Bathtime!

[Cluck71]

My DS is 9 weeks old (was 5 weeks early) and really doesn't like having a bath. Any suggestions?

[ilovepowerhoop]

cut down on baths and top and tail him instead?

[Kelly1814]

Mine was like this...4 weeks early.

I kept at it as I wanted to establish a good bedtime routine...which it has, she goes down like a stone at 7 pm.

What made it better for us was a dimly lit room, make sure it is very warm, soothing lullabies playing, lots of soft talking.

Persevere, we love bath time now!

[YouAreMyRain]

Have you tried a swaddle bath? In the SCBU where my preemie had his first bath it was standard practice to swaddle bathe them. You wrap them up in e.g. a hand towel, put them in the water, towel and all, then gently unwrap a leg for example, bathe it, wrap it back up, unwrap other leg etc until they are all done. Makes them feel more secure.

[Cluck71]

Thanks for some great suggestions!

[Bankholidaybaby]

I top and tail every day, but only do a full bath once a week. He's not dirty and it dries his skin out if I bathe him more.

[Cluck71]

I do the same, hopefully he'll enjoy his bath when he's older. He was ok with his first bath on Scbu but he had an audience then!

[YouAreMyRain]

It was probably sub-tropical too! Our bathroom is ten degrees cooler than SCBU.

[MultipleMama]

We use one of those sink baths for DD as she hates baths and it means she isn't submerged, for lack of a better word, in water. I bathe her twice a week and top and tail her daily. She loves the swimming pool though...

[Cluck71]

That's good, we want to take him swimming soon and I was thinking he might not like the pool either...what age did your lo start swimming and.did you take DS to any lessons or groups?

[MultipleMama]

I took DD swimming last week for the first time so she would have been 15wo (6wo adj) she loves being floated around the pool and loves being bf in the water too. She has done a few "dives" though :)

Also, have you tried having a bath with her? Most babies cry because they are extended away from the parent making them feel out of sorts. As DD hates baths I either shower or bathe with her as she gets the skin to skin and comfort from me. I found she tolerates baths more when being held close. Showers are super easy and quicker :)

[MultipleMama]

Ah, meant him not her! need sleep!

Oh and I took DD to a private baby group - only a certain number of people can be their and/or watch. Small. Only around 4 other mums instead of a bigger group.

[Cluck71]

Ah thanks for that....might try a shower with him. Will look for some swimming groups too

[MultipleMama]

How are you and ds doing? Any luck on bathing? x

[Cluck71]

We doing fine thanks will be trying another bath tonight, warm room, soft lighting and music. If it doesn't work we'll keep trying.

I've also been trying to start him taking an occasional bottle as I'm supposed to go out for a bit tomorrow..... No luck yet x

[MultipleMama]

Try this site for tips. The disembodied arm technique worked really well for us when we were weaning dd1.

Hope you have some luck xx

[Cluck71]

Thanks for the tips, will let you know x

[Cluck71]

The good news is with a warm room, low lights, music and bathing him wrapped in a towel DS kicked off before but seemed to enjoy a bath this morning.

Slightly better at bottle but not good enough to leave him tonight.....forgot that he's got his jabs today anyway, not fair on him or sitter to leave him tonight x

[FraggleRock77]

Great news Cluck. Good luck with the imms tomorrow xxx