Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

I just want to see what everyone does for their routine...

Since I overbook my schedule with little part time stuff, and playgroups, morning is usually not the best time..(especially this time of year, I dont want him leaving the house right after a bath)

and I love a clean-baby-lotion-smelling baby at night

Most of his baths are at night, but some days, can be morning if he fell asleep the night before, or depending on what we did that day, I may throw him in the tub more than once a day... and then theres times that I skip a day..

Talk about no routine

While we're on this topic:
For his 12m Dr's apptmt. I showed the Dr. little dry spots he has on his tush and back, and he said to lessen the baths to 2-3 per week, that that's more than enough for him, and too much bathing actually dries out their skin, I guess the 'less is more' talk...

Any opinions on this?

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

My mom tells me that she was so nervous when I was born, that she bathed me 2X a day. She didn't want people to think she allowed her baby to get dirty. I was a dried out prune. The doctor told her to please cut down the baths because babies just do not get that dirty

I am not sure about toddlers but maybe you can just give him a sponge type bath on his 'off' days.

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

I bathe Emma 3x a week at night usually around 7-7:30. I use the bedtime bath stuff. She smells so good afterwards! She has baths on Sunday, Wed and Friday. She has swimming on Wednesday but if she didnt I may only give her a bath 2x a week. I use wipes and face clothes between bathings.

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

Luke's evening routine is dinner around 6:30-7:00 and then a bath afterwards. The into PJs and some play time until anywhere from 8pm to 9pm and then into the crib to beddy bye.

He gets a bath every night unless we are out visiting or if my Mom is watching him, he gets a sponge bath. A morning bath/shower is very rare these days, I use to do that when he was smaller and every meal was a total mess.

I dont use too much soap on him, just the stuff I put in the tub when I am first running the bath, a couple squirts. Then I use the wash cloth to clean him up from that soapy water.

HTH

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

I bathe Aidan about 3 times a week ... When he was an infant he had dry skin - so the Dr. told me to cut back on the baths. He get one about 7pm on his bath night-- then I use the Slepp time calmong lotion --- I swear by it ... Ever since we started using it he has slept 8pm to 7:30 am straight -- ! Maybe Im crazy -- LOL

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

So far, Lyla's bedtime routine everyday is around 7-7:30 massage with oil for about 10 min. and book. Then a bath, dressed, nurse, rock to sleep by 8:30. We used to do this later when she would sleep at 10pm or so. Like Elizabeth said, I only use a couple of squirts of the mild baby soaps.

In the morning, I wash her with a washcloth but I concentrate on her hands, face and bottom. I fill up a little bowl with warm water and do it on the changing table. I put lotion on her and then I give her 'naked time' in her crib b/c I already see a little redness, and don't want the diaper rash to get worse.

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

ANNA, the same thing happened with me and Mia, I was bathing her everyday and he said NO...I dried out her little arms and her back

He said every other day or every 2 days...they don't need baths everyday as long as the diaper area is clean it's not necessary.

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

When Paul was a very small infant, he got a bath 2x a week - with just warm water - no soap (the soap is what dries their skin, and they are NOT that dirty).

Now, Paul's bedtime routine is solid...we had to do this in order for him to not cry at bedtime. We eat dinner every night at 5:30ish...(sometimes, it is closer to 6PM). Depending upon how long we linger over our meal, how long it takes us to do the dishes, etc., Paul sometimes gets a little playtime after dinner. Then bathtime is 7:30PM. After bathtime, is milk time...his last bottle of the day in his highchair. Then we have 'brush your teeth time' Then Mommy kisses goodnite and Daddy does 'storytime' and then it's goodnite and lights out for Paul.

We have found that by telling Paul exactly what comes next in the 'routine,' he is able to predict his schedule, and is more relaxed when it is bedtime. The ONLY times we stray from this routine, is if we are out visiting someone's home or it is a special occasion. Even if Paul falls asleep in the car, sometimes he'll wake up when we bring him in the house. Then, we just omit the full bath, but wash his face/hands, brush teeth, have storytime and then go to sleep. Works like a charm for us...and I thank God everyday!

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

We start the assembly line at around 7:30 - 8:00 every night -- baths, bottle and bed. Luckily, I haven't noticed any dry skin -- I use dove soap, which ped recommended for when they were born and some of the lavender sleep bath stuff. The bath helped them get into a routine each night (I think).

PS: Niha, it sounds like you have a 'baby spa' going on at your house! Did you take a class for baby massage? That sounds like such a nice thing for Lyla. Lucky girl!

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

LOL, Kaycee! DH is tired of the bedtime routine and thinks I make too big a deal of it. I didn't take a class, just red a how-to article in a parenting magazine. But, my family, being from India, always practiced infant-massage, so all the women told me I must do it. I wash her hair every other day, and also massage her head very gently on these days. Lyla loves it, when she fusses she calms down during bath and massage time!

This routine is very time consuming though, not sure how long I can keep it.

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

Niha, they LOVVVEEEE naked time!
The toddler years it gets even worse. My nieces would run around their house naked in the middle of winter

I also use very little of the baby wash, I wonder if its too strong for his skin?

Claud, they LOVE hearing what's going on, or even sung to about it, I make a song of everything (in Italian)

Kaycee, my Dr recommended Dove also.

JA doesnt sit still for massages. I do them every now and then with lotion. When he was a newborn it was easier, but he'd cry from being 'out in the cold' (it was wintertime ) and now I have to wrestle him down to hold him while I massage him (or even for a diaper change). He giggles when I massage his head! He gets such a kick out of it.

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

My mom swears by bathing the baby at night.. she feels that not onlyshould the baby feel nice and clean and relaxed after the bath, but that the whole act of bathing the baby tires the baby out and therefore they get a better sleep too...

My mom used to bathe us like 2 x a day.. forget about changing us.. we were like little dolls lol

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

We do bathtime in the morning. Unless he comes home from school totally filthy.
Reason being is that by the time I pick him up from school get dinner started and cleaned up he's about falling asleep. Bedtime was 8:00pm and now falls sometime between 6:15pm and 7:15pm. I'm lucky if I get to play with him during the week.
We dont have any kinda ritual, or schedule. But it works for us.

Re: Mommies... when is bathtime for baby?

varies from week to week...but is 2x/3x a week...done after dinner . wrap her up quickly in a towel- off to the bedroom, wipe her down, lotion her up! (she loves this!) get her in her pjs, then into the darkened living rm for her last bottle in the glider. sometimes she falls right asleep, sometimes I rock her, sometimes she is still wired...so its baby eistein!

I use one squirt of J&J baby wash...

on off days, I use a washcloth with a dab of soap. Her hands get really grimy (trying to feed herslef) we will just ruin them under the faucet like a BIG GIRL!