Bathing an infant

Trina - posted on 07/01/2012

My husband and I have been giving our (now) 6 month old son a bath or shower with (either of) us since he was a week old. The only thing I would caution you about is making sure you have things set up, or someone there with you to get the baby out when you're done with it. They can be extremely slippery so it's smart to have someone there and to make sure when you do give them a shower that you're careful with how you handle them so they don't slip out of your hands and fall.

Alexis - posted on 06/29/2012

My son is almost 3 and showers with both mom and dad, usually as a time saver. There is not room in the bath and we don't take bath's anyways so he bathes with one of us sitting in the room for safety. However today he insisted on taking a shower by himself, it had nothing to do with mom, dad or nudity, it had to do with him being a big boy and being able to do it himself. He is aware of the difference between boys\girls and does not make a big issue of it, in fact he is very comfortable in his skin and knows that he needs to be completely dressed to go outside or in public. I see no problem with it, especially since they will become independent people who bathe themselves anyways. As adults\parents I think we have the unfounded issue and link something innocent to something that is not.

Michelle - posted on 10/24/2009

i think cus i had a girl it just seemed fine to bathe with her, her father doesnt want to bathe with her and i find that appropriate. But he would bathe with his potential sons one day. And id be fine with that. I dont think id bathe with my son...i am strongly with Shirley's view... i think it does help your child become comfortable with his/ her own body but i think it should remain as the same sex's bathin together. I remember seein my dads bits when i was ten after he came out the shower and it scared the life out of me! I also think that father and daughter shouldnt be naked around each other and vice versa...thats just my opinion. I would like my daughter to grow up with some modesty and dignity and her father wants the same....we would like to teach her that you should be comfortable in your own body and also you have respect for yourself as a girl/woman. I think mostly all parents want this for thier children...and we have different ways in which we help them achieve these things x

Ashley - posted on 10/24/2009

i personally have never bathed with either of my sons. i feel that is my time to myself. now if others do it thats' fine. it's whatever works for other parents butbathing with my children doesnt work for me.

Shirley - posted on 10/23/2009

whoever was against bathing with your child must have had a nagative body image herself. i loved bath time with my babies. it's more fun and relaxing to bath with your baby.

Iysha - posted on 10/22/2009

Quoting Lisa:

Wow, didn't know one could debate that, haha. My girls have taken baths with me from day one- considering we waterbirth.

That's cool! I was considering doing a water birth. The Sutter Hospital where I live offers it as well as hot tubs for relaxing during labor. I registered there and the "regular" hospital across the street. My daughter tried to come early once, then actually came early 2 weeks later. The Sutter Hospital won't allow a baby to be born there before 36 weeks. My daughter missed that mark by 3 days!

Iysha - posted on 10/22/2009

The reason for not bathing with a baby is mainly because of the dangers (slipping, dropping the baby, inhaled water then some "the child will get used to it and be exposed to images of naked bodies"...and the reasons for it being ok were closeness, comfortability, convenience.



I do both. Kylie likes her bath time in her own little tub and I have bathed with her a few times when I am pressed for time. I really like her in her tub, I like the cute pictures I can take (I'm a Picture Taking Freak) of her splashing and little wet mohawks. We only have a shower so I clean myself first while she is in her bouncy seat. When I'm done, I grab her and sit in the shower with her and give her a quick little wipe down with some soap and put her back in her bouncy seat and dry her off with a towel and get her dressed before I get dried off.



I honestly didn't see a reason that it was bad or good...I just thought it was something that was done every now and again. It surprised me that two women felt so strongly about taking baby in the shower or keeping him in his tub. lol.



I was wondering how many women felt strongly about either side...I guess it is safe to say that most have a preference but don't think one should be deemed wrong?

Sarah - posted on 10/21/2009

whats so wrong with bathing with a baby?

now i never bathed with my son from birth cuz i was really worried that i'd drop him with it being slippery .. so he's been in the baby bath from day 1 (still in it now at 9months .. sits up though and it goes in the big bath as he's kicked the plug out and made water leak from the ceiling before haha) .. anyway when he was tiny he absolutely loathed his baths .. so i tried having a bath with him once to see if it made a difference .. with the help of my mum to pass him to me and take him out. but that didnt help at all he still screamed the place down.

he started liking baths at 3months and he loves them now.



anyway although he's still in the baby bath i have baths with him now sometimes .. i started when he was sitting up properaly at 6months cuz i suppose its easier now i dont have to try and support him ..

he loves having a splash with mummy now =]

Minnie - posted on 10/20/2009

Wow, didn't know one could debate that, haha. My girls have taken baths with me from day one- considering we waterbirth.

Elizabeth - posted on 10/20/2009

I haven't bathed with my daughter, mainly because bath time is her daddy's domain, but I have taken a shower with her (she was so surprised by the stream of water - too cute!).
Personally, I want her to be comfortable in her own skin so I think bathing together is an awesome time - and a great way to get skin-to-skin contact.

Donna - posted on 10/20/2009

I love having a bath with my son and he really enjoys it too! We dont get a chance to do it very often coz im too busy doing the dinner or housework grrrr. My husband usually has a shower with my son after work coz its the perfect time for his bed time routine. I dont see why anyone would have a problem with it!

Kelly - posted on 10/20/2009

I think that bathing together is just fine up to a certain age......i havent bathed with my son but i don't think that there is anything wrong with bathing together....i don't see why someone would think it is wrong to bath together....i just don't have the oppertunity to bath with my son....i work second shift, and am a single mother so it just doesn't work in our schedule but sometimes i think i was in the bath with him from all the splahing he does....i think it just depends on how the person feels about themself and having there child see them....

Michelle - posted on 10/20/2009

and to add my partner loves seein us in the bath together...when she was little i used to get in first and he would pass her to me then after he would come take her out and start gettin her dry and ready. He also loved the fact he got to see me naked lol.

Michelle - posted on 10/20/2009

hey...intersting...



what was their reasons for not bathing with a baby? dirty water from the mother? baby drowning? I really dont see what reason there is not to bathe with your baby. I have had a bath with my daughter since she was born apart from the odd occasions when I was too busy to have one myself so bathed her quickly in the little bath. My daughter is 21 months and still loves having a bath with me...she will have one by herself too if i need her too.



Iyesha whats your opinion???