After you take your baby home from the hospital, it may feel impossible to get anything done. That’s completely normal. Personally, I felt totally out-of-commission. Bath time seemed so intimidating, especially with a teeny wet newborn. I pushed it off as long as I could, but there came a point when it was simply time for the little guy to be cleaned.
I know some moms choose to shower holding their babies, but I’ve always been too nervous to do that, especially with a teeny tiny newborn because they’re so delicate and slippery! So we’ve never done that.
We used a typical baby bath, which I’ll link here. And even though I was crazy nervous to be even a few inches apart from him the first few times I bathed him- it fast became a super fun experience for everyone involved!
Here are the essential players in our bath-time fun:
This is the amazing baby bath we used. https://amzn.to/2Y9QLS1. It is intended for age 0-6 months…Don’t tell, but we actually used it until more like 10 months! And it was great! I always thought it must be so fun for tiny T to recline in his relaxing, pre-bedtime bath.
https://amzn.to/2XHEvZP. Then, of course, we needed an Environmental Working Group-approved body wash and shampoo. This one, free of hormone-disrupting phthalates, parabens, and chemical additives, made the cut. It smells really fruity and nice, too! I don’t always use soap all over baby’s body, but this was very helpful when I knew he was dirty.
Another soap I have plenty of experience with for baby is this Olive Oil soap by Kiss My Face: https://amzn.to/30jiZwr. It’s not for the faint of heart, or if you’re new to the natural-skincare kingdom. As in, it’s pretty hippie: green, slimy, very homemade looking. But also very pure and completely harmless, which is why I loved it for T!
The only ingredients are olive oil, water, and sea salt. This is a really bare-bones soap that does the job, but without any bells and whistles; don’t expect any impressive foam or lather, or fancy scents. But I find it very pleasant and usually get some when it’s in stock. If your child is prone to sensitive, dry skin or eczema, it’s worth trying totally unscented pure products like this one (and the next one).
Another simple pick, not-so-common for people outside the natural community, but something I have become reliant on as a harmless cleaning agent: and that is the one and only Dr. Bronner’s! https://amzn.to/3hb0jVJ Of course, for baby, I have the Unscented Baby version. I have a fond spot for this because of its high-quality ingredients and balanced pH that won’t mess with baby’s skin microbiome, but also nostalgic reasons: we were living abroad during much of my pregnancy, which was when I also began to become aware of the toxic chemicals all around me and how they could be affecting my unborn tiny T. So, this exact version of Dr. Bronner’s was the only product I could find easily in a health food store where we were, and that was what I began to use for almost everything. https://amzn.to/3hb0jVJ
I also have that teeny size, which I keep in my pocketbook!
Tip: it’s potent, and intended to be diluted somewhat before use on skin. And another tip: In a pinch, I have used this as dish soap or laundry detergent, too 🙂 Find my other favorite dish soaps and detergents on my Amazon Picks page.
You don’t need a special towel for baby- I just use a big ol’ one from the regular linen closet. BUT babies do love their bath toys! We are especial fans of these natural rubber cuties- they are great for bath time! https://amzn.to/2AdogL5, https://amzn.to/2UihsD2, and https://amzn.to/37ek7CL are all adorable! They are made of natural rubber which means you don’t need to worry about nasty things getting into baby’s mouth when he inevitably chews on them!
Another big hit in the bath: these little cups- baby LOVES to pour water in and out of them, and if he’s holding his own, then he’ll allow me to use mine to splash water on his head. https://amzn.to/2XJuGea I love these cups, they always seem to come in handy for something or another! https://amzn.to/2XJuGea
What do you guys love best about bathtime?
