LO hates bath time

SJSLA · March 2014

Either my baby hates water or i'm doing something wrong, but every bath time is traumatizing! LO is 7 1/2 weeks and I've had to give sponge baths since the few times she's been in the baby tub/sling, all hell breaks loose. I've followed all the requisite bath bullet points: right temp water, heater in the room to make it cozy, making sure she's covered so as to not get cold, try to talk and sing, feeding her before.

I've read that you can bathe together but how is this done? Any other tips, ways to go about this so that we can both enjoy bath time? Thanks!

ababymaybe · March 2014

Are you sure the water is warm enough? LO likes it fairly warm- not hot, of course, but definitely warmer than the lukewarm temperature all of the baby bath thermometers recommend.

Or, what time of day is bath time? Is it possible she's just overtired by that point? Maybe a morning or afternoon bath instead of evening would work better.

MarkandAbbi · March 2014

I'd try warming up the water a bit more. DD (10 weeks yesterday) hated the first bath which was the "correct" temperature. I warmed it up next time and she loved it.
We now bathe together and she loves it. For us I make the water a bit hotter than I would let her in it. I lay down, she lays on my chest and nurses while the water cools. I use a wash cloth or two wet to lay on her legs/back to keep her warm. Then when she finishes nursing the temp is perfect for her.
She stands up, sits down, and she floats on her back for a little bit with me supporting her head. If she starts to flail from being on her back (sensation of falling) I just put her to my chest. Then I wash her and we get out.
I have the towels all ready to go, wrap her up and lay her down, grab my towel and then we go get her dressed!
If DH is home then he takes her and I take a quick shower. I typically don't wash myself when I bathe her as she's to wiggly and I don't want her being scared of the bath!!

Roses87 · March 2014

@bkrudd out of curiosity why did u keep him in a diaper? A little baby poo doesn't hurt. How are u suppose to wash his parts if they are covered? That and I feel like bathing would irritate the skin with a diaper on? IMO though. Nothing against what u do, just curious why u do it.

Roses87 · March 2014

I am no help cause dd loves bath time. but I have heard about a lot of success with bathing with LOs. I am personally nervous to because i feel like dd would slip out my arms.

km_md · March 2014

My DD doesn't really like baths in the infant tub because she is too far out of the water in the sling so she gets cold.

We bathe together in the regular bath tub. I have everything ready in the bathroom and close the door so the heat stays in a bit and it's warmer in. I get in first and then bring her in. I hold her and move her around a bit to different positions and let her look around and kick her legs while I was her. She loves baths like this. It is more security for her because I'm holding her and she gets to sit right in the warm water.

I hope you find something that works for you!

worleygirl · March 2014

I keep the water pretty warm and she loves it. I also top up with hot water as we go so it doesn't get cold. I take baths with her as well sometimes

lmills730 · March 2014

I agree with PPs, the first few baths were brutal when the water was at the "correct temperature". DS likes pretty warm water like his momma. Once I made it pretty warm, he loves it. Co-showering is his favorite. He gets excited when he hears the shower turn on now!

nolagal79 · March 2014

E loves bath time so I don't know if I'll be much help but wanted to let you know what we use. We started her off using the flower in the bathroom sink until she outgrew it (the sink is small and the flower is huge so not much room for baby). We may transition back to that in the summer and use it in the kitchen sink that is larger.

We currently use the inflatable duck bath from target. I put that on top of the vanity in the bathroom. She uses it as her personal swimming pool. She kicks, splashes, and smiles the whole time. I also use water that's warmer than lukewarm and have a heater in the bathroom and keep the temp of the bathroom warmer while she's bathing.

Hope you can find something that your LO likes!

brittanydec2012 · March 2014

ababymaybe said:
Are you sure the water is warm enough? LO likes it fairly warm- not hot, of course, but definitely warmer than the lukewarm temperature all of the baby bath thermometers recommend.

Or, what time of day is bath time? Is it possible she's just overtired by that point? Maybe a morning or afternoon bath instead of evening would work better.

