Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

I've read this in a few books AND a friend mentioned it to me last week...both her and her sister showered their kids as soon as the umbilical cord came off.

Basically, Mommy or Daddy just holds the baby in the shower (some people use grips because those munchkins can be slippery little suckers!) and washes him. Works best if parent has his back to the water flow and baby gets what comes through.

From what I've read, it's safe to do as soon as the umbilical cord falls off...best to tub-clean the baby until then.

Some pros:
-good skin on skin bonding time, especially with Daddy
-baby gets used to water on his face/head at an early age
-would be easier/more convenient for us - we only have a stall shower

cons:
-babies are slippery! I'd DIE if he slipped...

Any thoughts?

eta: pic of the palm palms grips -used to hold baby in shower OR in tub

Message edited 3/27/2009 8:28:34 PM.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

I've done it, and I won't lie... it's hard. And yes, she is totally the slippery eel when we are doing this...

Also another thing... she's not fond of the water hitting her, and we have a water conserver shower head, so it really mists - there isn't a true output of water that would overwhelm her with water, KWIM?

It's fun, but it's hard if you are trying to wash them.... If you are going in for a rinse, or some skin to skin bonding time, it's much easier.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

I've thought about doing it, but I am afraid I would drop them.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

I have done it, but not until DS was about 6 or 7 months old--I wanted him to have good neck control. When they are little you can put the bath anywhere---we used to put it on our kitchen counter, my cousin put it on her bed. HTH!
ETA its much easier if one holds the baby and the other washes him

Message edited 3/27/2009 8:35:55 PM.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

Too slipery for me! Holding DS with 1 arm up in the air, use soap with the other arm... oh wait, you have to also use only 1 hand to put soap on washcloth and make it lather a bit... SURE!!!!

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

DH tried showering her off once when she had a poop explosion & she flipped...she hates the water shooting out like that & she was very slippery.

She also LOVES her bath & bath time. In the beginning Nic, you can put the little tub in the sink or on the counter like others said.

B4 cord falls off, they say you should only be sponge bathing her/him.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

like a greased up little piggy!!! so slippery. we did it once in a hotel...so hard

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

We did it with DD but it was totally a team effort. DH usually had her in the shower, washed her and then I got her and dried her and dressed her.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

i have done it with my girls since they we about a week old. We mainly do it when we are on vacation. I have never had any problems doing it. Now most my showers have 2 little toddlers in them with me

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

I never did when he was an infant, but I can't remember the last time he had a real bath. he always takes a shower with me and sits on the floor playing while I do my thing and then I get him washed up.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

We do it with DS. DH holds DS in the shower and I wash him. It needs to be a team effort so that DH can concentrate on holding him while I wash him. He loves the water on his face and the watch hitting his back. We only do it if we didn't have time to give him a bath the night before and DH is up early enough for me to throw DS in there with him.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

with my son we started about 1 month old and my daughter probably 2 months. my DH washes them - a great bodning for him!!! and he hands them off to me for me to dry them and clothe them. DH loves it and it is easier for me :)

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

Lately Gavin gets showered everyday. Usually after his first 'doobie' (that's what we call poop, I shower him off in the tub, we have a hand held. He loves the water so it keeps him happy.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

DH made me shower with Ryan when we were in Florida because he claimed the tub was grungy.

I wouldn't do it again. DH had to wash him while I just held onto him tightly. It was a mess and total PITA.

I would love to try to bathe with DS while I have the opportunity. I think that could be an awesome bonding experience.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

I've done it a few times. Once he starts walking i'll do it much more. We have a stand up shower so we can only use baby tubs to bathe him.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

We shower a couple times a week. DC is 7 months old and we've been doing this for several months. Yes, baby gets slippery but we just hold her close. She loves reaching out and touching the water. We think it's a lot fun!

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

I've done it fairly often. Especially in the last 2 months as most of the places we stayed in Italy did not have tubs, only stall showers.

Its easiest with two people - so someone on the outside can hand him in, and take him out, but I've done it solo as well.

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

I shower with Jack all the time now (he's 21 months) I have showered with him when he was younger and it was really really slippery - I was so scared and didn't do it again for months!

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

We put the shower thing on him to rinse him off while he is in the tub since we have a handheld shower thing. We just put it on the gentle spray. However, I wouldn't be against taking him in the shower!

Re: Does anyone SHOWER their infant, not just bathtub bathe?

DH and I shower with DD all the time she's 21 months. I didn't when she was a baby, way too slippery.