A bath every day?

[lulaloo]

Hi everyone!

I'm trying to work out a consistent routine for my 25 wo DD for her sleeps and naps. We're heading overseas for a trip in 2 weeks, and I'd like to have something familiar for her to associate with nap and sleep time. While I already play music, give her her bunny and draw the curtains, my husband and I sometimes differ in some elements of the night routine, and I'm worried it'll be jarring for her not to have familiarity on our trip.

My question is this - is a bath a day helpful at this age? She loves the bath, but I worry about drying her skin out, and because my pediatrician seemed surprised that I would want to bathe her every day. I thought it might be a nice wind down at the end of the day.

Thoughts?

[Mama2boys]

we did a biath everyday but used to oil/cream DS before or after based on what you prefer.

[judypdx]

this is a topic of debate between dh and i. i would like to give a bath everyday for routine sakes and dh only wants to give a bath every other day so her skin doesn't dry out.  lo is 10.5 months and eating finger food where she smears it all over her body, face and hair, so as a compromise, we do a quick rinse w/ just water everyday for 2 mins (she plays w/ her bath toys) and then a long bath every 2 days. made everyone happy.

[mini me]

Our DD has never missed her bedtime bath!  I truely believe it is a fantasic part of her routine ... it signals that it's night time rather than just another nap, so she always slept longer (8hrs at 5 weeks!!), it relaxes her, it gives her a daily dose of water play (a great way for her to have movement in the water before she is mobile and in control of her movements), and basically just forms part of her wind down routine. We've never had a dry skin problem, and in winter we give her a nice baby lotion massage just before getting her pjs on.

[*Liz*]

We bath everyday too. DS loves it and it does help relx him before bed.

I did find it dried his skin - but he is fine now I have found a moisturiser that suits him.

We recently went overseas and when we got to the hotel the bath was too big for himas I couldn't reach him leaning over the side so we had to skip it or get in the bath with him. Was all fine though. I think its the book, sleeping bag, kisses, bottle bit that helps the most really.

[Mashi]

We have done bath every night since DS was about 3 months.  He does have very dry skin, but that has been a prob since birth (and seems to run in the family) and we add loads of Aveeno oil to his bath and slather him with lotion after his bath. It started out as a routine thing but now it's become even more of a play and burn energy or relax and chlll out, depending on his mood. 

[scucci1979]

We bath everyday. DD love it. I put a little baby oil in her bath water and during the winter months, if her skin becomes dry, I put some baby oil or vaseline on her skin.   

[*Becky*]

my 7 month old DS has never missed a bedtime bath and I truly believe it is what has made his bedtime routine so great! He absolutley loves it and goes to sleep after like a dream. His skin has never dried out but you could always use a cream if you are worried. I would recommend a bath before bed! Becky x

[Shiv52]

Us too. We bath our LO every night.  Lovely end to our usually busy days and I think she knows it bedtime when she knows the bath is next as opposed to a nap.  WHen she is tired at night she has started signing 'bath' to get the bedtime routine going!!

[We Three]

We are every other dya here...always have been, and never at night, or at part of her wind-down...bathtime really gets her going and is very stimulating for her...

We do an every day bath now if we've had a hot day and she has had sunblock on. I would imagine now we'll be doing that all summer long, now that she's bigger this year she's getting alot dirtier!!  But having said that, if I'm going to do a nightime bath, I do it after dinner, with bedtime still a long ways off.

[SylvieA]

We do a bath almost every day. If we're out and don't get home till late, we'll skip it. But we don't do bath as a bedtime routine. She goes right after dinner as she always gets smeared with food, then I put her pj, then play till it's time for bed.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

We've been doing a bath everyday for Masyn since she was born as a part of her bedtime routine, which Spencer finally joined in at about 5 months (bathtime was way too exciting before that so I just sponge bathed her) It is a little more excitement for them than I would like (DH is in charge of baths  ) but we have a long story time session afterwards to chill out. At this point I don't think they would let us skip a day, Masyn has her routine down pat and even Spencer will crawl to the bathroom when she hears the tub filling up.

Heidi

[Mashi]

WHen she is tired at night she has started signing 'bath' to get the bedtime routine going!!

Ohhhhhh I like that idea!  Goignt o come up with a good sign and start teaching it!

[X-LUV]

Bath everyday- YES! Absolutely! My DS has eczema and that was my concern too! But ever since my mother taught me the trick to helping your lo wind down easily and sleep better thru the night by giving him a bath, it has worked! And we haven't missed a bath since. DS definitely associates bath time with bedtime and the water doesn't dry out his skin. Just be sure to not use heavily scented bath soaps and don't keep them in the water for more than 10 minutes. Also remember to always moisturize afterward (within 5 minutes after getting out the tub).

Happy bathing! 

[shivi]

hi

I do a joint bath every evening after tea as well. And have done since Emma's belly button healed around 4 weks old. Before this, I sponge bathed her during the day....at four weeks till around 2 mths, Emma was bathed in our batrhoom sink which is a bowl type shape and worked really well for me, while Oscar was in the bath alone, next to us.

If Dh is home, he gets in the bath with both of them.

IF alone, since Emma turned around 2 mths then I fill the bath up to a puddle only first, get her in washed and out and then as I am massaging her, get Oscar in to have some fun quickly.
If short on time, I will lay her down on the bathmat and shower her quickly and then give him a shower standing up.

Emma gets really sore in her little cracks between her chubby parts (even backs of knees and definately between all her chins LOL) if she is not bathed, oiled and sudo-creamed daily! And as for Oscar, well, he's just too filthy at the end of the day!!!

Can't wait till she can have a "proper" bath with him! Sat her in the bath today, propped on my arm while Oscar was  already in.....she was amazed that she could sit there with him...and he was ever so gentle as usual!

But, yes, bathtime for us is total wind-down....for all of us....a proper end to a long day!

S x