Babies first bath - Open Forum

Hi everyone,

I am going to give my 3 week old his first bath this evening and have been watching videos on how to do this.

I just wanted to know how long after eating should I wait before bathing him?

Also would love to hear your stories on your newborns first bath as these stories help a lot.

Thank you all and hope you all have a great weekend.

[gembo26]

hi there gave my son who,s now 7 his first bath when he was 12 hours old its great even though he didnt like it so much.

[Elicam]

did you not have to wait for the umbilical cord to drop off?

My peaditrician made me wair 48 hours after his umbilical cord dropped off, which would be today.

My son's a pisces (water sign), so I am hoping that he will love it.

[anxiousmomtobe?]

My son was bathed when he was 2 hours old.  (Student nurses, I was pretty nervous....)

I would feed him right before so he is content.  Jack up the heat in the room as he will mind the cold.

Take lots of pics!

[nalla]

Unfortunatly all my kids hated their bath when they were newborns. What helped is putting a warm wash cloth on there stomachs to help keep them warm. And do his hair last also  to help keep him warm.
And sinse you have a boy, keep that washcloth handy because chances are right after he feels the warm water he is going to pee. LOL!
Good luck!

[fitzy11]

i did the warm washcloth thing too. it took a couple of baths before my ds started to enjoy it, it is fun to bathe them though. enjoy!

[mommy2aj]

my husband made a shelf, very sturdy, that doubled as a changing table and bath table. it was in front of the window, with some bushes covering. during the day if i gave ds a bath then i would open the blinds so he could see the birds. he loved bath time. we used a regular infant tub with the mesh sling to help support him. once his little legs got to kicking though we had to move to the tub otherwise we both looked like we had gone for a swim. we also did as the others and turned the heat up, used the washcloth and washed the hair last. now that ds is 2 he thinks he is a baby fish. last weekend he got to play in his little pool for the first time this year......and i thought it was hard getting him out of the tub.....

[Elicam]

Thanks for all your comments. I will have my husband helping me as I am scared enough as it is.

Wish me luck, I will be doing this for the first time in about 1/2 hour. I hope he likes it as I can't bear to see him cry, I always end up picking him up and cuddling him.

Thanks.

[pixijal]

I agree w/above, have a second set of hands there to help w/the slippery and naked infant!  They can double as the camera man too!  Have fun!  

[girlybuff]

It's not so much fun when they're newborns.  My DD HATED it but she loves it now and she's 7 months.
Just be careful not to fully submerge the baby until the umbilical cord falls off.  A sponge bath is the way to go until then.
Good luck!!

[vannessa]

Ladies, have you used the tiny bath tubs made especially for new borns like this one:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5007577

I'm due in June, but already bought a similar one. Do you think it's gonna make it easier? It looks pretty simple on the picture.

[Me2mommy2b]

Make sure you do it with someone b/c the baby can't hold their head yet, it's slippery, etc, etc...DD hated her baths at first but now (6 mos) can't get enough of it.  She actually cries when I take her OUT of the bathtub.  

[kraziekracka]

my son always loved to take a bath...we used a mesh swing when he was younger and one of those sponge things that they can lay on..hes 9 months now and when he hears water running he gets all excited & comes crawling in the bath room & climbs up on the tub & screams at u til u put him in...i cant wait til he can go swimming the summer