Becoming a mother at 19 meant I wanted to prove not only to myself but to all the adults around me that I could do it. And it was with that resolve that I insisted on jumping in at the deep end from day dot, and took to bathing my darling baby girl all by myself. Even as the nurse reeled out would-be instructions, I swiftly processed them and spat them out almost preemptively in confident action. There was nothing passive or dependent in my outward manner, even if, on the inside, I was trembling. This was my daughter, and I, as her mother, had to step up to the task, however daunting it might be.
Ironically, acknowledgement of my fallibility and my ability to accept assistance and support only kicked in after having my second daughter and incrementally increased with my third and fourth children. I learned, albeit slowly, that it is okay to not know how to do it all.
Since then, years of practice and plenty of experience has meant that I now (after mothering 7 children) feel both inwardly and outwardly in sync in my confidence in some of the daily tasks of parenting, baby bathing being one of them.
This is the way I do it. Its not the only way, it may not be the best way, or the way that you choose to do it. But perhaps by sharing, it will offer some indirect assistance to a new mother somewhere, who, like me, doesn't necessarily want to be seen to accept direction. In any case, it feels good to write it.
1. Preprare the bath. Fill it up with warm water, testing it with the inside of your wrist to ensure that it isn't too hot. Add a couple of squirts of bath gel. I usually use a
bath cradle for extra support. I find it makes bub more comfortable and relaxed. I also fill a large bowl with water to use to wash suds off bub after the bath.
2. Prepare wash cloth, towel, nappy, clothes and baby powder and/or baby lotion. I lay these beside the baby bath, with towel spread out and ready to receive a squirmy baby.
3. Announce to bub that its bath time, give him a cuddle and take his clothes off, leaving nappy on. Using the wet wash cloth, wipe over bub's face then rinse in the bath and use it to wash his hair. You can add a little baby shampoo to his hair if he has enough to warrant washing and rinse then dry with towel before removing nappy and gently placing baby in the bath.
4. I like to talk the baby through what we are doing, and sometimes sing to him some bath time songs. Keep his head supported on your forearm, whilst holding his arm to keep his head above water. Use the wash cloth to gently rub his body, paying close attention to his neck, behind his ears, underarms, nether regions and anywhere he has folds of skin.
5. Let him have a play in the water for a few more minutes before taking him out. If you are confident enough, you can turn him onto his tummy so he can have a little kick around, ensuring that his face is resting sideways on your forearm and nowhere near the water. You don't want him swallowing big gulps of bath water!
6. Lift baby out slightly, and pour the clean water (from the bowl) onto him, to rinse off any suds. I also like to wash his hands in the clean water because he's always putting them in his mouth.
7. Wrap bub in the towel, and put some baby powder in all the folds of skin. You can also use the baby lotion to give him a massage if its warm enough. Otherwise, dress baby and enjoy some post-bath cuddles.
