dressing an infant and bathing?

Question

my baby is 6 weeks old...i'm a first time mom...any tips on how to dress my baby especially those clothes that goes over her head...she screams..she doesn't like it...especially giving her a bath...i'm tooo scared..she's so fragile...help!

Answer 1

When you are dressing her and you are putting a shirt over her head, she is going to cry because it is unfamiliar to her. Just keep talking to her in a soothing voice and take you time putting the shirt on. When you bathe her, make sure that the water is not too cold and not too hot. I have a little rubber ducky that tells me that the water is hot. I put her little bathtub in the shower and bathed her that way. I tried bathing her with her tub in the kitchen sink and she seemed cry more, so I switched to the bathtub in the bathroom. My daughter cried when I gave her a bath every time until she was about 2 months.

Answer 2

Here's my all time favorite tip for bathing baby (I have 5 children, and never owned a "baby bath tub".

Get a pair of white cotton gloves (well they don't have to be white, but you get the idea). You can give baby a shower when you shower. Just be sure the water isn't too hot on her tender skin, but not too cold, either - just nice - trust your instincts here. Cradle her in your arm holding her thigh. The gloves help her to not be too slippery. Then with the free hand, wash under her neck, under her arms, and her bottom. You will rarely need to use soap because you change her diaper often and clean it regularly, and the rest of her can be wiped with a warm wash cloth or a little olive oil. Olive oil or almond oil is so good for the skin. Then wrap her in a towel and your done. My first 2 babies took "Papa showers" with their dad pretty exclusively when they were infants, and they LOVED them.

Your baby is not fragile. Really, as long as you're not being rough, you can move those arms and legs and hands and head however you need to get those clothes on. For putting on a shirt, gather the shirt to the collar, then start at the back of the head, and slip the back of the head into the shirt, then pull the rest of the collar and gathered shirt over the front of baby's head. Gather the sleeves and put their hand into the sleeve hole. If you can picture this, it should help.

I know it can be hard when baby is screaming, but ignore the screams for 1 minute, and just quickly get her dressed, then wrap her tightly (swaddle) in a blanket and pick her up. She will settle down quickly.

Here's my favorite item for new babies. It's called a Convertible Gown. Gown by night, playsuit by day...and you don't have to put anything over her head! It snaps up the front! 100% cotton

http://landsend.com/cd/fp/prod/0,,1_2_52358_53307_154417_131323_5:view=-1,00.html?sid=8672114554539141000&CM_MERCH=SRCH

Answer 3

I know those first few weeks are tough. Try onesies or clothes that dont have to go over her head. Talk and sing to her while you dress her and when you're done, comfort her until she stops crying. As for bathing, I know they're fragile but they NEED baths. There are certain baby bathing tubs you can buy for infants that are completely safe and all you do is wash them with a washcloth. If your baby doesnt like bath then sing to her and talk to her while bathing her. She should be comforted by your voice. I hope this helps!

Answer 4

First off, a little one isn't so fragile as all that. Yeah, they are floppy and lack muscle tone, but, hey, she made it thru the birth canal in one piece, right? Besides, by 6 weeks, she should be able to control her head pretty well.
If you are concerned about bathing, get one of those yellow sponge bath cushions at Target (some are shaped like teddy bears), and bathe baby on that. I used one for my son, and he felt very secure in it. They also hold warmth very well. Most little ones hate being naked, and hate being pushed and pulled thru clothing even more. Buy baby clothes that don't need to be pulled over Baby's head- front zippers, snaps, and buttons are easiest.

Answer 5

Well, most clothes go over their heads so it's going to be difficult to avoid that. She's only 6 weeks so she'll get use to it eventually. The bath situation is the same way. My son HATED baths that young (he's 18months and loves them now!). He just screamed and screamed until he choked! It was awful. It's just that babies that young are super sensitive to EVERYTHING. Don't worry, you're not hurting her, she just has no other way to express her dislikes so she screams. She'll probably be that way until around 4 months. There is something about that age where their little nervous systems get more developed. Good luck!

