Preparing for bathtime.
One of the challenges of getting ready for a bath is preparing the tub itself. It needs to be safely on the floor (you can put it down next to the baby playmat to make it easier on your knees), on a counter or baby bath stand, filled with water at the correct temperature, with washcloths, a jug and a towel nearby. Fun fact, in the newborn stage, water is perfectly sufficient to clean your little one. No bubble bath needed!
Babies need to be well supported for the entire duration of their bath, which means keeping hold of your little one the whole time, so anything you’ll want to use must be within arms reach. Even if you have an in-built baby bath seat, you need to keep a hand on your baby until they can confidently sit up by themselves. If your little one really seems to dislike the bath, hanging a baby mobile above the tub might help distract them long enough to get them clean.
Once everything is ready to go, you can undress on the baby changing table, then transport your nudie baby to the tub. Let your little one dictate the length of time they spend in the water. If they are happy, there’s no reason to rush out, and here in Singapore, we don’t really need to worry about the water going cold!
Our tips (from real mums) for bathing your baby.
“My number one tip for bath time is, let your partner do it! When your midwife comes to walk you through your baby’s first bath, insist that you need to have a little lay down and let your partner take the lead. After that, they’ll be the expert. Bath time gives them the chance for special bonding, a time that’s just for them, and just as importantly, it gives you a moment to yourself, even if you usually spend it with your phone and breast pump like I do. In our house, bath time is daddy-daughter time, and we all love it!” - Maddison, Robertson Quay
“New mums can get very worried about bath time, but they really shouldn’t. For babies, baths are for fun and relaxation above anything else. They don’t need one every day, but they can have them as often as you both like. If your little one loves splish-splashing in the tub, then, by all means, have three today! But if it’s making your life harder getting them all undressed and in the water, then a bath can be saved for poo-splosion days alone!” - Mei, Bukit Timah