Ok, how do I really give my baby a bath?

Question

He's almost 8 months old, and so of course he wants to sit up in his baby bathtub, and he's also getting more dirty now that he's got his hands on everything, and having some serious poops.

How do I keep him from face planting into the water when he decides to fall forward? How do I soap him up when he's immersed in water? Do I just sit him in soapy water and call it a day? Sure I could just soap him up in an empty tub and then rinse him off, but it's not exactly the warmest way to take a bath - I'd be pretty ticked if someone got me all wet and soapy, and then just rinsed me off, rather than letting me enjoy the warmness of the bath, especially as Fall and Winter come closer. Also, once I soap him up, his hands are all over, and then in his mouth, and while I'm sure the baby shampoo people account for this, all that stuff can't be that great for him to ingest. And if he refuses to put his head back, how do I rinse off his hair? I've tried just dumping water over his head, and after violently shaking and looking at me like "why did you just do that?" he does some good wailing, and it doesn't seem too kind.

Any suggestions? What's with all these romantic pictures of babies perfectly behaved in bathtubs with cutie-pie shampoo heads? This is not my reality...

Answer 1

What kind of tub are you using now? I just got this for my 7 month old (not sure if this is what you're using?):

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

It's good because she can sit up, play with toys, and splash.  You put it in the regular tub. On the downside, it's hard to wash her hair because (like you said) she can't really tip her head back.  I just pour water over her soapy head and cover her eyes with a washcloth. Water still drips into her eyes, but at least they're partially protected. Another downside is that it's hard to wash her little tush since the seat  blocks that area a bit  

All in all, it's a good solution, give it a try.  

Answer 2

Hee hee, not my reality either, LOL.  It definitely gets easier with time.  I just sit my 10-month old in the tub (baby tub or regular bathtub)....and let him splash away.  I use Johnson&Johnson baby bath, and don't worry when he gets suds in his ears/mouth/nose/eyes.  I use a washcloth to wipe his face, underarms, tummy, back, all of the places that are not in the water.  The shampoo is the hard part (my son NEVER puts his head back, it's always down), but I have learned it is easiest when I am rinsing the shampoo out to put my hand over his forehead to shield his eyes.  I use a small cup to rinse the water out.  I also use my hand to cover his ears when I rinse off the sides.  I just do it very gently and slowly.  It's inevitable, he always gets water in his eyes and ears but it's not like a boat-load of water attacking him.  :)

Answer 3

He's 8 months old !!!!! Gees, just listen to the others, and use a cup. So what if he cries, he'll get used to it ! Use a bath seat for bigger babies, like the other answerer suggested. It looks more like a walker or play center thingy. They sit in it, and their legs just slip through like a stroller. Gees, you'd think after 8 months, you'd have that down-pat ! If you're holding the baby up, you DON'T soap the whole baby at once, you hold one hand or shoulder, soap the other side, and the rest, THEN, switch, and wash where you were holding !!!!!  

Answer 4

i take a showerd with my 8 month old boy i just lay him over my lap with the water falling down on him from the chest down soap him up and rinse him off when i do is hair i soap it up and the i  turn him over so he is face down then stick his head under the water he lifts his head up so the water doesnt get in his nose and just let the water do the rest  

Answer 5

Just fill the tub with a few inches of water, and put soap in the water.  Then get a washcloth was soap on it and wash him.  If he falls in the water pull him up, no big deal.  they get used to the water on the head.

Answer 6

It's called a baby bath SEAT.  A little ring look thing that enables him to sit him and hold on.  Never leave him alone though.  Soap him up with baby soap and a washcloth.  We always use a plastic cup from the kitchen to rinse our kids.  To rinse his hair, tilt his head back by gently pushing your hand on his forehead until he's look it up, then dump the water on his hair.  He'll probably hate that at too first, but he'll get used to it.

I don't think a little baby soap bubbly is going to hurt him if he does "eat" it.

Answer 7

8 months is still small enough to be in a baby bath tub, not deep at all and small enough for them to sit still in. But if no baby bath them do it in a clean kitchen sink. Only have the water up to their belly button, start with a cup and just slowly poor water on him, tilt his head back to get his hair wet, its so thin you dont need a lot. Then once he is wet start with his head and shampoo it, like I said you dont need a lot, then tilt the head back again and rinse with a cup of water. Get a rag (baby washcloth) and get it wet and a tiny bit of soap on it, dip it in water gain to spread the soap, then put one finger in the washcloth and clean his face off, like make a road map around his little nose and eyes and mouth, then do his neck then back and stomach. Rinse his face off by getting the cloth rinsed out and rid of the soap and just gently wipe over his whole face, then get the cup and rince off his upper body, then stand him up and hold on him kinda like you are about to spank him over your arm but then get the cloth and wash his little butt and legs off, then turn him over and do his front, once you sit him ack down in the water just rub your hands over his legs and the soap will come off by itself. Then your done, let the water out and snuggle him in a towel, the key is too take your time and so it gently not to get soap or water in his eyes and get all messy.

Answer 8

I can think of several ways. One just put your baby in one of  those bath rings, and your ok to now wash with baby to tears soap. Or you could put toys in the tub that he likes and do a quick job of it.Be care full taken the baby out of tub he will be slippery.

Now give your little one a nice clean kiss from me.