DH would bring me a baby, I'd wash 'em up, then we'd trade out for the other.


Yep we do this too! And what a great way for me to be able to take a bath also!!

 

Oh, I *hated* baths! They killed my back. The best days were when DH could dry and dress one while I washed the other. That was a big help. MOstly I just had them both in the tub and then both out (once they got too big for the sink). O has eczema, so I was told to bathe her only twice weekly, and I stuck to that in the colder months. It didn't really get better until they could climb in and out of the tub by themselves (with my shorties, they were 3 before this was possible), sparing my back.

If you don't have a hose attachment for your shower head, I strongly recommend it. It's much easier than pouring a bucket over them, gives you much better control. It's great for when you just want to give older ones, say preschool age, a "shower." It isn't as scary, the water stays warmer and it's much faster to rinse their hair when you have complete control over the water direction.

 

personally I always bathed mine in the infant tub in the big tub, then as they were able to sit unassisted (around 6/7 months) we put them both in the big tub, until they were real good at sitting you had to hold them alot I know!!

If your back is hurting you I would do as pp mentioned either:
1. get in the tub w/ them
2. bath them in the kitchen sink (we still do this occasionally :FIFblush: )

HTH

 

I used to bathe them in their baby tub on their bedroom floor. I would have everything ready ahead of time and bring in the tub full of water at the last second. I put a huge towel underneath to catch the splashes.

Once they were sitting and stable I used the teddy bear foam mats you can get at BRU for newborns and let them sit on those for traction.

 

We bathed them in the baby tub in the kitchen sink (without the sling & with a double sink) until about 5.5m. at this point we strted using the bath rings eventho they couldnt sit up yet they just kinda leaned back in them and wouldnt fall over.. i was gradually able to add more water and now its pretty high so they stay warm. In the baby tub baths were very fast and wrapped them up in a towel on the counter-so there was really no strain on ur back.. now, in the tub, it is a little tough as i get them undressed in their room, carry both to the bathroom, bathe at the same time, take out 1 at a time and wrap up in towel on the floor and then carry both back to their room. i really dont have much of a problem w/ my back as much as my knees so i will usually just roll up a towel and kneel on that. Forgot to add that b4 starting the bath rings i would just put the bumbo seats into the tub with just a little water-it worked but they were cold this way i think..

 

I bathe mine one at a time in the kitchen sink. We probably started that about a month ago when we wanted to get rid of their infant bathtub...it just seemed to be more of a hassle, even though it fit over the sink.

 

Here are the notes I took about the boys and baths...

They always LOVED the bath so we do it every night. The first few months I needed help so my mom often came over on nights Pat worked late. At the beginning, baths used to be a 3 ring circus but then I got the hang of it. I keep the one who is not in the bath on the floor next to me with just their onsie on and a toy. I bring diapers, onesies, pj's all in the bathroom with me. A bin with lotions and wipes stays by the tub. I used to go from the bathroom to the bedroom carrying one baby that just got out of the tub and then going to get the other baby to undress in the room and then back into the bathroom again to start all over! It was crazy!


We put the baby tub in the big bath tub.

 

Most of the time, my dh or I take a bath with them. On other nights, i got a bath seat for them. They aren't sitting up yet so I just put a towel in front of them. They love being on their own. My dd splashes water everywhere. I have bad knees so i kneel on a rolled towel.

 

QUOTE(walker006 @ Jan 25 2008, 04:41 AM) [snapback]588733[/snapback]
Most of the time, my dh or I take a bath with them. On other nights, i got a bath seat for them. They aren't sitting up yet so I just put a towel in front of them. They love being on their own. My dd splashes water everywhere. I have bad knees so i kneel on a rolled towel.

That's what we did at that age. Usually DH though and I would bring the boys in to him one at a time. DH some times showered first, and I would bring him a baby he would wash him up in the shower and pass off and I would bring in the next. Or DH would fill up the tub and take a bath with each one.

Now both boys sit up so DH either gets in the tub with them or we let them have the entire tub to themselves.

 

I never used the sling part of the baby bathtub, they just got too cold. The bathtub I have has a seat in it and the back is slanted so they can sit laying back, we still use ours this way except now they sit up right in it. I've always filled it with water and let them splash! I put the tub in our tub and I know what you mean about your back. Mine get pretty quick baths and then I put them up on the changing table to do the rest of their routine, (if I hold my tummy nice and tight) it saves my back. Honestly, I make DH do it most nights because by the end of the day my back is a wreck.

 

We bathed them in the infant tub. I put it in the shower (we havea stand alone shower) and I would sit beside it with the door open and do one at a time.

Now that they love to play in the tub, I take a bath with them. DH swaps them out just like the other posters said. I really enjoy it!

 

SInce their first bath i have always bathed them in the big tub in their bathroom. It was too drafty anywhere else and they were small so body heat needed to be kept... Me and dh did baths together always at this age... We put them both in on a yellow bear sponge and filled the water as much as we could. Bathed one i took that one to the nursery and would dress them and then we would get the other one out after that... DH always poured warm water over them as they waited their turn to get dressed. They have alwasy loved baths and once they were big enough we took the sponges out and let them sit in their together sometimes i get the bath seat, sometimes i do one at a time it just depends.. Oh and dh takes a shower with them at times and we both have days that they get in the tub with mommy or daddy... I love taking a bath with them they are so fun and love it... I never had a horrible time bending over our tub and using the bath sponges for them to lay on... I thought about trying the kitchen sink but it is too drafty to try in the winter... good luck!

 

In addition to having new twins of my own, I'm a twin, and my mom has told me all kinds of tales about when my brother and I were babies. Apparently, back when we were infants, she would take us into the shower with her--she'd wash one twin, then hand that one off to my dad who would dry the baby and hand her the other baby to be washed. Once both were washed, she'd wash herself and that would be that!

Definitely sounds easier than leaning over a bathtub.

 

QUOTE(annelily2000 @ Jan 24 2008, 05:35 PM) [snapback]588074[/snapback]
Yep we do this too! And what a great way for me to be able to take a bath also!!



Same thing here. Each one of us will take turns. One day I'll jump in the tub and wash one baby at a time, once we are done, DH brings me the next baby. Its nice this way and ensures you get to get clean also.

:a_smil09: