fears on baby bath time  

Spoiled311-
I myself didn't really know what to expect. but just as others have told you, most of the 'instinct' will just come to you.

what I did when I had my daughter for bath time was get in the bath tub with her and hold her. i sat indian style and layed her in my lap as i washed her with little water in the bath tub. once she was clean then i would have my mother or sister (for you probably the father of your child if you're still with him mine left me before i had our baby) come and get her out of the bath lotion her up and all that, while i finished cleaning myself. so in a way you have time for yourself as well.
i never used a baby bath, i wouldnt even know where to begin using one of those. lol. i personally believe that taking a bath with your child is HUGE bonding time.... and it also made me feel more comfortable knowing i had more control being in there with her.
but honestly its all up to you and how you feel... it'll all come to you and you will see what you are more comfortable with.... don't worry

I did not think about my baby's first bath when i was pregnant... but after i gave birth... i spent three days at my mother's house... and she taught me how to give my baby a bath... it also helped that my husband studied caregiving... and baby baths was one of the things they studied... so he knows what to do...

I guess you should ask advise from your mother and mother-in-law... because for sure they know what to do...

Let me tell you that what you feel is totaly normal. I think I never knew fear before I had my son. It was so many things. What if I drop him, what if I brake his hand or squash his head but look he is 5 and he has all his bones in place. It is normal.
Now I belive that you are going to be shown how to bathe the baby in hospital try and give the baby a bath in hospital so the nurse can show you the right things to do. Also soap is not that important expecialy there is no need to put it directly on the baby (apart from the head) squirt a bit in the water and that way the baby ont slip. Also put the clothes that you take off the baby in the water for suport or a towel.
And remember you dont have to wash the baby every day you can use wash cloth to give the baby a wipe and maby wash it every second day to start with untill you are confident.

I think all new mothers experience fear about one thing or another. I worried that I wouldn't wake up during the night when the baby cried, since I am a very heavy sleeper. But I did. I woke up even when he moved around and didn't cry or make much noise.

As for newborn baths, just do sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off. You don't even need to use soap. Just lay the baby on the table on a towel, and use a wet washcloth to wipe baby's skin with warm water. Once the cord falls off, use a baby tub, right on the table and only a little water, and very little soap, if any. Get all supplies- tub with a little water, towel, washcloth, etc, ready before undressing baby, so you won't have to walk away to get something. Then undress baby, place in tub, clean, then wrap in towel, dry and get dressed. Most important thing to remember is ---Never walk away from baby during bath time. You should always keep one hand on the baby.

You could get a doll and practice in the baby tub. It may feel silly, but it will help lay your fears to rest. In the hospital, ask the nurses to show you. When I was in the hospital, there was a 24 hour baby care channel on the TV, so if they have that, you could watch the instruction on bathing your baby.

I know my saying it won't do much to make you feel better, but honestly you will do fine. Congratulations!

hello!

I will tell you my dear that your fear is perfectly normal.

I had had such feelings myself, about everything

not only about the bath, but about feeding and keeping

in my hands and all of this stuff.

But when the time came I knew what to do,

I took him with care and love and things went from instinct.

Now, I am pregnant again, in five month as you are,

- so maybe we will have time to chat after our babies will be born.

And change some impressions and pictures.

Seeu !
and have a peacefull pregnancy!

It is funny the fears we all have when we are having a baby. I was terrified of bathing my first born, in fact I did not for the first week the nurses in the hospital did. But you know once I did it once it was brilliant and all my fears went away. It is a daunting thought but just go steady and you will be fine I know you will!

I just gave birth a month ago and I also worried the same as you. I have a lot of nephews and nieces. I have seen my sisters give their babies a bath. Well, I thought it was easy but when it was my turn to have my own baby, I was quite afraid because I thought that my newborn baby is very delicate. I might do something wrong. Well, my husband and I did not give him a bath for three days after he was born. The first person to bathe him was my older sister. We asked her to show us how to give him a bath. Now, my husband and I help each other in giving our baby a bath. My husband carries him and I am the one washing him. We cannot still make him lean on the tub because his bones are still sensitive and weak.

When I brought my daughter home from the hospital, I had no idea what I was supposed to do with her. My mother had passed away the previous year, my sister and my friends lived pretty far away. My husband was no use whatsoever even though he had two boys from his previous marriage. Thank goodness his mother and sister were near, otherwise, goodness only knows what I would have done. They taught me how to do everything. When they gave her the first bath, I cried through the whole thing because I was afraid they were going to hurt her. (Gentle women they were not.) It didn't take me long to catch on to everything and I could bathe that baby in a matter of a few minutes even with her screaming at the top of her lungs. Babies don't break, I learned rather quickly. You'll do fine. It's amazing how fast you learn the tasks of motherhood.

i'm a first time new mom and actually didn't thought about it before i gave birth. It only worried me when the nurse asked me if i know how to bath a baby then i started to think about it. coz in the first place i don't have anyone at my side here as i'm miles away from my mom and in laws. i mean it's just me and my husband only. so to my relief the nurse told me to come and teach me how to bath my baby.
As from my expreince, first thing is that remove all your fears coz will never be able to do it. the nurse thought by holding her by my full left arms supporting her back and holding her in between legs and wash her using your right hands. then turn her amd and do the other side. better to ask assistance so it will be easier for you. and be sure to have everything you need right next to you. just be possitive and everything will go one smoothly. Good luck and congratulations!

Congrats to you. I am 1 week from my delivery. It is with my second child. Bath time was a bit of a worry for me to. But after the 1st weeks it was a breeze. It was easier for me to use the kitchen sink. I felt it gave me better control. Just follow your instincts. I found them to lead me in the right direction.