Splish Splash, She Was Taking a Bath
When Blake was born, the hospital had somewhat recently changed their procedures about baths, in that, they stopped doing them. Usually a baby is given a bath shortly after they are born. Makes sense, given all the blood, amniotic fluid and vernix they are likely covered in. However, studies have shown that it is beneficial to delay a baby's first bath. The World Health Organization recommends at least 24 hours. Delaying the bath allows for more skin-to-skin contact, more time to bond and breastfeed without interruption, and the waxy vernix is actually good for a baby, even after leaving the womb. Babies also have a hard time regulating their body temperatures, so the delay avoids that disruption as well.
After we came home, we realized that newborn babies don't really get 'dirty.' Yes they need a good wipe down during diaper changes. But they don't sweat, they don't spit up much yet, and generally don't go through the same things as an adult who may need a shower everyday. So, we waited until Blake was about two weeks old before she got her first bath. And only bathed her once every 7-10 days thereafter. The occasionally blowout required an extra bath here and there, but we didn't want to dry out her soft baby skin with too many baths. That worked great for quite some time.
Fast forward to today. Blake is almost 11 months old, and definitely needs a bath more often. Part of the reason for the increase is that it has become a part of her bedtime routine. She has dinner, plays in the tub for a bit, then it's jammies, an evening nursing session or bottle, and then off to bed she goes. When we increased her baths to almost every day, I was worried about her skin drying out. We don't always suds her up, but even just water in the dead of winter can be harsh. So, I came up with a little plan. I make my own body butter, and decided to create a modified version that could be added to her baths. It is very simple, and consists of only two ingredients: coconut oil and olive oil. If you wanted to make your own, you could add a few additional oils if you have some favorites, but I kept it simple.
I don't usually measure things, but basically you take 3 parts coconut oil, and one part olive oil. You can adjust to get your desired consistency. I like soft but not liquid. Add both ingredients to a bowl, and mix well. The best way is to use a hand mixer, but this time I just used a fork and smashed it around and did a little bit of weak whipping to get a some fluff.
After you've gotten it mixed well, store in a container with a lid. I prefer glass to avoid any weird plastic chemicals leeching in, and used one of the many mason jars I have around the house. If you are in a warm climate, you may want to keep in the fridge, but we are in the cold months and can leave it in the bathroom for quick use.
When it is time for Blake's bath in the evening, we just take a nickel to quarter sized dollop and add to the bath water. The heat should melt it fairly quickly with just a couple swooshes of your hand through the water. What is left, is silky soft water, that keeps her skin soft even after she gets out. You'll notice right away how soft the water is, and your babe's skin will be smooth and hydrated after you towel them off. So far I haven't noticed it bothering her if it gets in her eyes, but use caution at first. Every child is different. And it goes without saying, but never leave your baby unattended in the bath. Once you have them tucked in for bed, you may find yourself filling a bath of your own, and by all means, indulge yourself a little with this silky concoction. Your skin will thank you.
