I never wrote about a monumental event in a life of newborn when their umbilical cord falls off and the line that was connecting them to their mother becomes a real-life cute belly button, at which point the new parents are thrilled to give their baby a bath. What those new parents might not know is that some newborns don’t share the same excitement about their first bath.
So here’s how our first bath went.
It took us a few baths to actually find the perfect way to bathe her. We started with warming up our upstairs to 80 degrees. Our master bathroom is fairy large and cold, so it took 80 degrees to make it comfortable there. Then we placed our brand new awesome Cleanwater Tub by 4Moms into our bathtub, called my mom to help terrified new parents witness such a moment and undressed our little girl.
I really couldn’t help taking the time to snap a few shots of my husband holding her, so small and precious and nekkid. Love her to pieces! Even at 7 days old, she was just so aware of everything around her. It’s also funny to see both of us so tired and so rough looking. We got hit with sleep deprivation and breastfeeding challenges big time and we were showing it.
I remember being so concerned about keeping water out of her ears and eyes and keeping her head supported and not slipping when I held her and making sure she’s warm but the water isn’t too hot. Actually the Cleanwater tub is brilliant and took care of most of those worries for me. You can read about how awesome it is here and of course win one (because what’s a review without a giveaway, right?).
It was really cool to watch how at ease my mom was with the whole bathing thing, a total pro 🙂
Alexis was, of course, absolutely adorable the whole time. Actually, now that I am looking at these pictures, I am noticing that her hands that are supposed to be curled up in a fist the first month or so are completely open. Even now she has her fists in a ball until she relaxes in the tub.
It was about time to get her out when she started fussing and, of course, that’s the hardest part of the bath in the beginning. It still sometimes is , if she is tired or cranky.
When she was so small and not a fan of bath time, we decided to make it easier on her and had her take baths with mommy. It was such a calmer way of doing it for a newborn. I would fill up our tub, using Cleanwater Tub’s temperature gauge to make sure the water temperature was 99.9 but not a tenth of a degree lower or higher. I would get in the tub and then Andrew would bring Alexis to me. My little girl felt so much more secure on mommy’s chest and it made a much more pleasant experience for all of us. She would still cry when it was time to get out, though.
While I absolutely loved the closeness of bath time like this and how cute she was clinging to my chest (and I would recommend that anyone does this once in a while, because it is so special), after a while it became difficult to have to get into a tub with her every evening. So we waited patiently until we felt she was ready for a baby tub again. When she started displaying enjoyment rather than “let’s get it over with” during bathtime, we transitioned back to Cleanwater Tub. And now our apre-bath time looks more like this. (she’s 2 months old in that picture)
Alexis also decided that the coolest part of taking a bath was how she could kick bottles with her foot and make them fall, so that daddy and mommy would have to fish under the tub to get them and put them right back for her to kick off. It’s a little game we play. { I’m videotaping, my mom is keeping Alexis warm and keeps putting the bottle back. }
Don’t mind the brown towel hanging on the faucet. It’s to prevent the water from splashing, we have a stupid faucet in that bathroom.
Ha!!!! Lexi kicking the bottle is so cute!! She totally knew what she was doing! Silly girl!
Ha! That video is priceless!
She has such huge, gorgeous blue eyes!! What an adorable little girl!
And I hope I look half as good as you after having my baby! I don’t know what you’re talking about, “looking tired and rough”!
Well, thank you SO much! 🙂 We definitely felt tired and rough 🙂
So sweet! But really seems like sooo much work to me. I showered with my baby from the moment her cord came off. She would fall asleep and sleep through most of it. And now she loves showers! Anyway, what a doll!
And btw, you guys really do look great! Thinking back to those days it really was so hard! But so worth it.
Hahahaha! I cannot imagine Lexi being ok with showering with me, let alone falling asleep! It makes me laugh just thinking about that- she’s SO NOT THAT EASY GOING!
I bet it was a cool experience for you though! 🙂
I shower will all 4 of my kids to this day (the oldest is 4)! After dinner, my 4, 3, and 19mo old all get in the large shower and sit on the floor to play. Then I get in, my husband hands me our 2 week old. I wash the baby, hand him out. Then I wash the other kids from youngest to oldest, opening the shower door and handing them a towel as they are each finished. Saves water, time, and most importantly, my bathroom isn’t sopping wet afterward!
That’s way too cool! Seriously!
Ok little Lexi is way too cute in these pics!! My little one was never a fan of bath time, but now she loves it. You are such a good mama being so cautious about every little thing, down to the absolute correct temperature!! You inspire me 🙂
Now, I’ve asked this like 3 times, and I know you are SUPPPPER busy with a newborn, but I’d be THRILLED if you told me what camera/lens you use? All your pics are so dang gorgeous, and we’re in the market for a new camera. Thanks so much!!
Thank you, Lisa! I just want my Lexi to be as comfortable as possible for as long as I can ensure that, because soon enough I won’t be able to make her comfortable. She’ll be all big 🙂
I’m sorry I didn’t answer your lens question. I don’t remember you asking and I usually answer all the camera questions. I must have missed your comment. My camera is Canon 5d Mark II, the lens I use nowadays is a pretty cheap Tamrom 28-75mm 2.8 and a 50mm when I have time to switch. But honestly, the biggest thing in getting good photos are getting the correct exposure/lighting (and you have to shoot on manual to do that) and process the photo in just the right way. I use Lightroom for my editing and I most of the colors you’re seeing are simply my Lightroom workflow. Would definitely recommend getting that software if you’re serious. I am not crazy about Photoshop, it’s too bulky.
Lexi’s such a little chuck, and way to cute. I LOVED taking a baby with my son, the feeling of them clinging to you is priceless. We still occasionally have bath time together and he’s 15 months.
Awwww, how cute!!!
How did you clean/wash her before this first bath?
She’s soooo tiny on those pics of her very first bath compared to the video 🙂
Omg! This video of Alexis is super cute. Her little feet! I just want to squeeze her! And btw are you a Stela & Dot stylist? I JUST signed up last week! Hahaha!
Yes I am. Awesome you signed up. I love their jewelry!
That video you posted is really sweet, but the music is extremely annoying. Next time, no.
Elena, she is just the cutest thing! I see such a resemblance to your husband in her little face. i love how you took her in the tub with you. One of my earliest memories is being a young toddler and being in the tub with my mom. It’s a special time. 🙂
Hi, how r u. I am nurul from mallaysia. I always read ur blog n never get bored to check everyday. I have a baby name sara exactly same age as alexis. An adorable baby girl born on january, 2012. Everyday i show to her alexis pic on my ipad, i told her, she hv a friend name alexis from florida and sara from malaysia. Wow, i am so impresss with all ur things that u show to us, but it is so sad, its not avaiable in malaysia. I’ve been to ne york n hollywood in 2010, it was really really amazing. Anyway, i am always supporting u n never get bored to review ur news everyday… Tq
she is so adorable!!
I have to tell you, my little girl was just like your girl in that tub. We used it until she was around 1 year. Then we switched to a regular tub so that she can sit up and she started HATING tub time 🙁 The tub was amazing and I think water temperature is important and one less thing to worry about.
Love the video! Will you post more sometime? There’s something so awesome about baby videos! I still look back on the ones I took of my son when he was new – it’s great to actually see how they were behaving and interacting. Pictures only tell some of the story.