Showering

[SamiPolizzi]

How do you shower?

I normally just try to do it when my DS is sleeping, but that's not always an option. His naps are getting shorter and less frequent all the time and I have yet to figure out a way to do it while he's awake.

[JordanKX]

my DS loves the sound of the shower. When he was an infant, I'd put him in his bouncy seat and bring him in the bathroom with me. As long as I was singing and talking to him, and he knew I was 'there', he would patiently hang out.
Now that he's nearly 6 months, I just put the jumperoo in the bathroom doorway (because he LOVES to bounce) and same thing... I stick my head out of the shower every now and again and say hello. And he's totally content.

[NSmomtobe]

I've just started putting him in his bouncy chair when I shower while he's awake. Then I sing and talk to him while I'm in the shower and peek out around the curtain and say "Peek-a-boo" when I check on him, but he's to young to care about that and he is usually looking at the window when I peek.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Bouncy chair worked well for both my DCs. They loved the sound of the shower.

[ann_of_loxley]

Sleeping...but that doesn't long. Maybe the first few months? lol

Then I had him in a bouncy chair right in front of the shower so we could both see eachother and I could talk/sing to him.

Then he used to like one of those door bouncers - so he would be in that in the bathroom doorway which happens to be right in front of our shower as well (we have a small bathroom)...

Or a water sling!

Some babies also don't mind being in the shower with you (once they can sit up and crawl, etc - they may actually think thats fun playing with a few toys whilst you wash up). DS hated that though beause once the water reaches your feet - about where they would be (away from the actual downpour of course! - We call it the 'shallow end' of the bath lmao) - its rather cold! lol

I actually plan on using the water sling much more this time around in hopes to get a baby who loves the shower instead of another one who is frightened of it. Whilst I did take DS in with me sometimes - it was just that...sometimes! Not enough I don't think to get him used to it!

[ann_of_loxley]

Oh I just noticed your boy was born last year - so is nearly a year old?

Is he crawling? I have a shower ever morning regardless - I NEED that shower in the morning and feel icky if I don't have it and don't really like putting clean clothes on without my shower. So that is when I shower. When my DS was crawling age - I just made sure it was safe for him to crawl around upstairs whilst I had my shower. He happily did so. It is just routine in this house. lol

[maptome]

exersaucer, finally at 7 months. before, i had to wait for DH to be home.

[lemontree]

My (almost 5 months old) son takes his first nap of the day in his bouncer chair in the bathroom while I shower. For the longest time, it was the only non moving nap he would take.

[Erinz]

I bring my 9 month old in with me, just like I did with his brother. Sometimes I have 2 boys in my shower with me Both have liked the shower and bath. The baby just crawls around under my feet and tries to catch the water before it goes down the drain. On days where it just doesn't work out I just shower before bed (and rarely but sometimes not at all!)

[justKate]

Originally Posted by SamiPolizzi

How do you shower?

I normally just try to do it when my DS is sleeping, but that's not always an option. His naps are getting shorter and less frequent all the time and I have yet to figure out a way to do it while he's awake.

Baby in the bathroom with you, in the shower with you if possible. Or playing with special bath toys on the floor. Clear shower curtain. Cabinet locks if they aren't visible from the shower.

My dd (12 mos) will not sit in the shower with me because she doesn't like the water pouring on her head, but she will play with her bath toys for a few minutes while I shower and watch her through the shower door. For some reason she thinks its very naughty to play with bath toys when not in the bath tub.

ETA: Really, if you need a shower to feel sane, and you need to confine the LO in a "pen" or exersaucer in the bathroom so that you know he's safe for 10 minutes to do so, that will not make you a bad mama even if he protests. It will make you a SANE mama, which is very good for both of you!

[taramoon13]

ds' crib is in our room right outside the bathroom, so i would put him in the crib with toys/books and music playing. he really liked it and sometimes didn't want to come out when i was done. he's 2.5 now, so he grew out of that a while ago.

[Angelorum]

My ds will sit on the floor of the tub while I shower, or sometimes I use his bath seat, but he's getting too big for that. Sometimes I just fill the tub and we both take a bath together. I usually end up having to dress him while I'm still naked because he's cold when we get out, but it works out fine.

[1stBabyAt39]

Originally Posted by Erinz

I bring my 9 month old in with me, just like I did with his brother. Sometimes I have 2 boys in my shower with me Both have liked the shower and bath. The baby just crawls around under my feet and tries to catch the water before it goes down the drain. On days where it just doesn't work out I just shower before bed (and rarely but sometimes not at all!)

Just curious, how does that work? Do you just keep the water on low so not too much water is coming out? Or do they love the downpour? DD is 8 months old and I haven't tried this. She does love the bath, but I never thought of bringing her in the shower. I guess I picture her getting too much water in her face. But it sounds like fun though.

I usually put mine in her bouncer in the bathroom with me. If I'm in the bathroom that doesn't have the see-through shower door, I just pop out every now & then to check on her. She's usually keeping herself busy with a toy.

[odoole]

Bring mine in with me. Started doing this when he was around 5 months. I rigged a contraption made out of a bucket type thing and a foam pad that he can sit up in while I'm taking the shower. We have a bathtub/shower, so he's usually out of the main water stream and just gets a light spray initially. Then I either pick him up and wash him in the shower, or run the bath and we take a bath together so he can play. He loves it!

[MsVyky]

How old is your babe? I'd likely try to use a bouncy seat on the floor or a bumbo in the shower with me if he tolerates it.

My daughter loves bath time, so maybe try a bath together?

[SamiPolizzi]

Thanks for the suggestions.

The bouncy chair used to work great, but he outgrew it a while ago.
He's walking now. And climbing. And he's obsessed with the shower, so if he were to be in the bathroom with me he would just be trying to climb into the shower the whole time. I would bring him in with me, but my shower is really tiny and there just isn't room for him. And even if there was enough room he would be trying to stand up the entire time (like he does in the bath) and I would spend my whole shower putting him back on his butt. I could use the exersaucer, but he would cry the whole time. Maybe if I put him in the exersaucer and give him a snack... Hmm... There's an idea.

[Erinz]

Originally Posted by 1stBabyAt39

Just curious, how does that work? Do you just keep the water on low so not too much water is coming out? Or do they love the downpour? DD is 8 months old and I haven't tried this. She does love the bath, but I never thought of bringing her in the shower. I guess I picture her getting too much water in her face. But it sounds like fun though.

I usually put mine in her bouncer in the bathroom with me. If I'm in the bathroom that doesn't have the see-through shower door, I just pop out every now & then to check on her. She's usually keeping herself busy with a toy.

We just have one setting so it's either on or off -- he just crawls around and doesn't give much mind when water is landing on his head. Sometimes he'll sit back and watch it hit his outstretched hands and it's really darn cute. Both my sons have been water babies. They love it!

[Tristan]

Sorry to butt in but what is a "water sling"?

[Ydolem]

bathtime

I usually forgo the shower and take baths with my babes. Two birds one stone.....clean mama clean baby!

[ann_of_loxley]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Sorry to butt in but what is a "water sling"?

Its a ring sling suitable for the water (made of a light soft mesh fabric that dries quickly). Sometimes they come in 'wrap' or 'pouch' versions too. Handy for the shower, pool, beach, etc. Espeically if you have more than one child. They are usually made of sun protective fabric as well.

See here and here and here!

I have a lovely green one and its fantastic for the pool - and handy for the shower but with a newborn/small baby.