Thursday, 4 August 2011

Showering Your Baby

People are shocked when I say I have been showering our baby since week 2.  Week 1 saw a bath or two and that was well and good, until he pees.  I've always loved baths for just that, bathing, lounging, being still and quiet.  But once you start adding soap and schluffed skin and body oils and bacteria...  Needless to say, showers are for cleaning.  So when my baby has a hard few days up-chucking on himself, getting sweaty screaming now and again and the obvious under the diaper situations, there's nothing like a gentle shower to cleanse him.

But here's the paradox, how can my Oxygenics high-pressure, low flow shower head not freak the little guy out; my answer, the Vortex.  The Vortex has eight flow settings, one of which is the perfect mix of light rain, modest circumference and consistent flow.  Once you've got that, I also recommend an assistant.  Prep your cloths and soap, have your baby passed to you carefully and use the patented football grip; he will lay face out, with head in the crux of your inside elbow fold and use that same hand to grip his top leg. With this hold you can get to most the bits and bobs and easily wash and rinse his hair.  Also note if he has a whizz it's no biggie, merely aim to drain. Warning though, if he hasn't had a whizz, he will soon thereafter.  It is for this reason my partner first grabs him with a diaper, then leans him onto the towel.  Again, I recommend an assistant for the exit.

Remember, it's soapy and slippery, so move mindfully and if you want to change arms, I recommend you squat and balance him/her on your leg while never relaxing your grip.

Now most the other Oxygenics showerheads have flow controls and or other settings so many products in the Oxygenics line may work, but tried, tested and true is the Vortex.