Bathing Baby

carefullycautious

Gosh! I bathed my babies every evening from birth onwards and they slept very well.


How times change. I can understand if there is a dry skin condition likely to happen.


The worst thing for babies skin is the chemicals in Biological washing powder but a nice warm bath soothes them.

Beckyy

Our HV recommended a drop of sunflower oil in the bath, making sure you're mindful of the possibility of a slippery baby when taking them out (to be fair, he hasn't been at bath time so far).

I haven't been keen to use any products so far as it feels a bit unnecessary when they're so little. I've been using the sunflower oil in the bath, coconut oil on any dry skin and cotton wool pads/warm water to top and tail, or water wipes if we've been out. I'm planning to do that for the next couple of months at least, unless his skin needs something specific. We're bathing baby 2 or 3 times a week now, more because he enjoys it rather than needs it. I've never heard much about water hardness but would imagine it would be more an issue if they're being bathed very, very regularly. Maybe worth running past the HV though. I hope baby Fred is doing well.

FreddieFrugal

Nicki wrote: »

Is baby's mum still seeing the Health Visitor and going to drop in baby clinic?

This is such an odd thing for her to be worried about, that it would be worth encouraging her to do so if she isn't already. Being overly worried about these sorts of issues can be a sign mum has tipped from being normal new mum nervous into suffering a degree of post natal depression. Having some extra support from experienced professionals can do no harm.

I'm with others by the way that she should bath the baby as often as she wants to. No baby wipe is gentler on the skin than pure water, or olive oil, whether the water is hard or soft. However if a he is very concerned and you all have sensitive skin, how about fitting a water softener?

:rotfl: Baby's mum isn't worried about it. I am.

anyway we gave him a bath yesterday. It wasn't a fun experience. Finding the perfect moment when he's not hungry, sleepy or grumpy is pretty much impossible at the moment!

Have been using those very sensitive wipes because, at least according to the packet, they've got barely anything in them. But a lot easier and cheaper to use for wiping poops than a hundred pieces of cotton wool! He's not had any kind of negative reaction to them.

Use cotton wool for cleaning the rest of him.

thorsoak

I would worry far more about the chemicals that go into the wipes than using more and more pieces of cotton wool! Just a small bowl of warm water then half a dozen cotton wool balls will clean the dirtiest bum! And no petrochemicals.

ciderwithrosie_2

Never gave it a second thought with any of my 3 even though I have eczema prone skin myself. They got bathed every night and changed into clean pyjamas/sleepsuits as part of their bedtime routine. An attempt to distinguish between night and day from the off. It worked well with the first two but my youngest didn't sleep through the night until he was 3 and cut out all daytime naps at a year old :wall: ... he's always been his own man!

My mum gave me some wise words when I had my first son 'remember, he has come to live with YOU' ... in other words, do what suits you and they'll adapt. My in-laws told everyone not to ring them in the evenings in case it woke the baby... !!!!!! :doh:

suki1964

FreddieFrugal wrote: »

:rotfl: Baby's mum isn't worried about it. I am.

anyway we gave him a bath yesterday. It wasn't a fun experience. Finding the perfect moment when he's not hungry, sleepy or grumpy is pretty much impossible at the moment!

Have been using those very sensitive wipes because, at least according to the packet, they've got barely anything in them. But a lot easier and cheaper to use for wiping poops than a hundred pieces of cotton wool! He's not had any kind of negative reaction to them.

Use cotton wool for cleaning the rest of him.

Muslim clothes are the way to go. I use them all the time with the grandkids, from wiping snotty noses to poopy bums.

Obviously different ones

thorsoak

suki1964 wrote: »

Muslim clothes are the way to go. I use them all the time with the grandkids, from wiping snotty noses to poopy bums.

Obviously different ones

Think you mean muslin cloths! :-D

Andypandyboy

"Muslim clothes are the way to go"

I know I shouldn't laugh, but I howled at the above typo, autocorrect?

suki1964

Bloody auto correct lol

msb5262

Another vote for avoiding wipes as far as possible - this is advised by midwives for newborns (I witnessed this first hand two weeks ago on a maternity ward).
Also, dermatologists advise using NO products for bathing babies, apart from a little mild soap if really needed for removal of poo or vomit. Oils (olive/sunflower) are great for moisturising and massage, but "baby products" are definitely not needed.