Moms of newborns - bath time

Anyone else dread bath time? I bathe Abby every other day. One time I tried to be as gentle as I could when I put her in the tub with the newborn insert and even though the water was the right temperature, she let out a shrill of a scream that could peel the paint off the walls. I can't get that sound out of my head. Im sure it was because she wasn't expecting it, but I felt terrible.

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

My son is 3 1/2 months old and he hated baths!!! I mean he screamed bloody murder. It took about 2 1/2 months before he stopped screaming.

So i understand what you're saying.

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

So far I have only given Anthony 1 Bathtub bath. He was great in the bath, but when I took him out of the twel afterwards to put lotion on him and get him dressed, he screamed like I was killing him and his hands and feet were turning a purplish blue and I was scared to death - so no more "big boy" baths unless daddy is there to help us I am still giving him the washcloth baths every few days.

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

DD is 5 weeks and likes baths (my DS hated them)

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

I do not like bath time either, so we don't do it much he screams, and he feels like a wet slippery chicken, I'm so afraid I'm going to hurt him. i bathe him every 3-4 days, I figure how dirty can he be? ETA he is 4 weeks

Message edited 10/11/2008 10:23:16 AM.

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

I HAVE to bathe Abby, She gets toe cheese from all of those darn SOCKS I make her wear.

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

I am sorry she hates her bath so much!

Katie likes her bath, she has never cried thankfully

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

Cailen hated his bath until he was 2 mts old. Then he would TOLERATE them - lay there with his eyes wide and staring at me, as if to say, "OK, lady, I'm trusting you here. I don't know what you are doing but just finish it ASAP!" By the time he was 4-5 mts old, bath time became his FAVORITE activity. Hang in there!

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

I consider us lucky. Ryan has loved bath time since day one. Because of it, we never skip a night!

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

Try dangling her feet in the water a little before putting her whole body in, this way it's not like a water ambush on her little body!

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

DS hated the bath for a long time. What helped us was this bath sponge . I would put it it the big tub with enough water so that the sponge could just barely float. I would have the sponge soaked with warm water. I also used a really big washcloth to cover his front - I think that he was just cold in the baby tub. Then with a second wash cloth I would bathe him by uncovering and recovering all of him little bits at a time. I also would let him "test the sponge" with his foot so he was not started by the water. I also would tell him step by step what I was doing. (I started this at month 3 - when I was at my whits end - and giving him a bath every 4 days because I felt so bad that he was crying so hard.) I still tell him what I am about to do. I also made sure that the central air is off in the bathroom so that the room is warm. HTH.
Once I did this bath time became fun for him. When he could stand I got one of those shower head that have the long tube and I give him a bath and a shower at once. He loves bath time now.

Message edited 10/13/2008 12:06:03 AM.

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

yeah, Ethan hates his baths. We try and make them as quick as possible.

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

bathtime is DS's FAVORITE thing! he loves it and doesn't want to get out

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

DD didn't like baths for the 1st couple of weeks. She got used to them though.

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

When I started bathing him w/ a semi- full belly is when he started to like bath time.
Try it.

Now he's a splashing machine.

Re: Moms of newborns - bath time

Is the water maybe a bit too hot or maybe a bit too cold? Try music to soothe her.