This is the same for us. DH gave the first couple baths with the right temp and LO hated it. I have been giving baths since and DH thinks it's because he likes me better but I justake sure it's a comfortable warm temperature as I know I wouldn't want to be cold in the tub. LO really likes bath time now, he never fusses not even when we get out. I set towel out so it's ready and started out with 2 face cloths on his body to keep him warm but he doesn't need that anymore. He is 11 weeks now so I have started putting a face cloth in his hand and sometimes he holds it for a second or two. I also brush his gums with a wet face cloth to get him used to me getting in there for when we need to brush his first teeth.

eacarmstrong · March 2014

My LO loves his bath time. I have a sling that I dip in the hot water before placing him in the infant tub. I make sure to constantly get the warm water all over him using a wash cloth. I am interested in trying the bath with him too!

jcwinsto · March 2014

I second the shower and warmer temp ideas. Baby screamed at his first bath. I was like most moms and was worried about it being too hot. After that I warmed up the water, made sure he was mostly submerged and put a heater in the bathroom to make sure he stayed warm after taking him out. A couple weeks in I put him in the shower with H for a short time and he loved it. I haven't put him in a tub in weeks. He gets a shower every night with us. Water is warmer but not hot enough to make our skin red. I think the noise and the constant warmth calms him really well and it helps that he is skin to skin. Amazingly it never occurred to me that I would drop him and I've never even come close to dropping him.

xanadu94 · March 2014

Yeah, my LO wanted nothing to do with the tiny baby bathtub and lukewarm water. She loves taking a bath with mommy in the jacuzzi tub with warm water though! Our tub is really large so I actually bring the baby bathtub and set it next to me in the tub so I can set her in there while I wash all the parts for some extra support. After I'm done washing, I set the baby tub aside and let her kick and play. She would stay in there all day if I let her. She cries as soon as I reach for the towel until I get her snuggled in nursing again.

thegosiers · March 2014

LO also hated bath time until I warmed up the water. He also enjoys when I co bathe with him. But I think our biggest success was moving bath time from evening/bedtime routine to morning. My guy's a little ray of sunshine, not a night owl!

peanutmuse · March 2014

Ditto PPs.

Warmer water.

Co-bath or shower.

I use a swim diaper for bath time because I don't want him pooping in the bath tub. Not really for my sake, but because then we'd have to start the process over because he wouldn't be clean anymore. (This kid poops all the damn time.) But right before I take him out, the diaper comes off and I clean his bottom. @Roses87, I know you didn't ask me -- but that's what I do and why.

peanutmuse · March 2014

blondie7385 said:

@peanutmuse Kinda off topic, but did you get the disposables or the reusable ones they sell? We're going to FL in May so I'm kinda curious about how good the reusable ones would be in the pool.

@blondie7385 -- I got two normal swim diapers from Target, and I've washed each of them several times. He hasn't pooped in them yet (go figure) so I can't speak to how well they work. Of course, the first time I don't use one, I'm sure he'll poop.

SJSLA · March 2014

Thanks for your replies! We finally had a great bath time today! I set up the baby tub in the sink today and used warmer than recommended water on her. I think the key for my DD was that and having running water constantly flowing on her body. She actually enjoyed bath time! Yay!

Chuckaluck315 · April 2014

Both DS1 and DS2 love(d) their baby bath but my DD HATED baths in her bath - she would cry the whole time and drying her off felt like I was comforting a trauma victim. It was horrendous. We tried showers and she hated those too! We finally found the ticket with the big bathtub and me:)

It is much easier with two people since you are stuck in the tub but you can do it with one if you don't mind strolling naked a bit or if you have somewhere to set the baby in the bathroom. I like HOT tubs so I was always slightly chilly when I took tubs with the baby but it was honestly just above body temp. She would hang out either in my lap or laying on my legs and I would just wash her up using baby soap. The only downside is when babies relax they tend to poop and baths are relaxing. I can get up and out of the tub lightening fast due to this fact! So make sure and wash the baby up first thing (and quickly) then play because poop happens...DD is 6 now and still tries to get me in the tub with her - so she really liked it too. We did not bathe her everyday, instead 2-3 times a week. I was finally able to get her in the tub on her own at about 1 yr old or so.

Hope this helps:)

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