7 STEPS to SafeLY Co-bathe with Your Baby
Bathing with your baby in a tub of warm water can be a soothing experience for you both. It can soothe crying: we won’t specify whose, and along with the warm water, be a nice change of scenery.
Another plus to bathing with your baby? You’re bound to get a sense of well-being, and that’s sure to wash over them. Some enjoy breast/chest-feeding in the bath since the warm water can help with the letdown of milk. And taking a bath with your baby can even be a time-saver: After you’ve washed them (and snuck in a snuggle or two), hand the baby off to someone else if you’re not at home alone, and enjoy some private tub-time. It’s the hot water on full blast for me.
Of course, bathing with a baby is a whole different ball game from sudsing up solo. Here’s how to do it right:
Wait until they’re old enough
Don’t submerge your baby in water until the umbilical cord drops off and the navel has healed. Stick to sponge baths and turn to other bonding tactics, such as skin-to-skin (holding your baby’s bare body against your bare chest) until then.
Make sure the water is just right
It should be body temperature or a tiny bit warmer. Use a thermometer if you’re not sure. We like Skip Hop’s floating bath thermometer. It's also a good idea to set the water heater thermostat in your house to 120 F or lower to avoid accidental burns (sometimes parents add more water during the bath if it's getting cold). This is especially important when bathing with older babies and children who "want to do it themselves" and can turn on the faucet.
Gather everything you’ll need before you get into the tub
Including any items you’ll use to bathe your baby (body wash, shampoo, washcloths, towels). If you forget something, skip it or take your baby with you if you must have it now. Never, never leave your child alone in the tub, not even for a second.
Step into the water sans baby
Do not try to climb into the (slippery) tub while holding your (slippery) little one. Place her in her bouncy seat or car seat beside the bath, get in yourself, and then reach over for her. Better yet, if someone else is home, have them hand baby to you.
Get a grip
If your tub doesn’t have a non-slip mat, lay one down now so that you don’t slide around: Even if you’re sitting, your baby could easily take a nosedive if you slip. And when you’re taking a bath with your baby, keep both hands on baby at all times. Try bending your knees and letting your little one recline on your thighs facing you.
Keep them wet and warm
Use a plastic cup to pour water over your baby’s body from time to time — that’ll keep her from getting chilly.
Make a safe exit
When baby bath time is over, reverse the steps you followed to get into the tub: Place your baby into their bouncy or car seat and tuck a towel around her, or hand baby to someone else before you get out.
The real beauty of bathing with your baby is that it’s an experience you can share for months to come. Of course, by then, taking a bath with your little one will be more about water play than snuggling, but that’s okay.
ADDING THE EASE ORB TO YOUR BATH
Keeping your hands on the baby is a must do when co-bathing with your baby. How can you do that and scrub a dub-dub? You can’t :)
To add some gentle cleansing power to your soak, add an Ease Orb or two. The skin softening ingredients go to work while you bond with baby. It’s not soap, you won’t be squeaky clean, but you’ll be cleaner than if you hadn’t bathed at all, which sometimes happens when you have a new baby. Goat Milk dissolves dead skin cells, oats gently soothe dry spots and coconut oil seals the deal locking in the moisture and hydration skin so needs to stay soft and silky.
The Ease Orb is safe for parents and babies, so you can fully relax in that tub without worrying that harsh chemicals might irritate delicate baby skin. Go on breathe a deep sigh of relief.