Answer 6

As far as dressing baby and putting something over her head, try pre stretching the shirt/onsie with your hands to make sure it doesnt feel uncomfortable slipping over her head. Also as you are putting it on her, say something like wheres the baby or wheres (her name here) and make it a little game of peek a boo. Reassuring her its ok will help. Just talk to her and tell her what you are doing. She may not understand what you are saying, but you talking to her should help ease her little mind about things going dark for a minute while the shirt covers her eyes!!
As for bath time, what i did with my sons was placed the baby bathtub on the counter insted of in the bath to reduce the strain of being over a huge tub. I got a bathtub that had a sling built for newborns to lay in and it made it a little easier as well. It is very intimidating bathing such a small little baby, mine were both 4lbs 2 oz at birth!! (Premature twins) so it was definitly scary for me, but they get use to it and soon you will be a pro!! Good luck and congrats on your new little girl!

Answer 7

When my son was an infant, I was also scared to bathe him--they are so tiny then! I would sometimes actually get in the tub with him--the big one, of course!--and would put him on top of me...that was always fun! And I would use those little plastic tubs for infants--and would ask for help from my mom or sister! Those are pretty good--you just hold them in and make sure they don't slip down...don't fill them up with that much water...As for clothes over her head..you could just stick to clothing that buttoned up and did not go over her head--she may just be scared...if you have to put on clothing that goes over her head-well--if she cries for a moment it's probably okay--especially if she needs to wear that item of clothing becasue of the weather, etc...Good Luck!!

Answer 8

I had my son only 6 months ago and I was much like you are now... Ashton cried during bathing and still does it times. Just make sure the water is warm.. not too hot nor too cold... as far as dressings... they are always uncomfortable.... at that young of and age I wouldn't dress them in anything fancy unless its an important event and your leaving the house simply because usually the nicer the baby clothing the more uncomfortable it is for the baby due to textures and such... Just go for swaddle me's, onesies and pant legs.... once she reaches about 2 months you can put anything on her and she won't react at all :) good luck and congrats

Answer 9

Try a baby tub...they are safer because a wet baby is a very slippery baby and an infant tub usually comes with a thermometer that tells you the temperature of the water so you don't burn her.Also...try the undershirts with the button down front that way you don't have to pull anything over her head until you feel more comfortable...There are one piece jumpers that come that way as well.Don't worry and good luck! You will get the hang of everything sooner than you think! God Bless

Answer 10

You have not given a 6 week old a bath? Yikes.

This is how I always gave my baby a bath. I would clean the bathtub out and then fold up a beach towel so it was nice and thick. I would roll one edge under a little creating a sort of "pillow" on the end of the blanket. Then I would run the water so it was warm but not too hot. A good way to test the water (and I know it sounds strange) is to dip your own face in the water. If it feels instantly too hot for your own face, cool it off a little. If it feels warming and soothing, it's just right.

Fill up the bathtub with several inches of water and then keep the water on a slow trickle so you can fill up a little plastic cup to rinse the baby's head and body once you wash them.

Make sure to have a couple nice thick towels on hand for when the bath is over.

Have a soft, baby wash cloth there and a little cup with some squirted out baby-wash in the cup. Mix in some water to dilute it. this way it's all ready and you can (one-handed) dip the wash cloth in the sudsy cup of water without letting go of your little girl.

Undress the baby and lie her down on the towel in the tub, keeping one hand under her head or in the crook of her underarm so you keep her stable. First wash her face with the cloth with no soap..do her eyes, around her nose, chin cheeks (get in all the little fat rolls) Then rinse the washcloth with one hand and dip it in the soapy water in the cup. Wash her from the neck down...neck, shoulders, chest, arms, underarms, back (roll her over on her side and remember your one hand should never be off the baby). Wash her down to her little toes.

All the while you might be rinsing her with cups of warm water so she doesn't get chilled.

Dont forget her hair. Nothing smells better than a baby out of a bath.

Even if she cries sing soft songs to her and just be quick. She'll grow to love her baths.

When you ahve rinsed her all off, pick her up with both hands. Be super careful becasue she'll be slippery. Place her in a fresh dry towel and cuddle her a while. She'll be practically all dried when you open the towel.

A little lotion, clean warm clothes and presto....Little Miss Snuggle who smells SO good.

I always would stretch the heads of the shirts a little with my hand. and place your hand next to her head so you kind of guide the shirt on the baby's head.

Find someone who has had babies and watch them do it.