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Lisbet
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 5:46pm | IP Logged
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I generally bathe my newborns once a week. When my mother and grandmother heard this, they were all over me about it. They seem to think babies need a bath every day. Then, come to find out my sister in law gave her 3 girls a bath each day too - and my neighbor, who's baby was born the day before Greta, also does daily baths! Have I been neglecting my babies all this time...
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
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Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 6:06pm | IP Logged
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I bathe weekly, Lisa. How dirty can a newborn get? And bathing more often dries out their tender skin! Stick to your instincts, I say! 
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Jen Mackintosh
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anitamarie
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 6:07pm | IP Logged
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We generally gave baths everyday after about 3 weeks or so when the oil glands kicked in. Before that it was about every other day. Bathing too frequently can dry out the skin, though. I think we all give them baths everyday because we bathe everyday, not necessarily because they need it.  If she's healthy and not stinky, why worry?
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 6:14pm | IP Logged
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Every day?????   No way! Once a week for us.. Usually until they start eating food or moving around on the dirty floor.
And, I do wipe out their necks and armpits, and any other crevices....so as long as you're doing that, as far as I'm concerned they NEVER need a bath!
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Suzanne in ID
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missionfamily
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 6:19pm | IP Logged
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I give newborns a bath about once a week, maybe twice. In between, a good wipe down with a warm wash cloth and a rub down with some sweet smelling calendula or natural oil. I am picky that the baby smell nice...and I have this wierd thing where each baby gets a new type of soap or lotion so that he has his own smell....just one of my mommy quirks  .
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Kath
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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My son is 6 months, and he still only gets a bath about once a week. He doesn't smell or look dirty, and his bottom gets cleaned regularly. Plus his skin tends to be dry anyway so extra baths would probably make this worse. I have friends who bathe their babies every night as part of a bedtime routine, but I don't think it's at all necessary.
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Martha in VA
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 6:57pm | IP Logged
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No, no, no, Lisa!! Daily would be so hard on their delicate skin! You're doing the right thing!
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 7:26pm | IP Logged
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Newborns we don't do daily, maybe every other day or 3rd day. But generally we bathe our boys every night as part of the bedtime routine, to help them relax and unwind, and the special bonding time with Daddy.
Both boys have mild eczema and the one school of thought it bathe frequently to help. Seems to work for us. But the baths aren't a "clean" thing.
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Mary K
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 7:35pm | IP Logged
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my 7 month old hates her bath! i only wash her hair when she needs it, her body is a quick sponge bath.
still lots of sobbing then too.
we've tried everything-baby tub, bathring, bath with me-works best, but can only do when dh can take from me.
any hints ladies?
mary-ny
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 8:07pm | IP Logged
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Baths, who needs baths? The first few kids got a bath every few days. Seth is 14 months and I could probably count the number of baths he has had!  Really not my thing.
My mom loves to tell how her mother used to call my oldest brother "the great unwashed baby" because she didn't bathe him everyday!
I think you're fine Lisa. It seems your first nine made it through without permanent damage.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 8:18pm | IP Logged
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Stick me in the unwashed baby category
Especially if it's still cold.. I mean.. *I* hate getting all cold from getting all wet.. and baby has so much surface area for their body size.. it seems an awful lot of work keeping them warm when except for some spit up or milk dribbles they can't possibly be dirty anyway. A warm cloth to wash off when needed.. and rarely a bath is plenty.
So, if they can't tell the baby isn't bathed every day, unless you tell them.. does the baby really need it? 
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 8:41pm | IP Logged
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When your baby has lots of fat rolls, I do find he needs baths more often. Or heavy spitters, which was my first one. Not a good scent.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Betsy
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 8:46pm | IP Logged
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Mary K wrote:
| my 7 month old hates her bath! |
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My first hated baths...to say it mildly. It did get a little better as he got older. But, he was almost 7 before he would take a shower or endure swimming lessons. As of now, he loves is baths...but I wouldn't say he really likes water.
Betsy
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trish
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| Posted: March 07 2009 at 9:04pm | IP Logged
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My first ones had the nightly bath but my latest was bathed once every few days. I usually go twice a week for the older ones and my littlest about 3 times a week unless there's been a major accident! But they've all loved their baths.
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juststartn
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| Posted: March 09 2009 at 12:15am | IP Logged
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My boys hate theirs. None of the girls really had a problem. Unless they are in need of one (and my definition of "need" is "do they look/smell bad?"), then they don't get one. With there being two of them, and both of them hating baths, well, it's an ugly scene. DH has to be home. I usually try to schedule them for a Sat night or a SUnday morning, so that they are fresh for Mass, and co-op on Monday. Since those are our days out, well, it makes them look good for the crowds, lol. The girls will go run themselves one in the middle of the day and stay in there and play for an hour or two. LOL. No worries about them getting clean (now if I could just get them to comb/brush their hair out afterwards...).
I hold to the "a little dirt helps build their immunity" theory.
LOL
Rachel
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Kristin
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| Posted: March 09 2009 at 12:36am | IP Logged
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I was a nervous bath-giving mother with the newborns. I also recall feeling a bit worried when I hadn't bathed our daughter for some time (two or so weeks?), she just didn't seem to need it! I guess I procrastinated a little because I was so nervous
DS received baths nightly as a toddler (for routine); after having dd, this seemed to be a bit much and we stopped. Maybe for these moms it is something they do because they especially like to give baths or for routine? Just a thought ...
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Bridget
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| Posted: March 09 2009 at 7:49am | IP Logged
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I give my babies baths several times a week. Mostly because they have a lot of hair that sticks straight up and everyone wants to touch it and kiss their heads. Their hair gets dirty quickly from all the loving so it needs to be washed.
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Mary K
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| Posted: March 09 2009 at 7:50am | IP Logged
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thanks for the reassurance ladies. miss meg (the bath hater) is my 8th and 1st bath hater.
mary-ny
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Angel
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| Posted: March 09 2009 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't admit that we only bathe our toddlers once a week, too? (Giving the twins a bath is mentally and physically exhausting.)
We bathed our first 2 daily when they were newborns "for the routine". But from #3 on down... once a week. Actually, I think #6 went for months with only sponge baths because he would scream bloody murder if we put him in the water. Then when he could stand, he would refuse to sit in the bathtub and would stand crying while we washed him... There was no way he was getting daily baths!!!
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Martha
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| Posted: March 09 2009 at 3:32pm | IP Logged
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when dirty or stinky or/and once a week for the Lord
some times it's just that once a week.
some babies are just dirt magnets and got one seemed like every day
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Martha
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Baby Bath - how often?
