Hello Svetlana!
I appeal to you with my problem. My two-month-old son absolutely does not like to swim. Each bath is accompanied by hysteria and sobs, and I unsuccessfully try to calm the child.
I began to think about taking a bath with the baby. But I would like to know in advance from you: is it possible to swim with a baby?
Regards, Olya.
Bathing for the baby can be both a pleasant, relaxing and restorative procedure, as well as an unpleasant, stressful moment, after which the baby is naughty for a long time. How to make the bathing process bring the child only pleasant impressions and not instill a fear of water for many years.
Pros and cons of swimming with your baby
Bathing in the bathroom with mom brings a lot of useful emotions for the child. If a close person is near the baby, he:
- less afraid of water (also read: What to do if the child is afraid to bathe in the bathroom);
- feels safe;
- pleased with the water procedures;
- calm because next to mom.
Bathing with one of the parents will bring the child pleasure and help to love water procedures.
There are practically no disadvantages of joint swimming. The only thing is that parents need to wash the bath thoroughly daily before bathing the baby. But if everyone in the family is used to monitoring hygiene, then such treatment will not lead to additional difficulties.
Bathing rules
There is nothing wrong with swimming together, but you must observe hygiene and special rules:
- Before taking a bath with the baby, the parent must be washed.
- If mom or dad suffers from a fungal or skin disease, joint water procedures with a small child are prohibited.
- You can not swim with the baby if the adult is feeling unwell. He may lose consciousness and drop the child.
- The optimum temperature for bathing the baby is 37 degrees (we also read: The optimum temperature for bathing a newborn baby).
- It is necessary to dip the baby into the water slowly so as not to frighten him.
- You can not leave the bath with a baby in her arms, as you risk dropping him. It is best, being in the water, to give the baby to another adult, and then go out by himself.
- Child with an unhealed umbilical wound Doctors do not recommend bathing.
The child is not configured to bathe in large quantities of water without support. This creates fear in him and leads to disruption of contact between mother and child:
- anxiety, restlessness;
- bad sleep;
- breast rejection;
- frequent causeless crying.
All these are the consequences of the stress of bathing in a large bathroom, with diving or by early swimming techniques. Some parents release their baby into a large bathtub with a circle around their neck. But the circle will not save the baby from the fear that he was alone in an unfamiliar frightening space. In addition, such support leads to cramps in the cervical region, which causes pain in the baby.
Important! It should be remembered that bathing a baby is possible only in a baby bath, or bathing with mom in the same bathroom when the baby feels support and can at any time attach to the mother’s breast.
Preparation for water procedures
To approach the preparation of bathing the baby should be very serious so as not to harm the little man by inept actions. Before water procedures should:
- wash the bath well;
- lay a special non-slip mat on the bottom;
- check the water - it should be about 37 degrees;
- so that the temperature of the water does not change, it can be left to flow from the tap;
- the bath should be typed no more than half;
- optionally add herbal infusions;
- prepare diapers, a towel and clean clothes for the baby;
- comfortable air temperature for the bathroom - 22-25 degrees.
Bathing process
When swimming with the baby in a large bath, it is very important to do everything right so that the child does not have a fear of water. Children under three months of age are frightened by a large volume of water, so dipping the baby should be very careful, keeping it upright.
- first, the legs of the child are immersed in water, then the baby is placed on the back;
- Mom should remain calm during the bathing process, as her mood is largely transmitted to the baby. Feeling the anxiety of a loved one, the child will begin to get nervous and cry. At first, it is advisable to bathe the baby together;
- if the baby is squeamish in the water, you can give him a chest. Talk to him in a calm and gentle voice. He must feel the maternal presence all the time;
- you need to remove any negative factors that can upset or scare the baby. Carefully make sure that water does not get into the baby’s nose and mouth and that it is at the recommended temperature, that is, 37 degrees;
- should be located in the bath so that it is convenient for both: mother and baby. It is best to lay the baby in a corner that turns out between her mother’s stomach and legs. The tummy and legs of the child are covered with water;
- bathing time should not exceed 15-20 minutes.
Important! You can’t leave the bathtub with the baby, there is a danger of falling, so first you give it to the assistant, or put it in the carrier, wrapping it in a towel and only then leave the bathtub.
When the baby learns to sit, he will be happy to dabble with you.
The benefits of sharing bathing for mom
Joint bathing benefits not only the child, but also the mother, helping her to relax and get positive emotions.
- The extra time for communication with the child helps the woman get positive emotions, express her love for the baby. This is especially important for those women who are forced to go to work early and do not see their son or daughter all day.
- Sharing a bath together with a nursing mother helps in the production of milk, as close physical contact contributes to this.
- Joint bathing brings pleasure to both the baby and parents.
Subject to all safety and hygiene rules, bathing will turn into a pleasant procedure for both parents and the baby.
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