does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

sasha tolerates the bath, but doesn't really enjoy it yet-- so it's not fun for us. plus it feels like such a production... when it's bath night, we dread it and are just like, ok, let's get it over with... when does it get more fun?

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

I don't mind it but I don't love it.
Alexa LOVES her bath!!! Happy as a clam in the tub. I can literally put her in it when she is upset and it calms her down RIGHT AWAY... IN fact when she was younger and the reflux issues were at its worse she would get 3-4 baths a day to help calm her.

It's taking her OUT of the bath that is a problem...... SHe then pitches a fit for a good 30 minutes.

Forget about putting on nice lotion or oil. She's a freakin DEMON when we take her out!

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

This is exactly how we feel right now. Ryan is 6 weeks and still hates bath time. Although I will say over the last week he has gotten a tiny bit better with it!! But usually he screams through it!

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

I HATE it with a capital "h"!!!!!

Anthony despises baths to this day, screams his head off, thrashes like a nut, etc.... It is horrible. I cant wait until he starts to "enjoy" them. I have literally tried every single thing except bathing with him.

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

As cute as he was during bathtime I always felt it was somewhat of a chore.

Clean out the sink
Clean the counters
Fill the tub
Get everything prepared
Get him naked
Wash him down
Get him dressed
Empty the tub/Clean the tub
Spray the sink
Put everything away

It was a huge production! It gets much easier (and more fun) once you put them in the actual tub IMO.

Message edited 4/20/2009 5:46:43 PM.

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

Did you try putting a washcloth over her like a "blanket"?

DD hated the bath until i did this (I think she was cold) and once I put that wet washcloth on her, she now LOVES it.

I also make the water a little warmer than they recommend.

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

Posted by Blissful

I don't mind it but I don't love it.
Alexa LOVES her bath!!! Happy as a clam in the tub. I can literally put her in it when she is upset and it calms her down RIGHT AWAY... IN fact when she was younger and the reflux issues were at its worse she would get 3-4 baths a day to help calm her.

It's taking her OUT of the bath that is a problem...... SHe then pitches a fit for a good 30 minutes.

Forget about putting on nice lotion or oil. She's a freakin DEMON when we take her out!

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

You described bath night with James perfectly! We totally dread it! And tonight's bath night...

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

I HATED giving DS a bath when he was that age. It does get easier, I promise. Now, it's one of my favorite times of the day, but that could be b/c it means bedtime is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER........... LOL

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

Posted by pickles16

Posted by Blissful

I don't mind it but I don't love it.
Alexa LOVES her bath!!! Happy as a clam in the tub. I can literally put her in it when she is upset and it calms her down RIGHT AWAY... IN fact when she was younger and the reflux issues were at its worse she would get 3-4 baths a day to help calm her.

It's taking her OUT of the bath that is a problem...... SHe then pitches a fit for a good 30 minutes.

Forget about putting on nice lotion or oil. She's a freakin DEMON when we take her out!

Chelsea is like that too, she loves the bath and HATES when we take her out!!!! We started playing some classical music for her when we're lotioning her up and dressing her for bed to soothe her, it's helped a little...

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

I have to say once we started full body baths, DD loved it and I really enjoy giving them to her.

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

I love it!!! Gianna always has a huge smile on her face when I pour "sprinkles" on her with the baby watering can. It's so cute...

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

I used to hate it, up until about a week ago, when he stopped screaming bloody murder and started tolerating it. But he too doesn't really enjoy it yet..but at least he doesn't wake the neighborhood anymore.

We started using the FP Rainforest bathtub with the hammock/sling..he seems to like to chill on that. We also spray him with water from his squeaky frogs...so it's more like playtime now.

Before the bath, I go in and run the hot water from the shower so that's it's nice & warm in the bathroom...it's almost like a sauna..it helps with congestion too. He's had a cold, and it helps him breathe better. I also do the warm wash cloth on his chest.

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

awww... I actually like it because they get that real yummy baby smell. I put all three in the tub tonight actually it wasn't bad. Too bad my camera was dead though.

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

I only like it because I'm convinced this is what's getting her to sleep through the night.. it's been almost 2 full weeks of sleeping through the night, which is how long we've been doing bath time every night! Samantha HATES bath time though.. even with the washcloth over her trick. I've been hoping since we bathe her every night, that she would start to at least tolerate it, but we haven't gotten to that point yet.

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

Ashley loves the bath! She doesn't make a sound, it's been really easy so far. My favorite time is wrapping her up in her towel after the bath!

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

we were like that until she was about 3 months or so.... i dont remeber exactly but it became interesting for us when we would get her naked and she would see her foot and just stare at it and then see her hand and stare at it like it was the most AMAZING toy on earth.

That was soo amusing to watch and it distracted her long enough to give her a quick wash.

We always washed her quickly and got her out of there, but for more reasons than one, mainly they are so small and slippery that you never feel it is fun b/c you are so busy making sure they dont slip out of your hands etc.

I think by the time she would sit up on her , around 6 months and play with toys , is when it got fun. We can bathe for about 15-20 min now and she enjoys it but wont stand it any longer than that.

Ohh and we were totally bad parents that bathed our newborn like once a week for the longest time . BUT, if i dont feel comfortable doing it i would rather not do it than risk it. We only bathed her together and we always felt on edge when she was very little. Now we can do it alone but its hella hard to lift up a slippery went 22pounder so hubby always helps

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

My boys love bath time. My one son fell asleep in the bath the other night. It is def. a task preparing and doing it!!

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

I would probably feel the same way if he didn't seem to have fun in the tub, but Nicholas loves baths every night. I'd say by 3 months I really knew he enjoyed it and that's when I started bathing him every night. Now at 5 months he kicks and splashes all the water out of tub and onto me. I enjoy watching him have fun although I end up getting soaked every night

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

DD hated baths at that age too. It wasn't until she was big enough to sit in the baby tub that she started to like them.

Now at 18 months she LOVES her baths and asks for one every night!

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

Yes, me! At least I did when I had little babies. I totally agree with you re: the whole "production!" DD#1 haaaated the bath for a good year and it was pure torture for the two of us; she wasn't all that thrilled with it after a year either Then when she got older and her hair grew, it got even worse. She has thick, curly hair, so combing that out was a nightmare. Worst parenting chore ever!

Now...I LOVE bathtime. And here's why...I have two little ones now (3.5 and just about 2) and I SAH. I always give them their baths after lunch and before naps--it gives us something to do and they love to play together in the tub. Also, DD#2 never had the same aversion to baths as her older sister; DD#1 has since learned to tilt her head back to rinse the shampoo out; and finally, a good haircut for her worked wonders!

Re: does anyone else hate giving their newborn/infant a bath?

I guess I am lucky that DS is so good in the tub...he stares all wide eyed at us but seems to like it.

We try to split the prep work...I get the bathtub ready, the washcloth, shampoo, shop, towels,etc while DH takes off his clothes off and then dresses him after while I clean up.

Since it helps calm him, I don't mind doing it.