How to Get Started with Baby Bathtime and Sensitive Skin

 

Baby bath time is more than a hygiene necessity, it’s an opportunity to learn, have fun and bond with parents. It can be intimidating for new parents to get started with baby bath time, and today I’m sharing my advice on what to expect from your bath time routine and thoughts on choosing the right products. This post is sponsored by Baby Dove and I also have a coupon to share!

Giving Baby a Bath for the First Time

My daughter was born in the UK, where a midwife comes to visit you at home for the first week following delivery. At 7 days old, our midwife looked at my bundle of joy and said: “I think you need to give her a bath.” Gulp. Of course, I knew I had to bath her eventually, but I was terrified. What if I break her? What if she drowns? She’s so floppy… how does baby bath time even work?

If you’re worried to get started with baby bath time, don’t be, you’ll do great. Make it easy on yourself while you get the hang of it:

• Take your time and thoroughly prepare the bathroom before you get baby in the water. There is nothing worse than getting started and realizing you’re missing a towel… running around the house with a cold soggy baby is no fun for anyone.

• Have someone with you to help. That way, one can support baby while the other gently washes. You’ll soon get the hang of doing both, but you’ll be less nervous with a helper at hand! 
• If you’re feeling nervous about using products, try adding some to the water rather than directly to the skin for the first few months. Choose a high-quality baby-friendly product. I’m sharing my thoughts on Baby Dove’s Sensitive Moisture cleanser and lotion below, which are made with 100% skin-natural nutrients for delicate baby skin.
• If you have twins, I highly recommend bathing them separately until they can confidently sit up and stay up. You want to be able to give each baby your full attention. Keep the other nearby in a bouncy chair or bassinet.

How often do I need to wash Baby?

Every mom has their own answer to this question and there are two ways to look at it. Are you bathing purely for hygiene & play, or does it form part of a tight bedtime routine? Although I’m all for routines and schedules, I also believe in keeping it simple. 

We have a general rule to bathe our kids every other evening. If you’re having a rough day… don’t worry about it, bathe them in the morning. For the most part, babies don’t get very dirty, although bathing does help with keeping diaper rash at bay.

Toddlers in Springtime

Now that the Twins are 2.5-years-old, we often return from the park covered from head to toe in sand and unidentified grubby stuff… more baths are required! You’ll find that during the warmer months, your kids need more baths. Not just because of all the outdoor activities, but because you may be using sunscreen and bug spray.

You are the only one who knows what is best for your baby, and there are no fixed rules on how often they should be bathed. While there’s no one right way to parent, there is a superior way to care for baby’s skin, so consider your bath time products carefully.

Losing skin Moisture during bathtime

Alongside the harsh effects of the sun (especially for us in Arizona!), during a single bath, baby’s skin can lose moisture up to five times faster than an adult’s. This makes it more vulnerable to dryness, making the products you choose really important. All three of my kids have suffered the occasional spell of irritation from dry, sensitive skin, and we’ve tried and tested many products to use during bath time. Baby Dove Sensitive Moisture Tip to Toe Wash helps retain your baby’s natural skin moisture and suits our babes very well, indeed. It is also ophthalmologist, dermatologist, and pediatrician tested, so baby is in good hands

When do I Start Using Products?

For the first couple of weeks after birth, we chose not to use any products and stick to just water. There is no definitive reason you can’t use cleansers from day one, but I personally believed the twins would benefit from the comfort of familiar smells. Even as they get older, smell can be an extremely powerful sense and I would always recommend staying fragrance-free with products.

There comes a time where the newborn baby smell becomes a baby-needs-a-proper-wash smell and whether it be immediately or a month down the road, at some point you’ll want to start using a bath time cleansing wash. Either add to the water like a bubble bath or use a cloth to lather and wash baby from tip to toe. We have been using the Baby Dove Sensitive Moisture Tip to Toe Wash at bath time and the boys are enjoying learning how to wash themselves!

There is always the worry of whether baby’s newborn skin is going to be sensitive. Baby Dove’s Sensitive Moisture range was awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association and is made with no dyes, no parabens, and no phthalates. If you want to know more about Baby Dove products, visit BabyDove.com.

Do We Wash Hair Every Bath?

Again, there is no hard and fast rule. When they’re tiny, especially if they are born with less hair like mine, washing it was so easy we did it often. As toddlers, with that mop of curls, it’s a lot more labor intensive… plus they now hate having their hair washed. They’d much rather be sploshing about with their cars and playing with the washcloth.

We loosely stick to a rule of bath time every other day, and hair washing every other bath. It is easy to do when they are laying in the newborn baby bathtubs and becomes more troublesome when they are sitting up. Trying to explain to a toddler that looking up and tilting their head back helps keep the water out of their eyes takes time… we’re not quite there yet. Baby Dove Sensitive Moisture range is pH neutral and gentle on eyes, which makes a big difference when you’re bargaining with a two-year-old!

What About Lotions and wipes?

Use a good baby lotion after bath time to help replenish moisture. Here in Arizona the air is extremely dry and sometimes the little ones require a major moisture boost. Some moms also choose to use a lotion after every bath as part of their baby massage bedtime routine. Baby Dove Sensitive Moisture Baby Lotion is made with 100% skin-natural nutrients and gentle moisturizers for 24 hours of moisture. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a bath time or bedtime routine to keep baby’s skin happy.

Wipes can be tough on sensitive baby skin. Baby Dove Sensitive Moisture Baby Wipes offer gentle cleansing with instant moisturization for all over use. They are as gentle as water, suitable for newborns, and fragrance and alcohol-free. I’ve been encouraging the Twins to wipe their own hands and face after meals and they definitely approve!

Get Yourself a Coupon!

If you’re ready to get started with baby bath time, Baby Dove has products for all skin types in its Rich Moisture and Sensitive Moisture ranges. They are offering a coupon to allow you to try their products at a discount. Even better than that… it doubles when you share it with another mom!      

Get the coupon –> here

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Baby Dove.