Can You Shower with an Infant?

If you're a mama who has the hankering to get your babe into the tub with you while you shower, among other concerns that come with holding a slippery, soapy babe, you may be wondering when (or if) it's okay. So can you shower with an infant or not?

The answer is the same for both baths and showers: you can shower with your infant as soon as the umbilical cord has fallen off. 

That means that your baby should be good to go under the stream with you around 1-2 weeks old. But, if you are planning on showering with your infant, there are a few things to keep in mind for their safety and wellbeing!

Shower Safety

Showering with your baby can make your life a lot easier if you're struggling to find time to get clean yourself; which, if you're a mom and you have a life, you are probably experiencing this to some degree. But, there are definitely some things you're going to have to change to make showering safe for your infant.

Showers Can Be Shocking

Babies, especially newborns, have a hard time being put into new environments. Pretty much anything that isn't warm, snuggly, and swaddled will get their attention--and not always in a good way.

Getting them in the bath or the shower for the first time is going to shock them, to say the least. Be prepared for your little one to scream, cry, flap her arms, or wriggle around when the water gets turned on. If you have a newborn or an infant in the tub with you, you may want to have daddy nearby to grab her when she's had enough.

Keep the spray from hitting baby right in the face or on the head

This can be hard because there's pretty much only one place in the tub where he can avoid being hit by the water. At the same time, if he's not getting hit by at least some warm water, he's probably gonna freeze. So, just do your best to rotate (if you're holding babe), and move your little one from the back of the tub to the front to make sure he's comfortable in there too!

Avoid trying to hold baby in the shower

When you're showering with your baby, safety is key! It's definitely not going to be the easiest thing you've ever done. This mama's advice? Wait until your little one is old enough to sit up on the tub floor on her own, instead of trying to hold onto your baby and clean her off/shower with her at the same time. She's not gonna get clean. You're not gonna get clean. It's just not gonna be a good time, mama. So, wait until she can sit down with a couple bath toys, and get water from the safety of the tub floor instead of up close and personal.

Pay Attention to Water Temperature

The temperature of the water should be cooler than what you're probably used to with your own shower. You should shoot for somewhere in the 90-100 degree range. Using your wrist or the inside of your elbow, test the water. It it turns red, that will be a good indicator if it is too hot. Avoid steamy hot, just keep it comfortably warm. But, if you're worried you may not be able to judge the temperature of water by feel, you can use a bath thermometer to give you a more accurate reading.

Use Textured Mats to Prevent Slipping

Slipping and sliding on the tub floor is also a concern when you have a little pal in the tub with you. You may want to invest in some treads for the bathtub floor to ensure that your babe won't be sliding around and hitting her head, and that you won't be slipping, and possibly falling on her.

Also, do yourself a favor and don't let your kiddo take every bath toy they have into the shower with you. You'll be stepping on rubber ducks, the foam letter H will be stuck to your foot, and you'll be wondering why you ever thought this was a good idea.

Use Gentle Soap and Shampoo

Something else that could be a potential issue for you and your babe while you're showering is the soaps or shampoos that you're using. If you have a shampoo or soap that is harsh to your eyes, just imagine if it got into your baby's sensitive eyes. No bueno, mama. So, if you have your babe in the tub with you, you may want to switch to a tear-free or all-natural soap/shampoo that will be safe for your babe if he gets anything in his eyes, or tries to eat the bubbles off the tub floor... I can't be the only mama who's had that experience, right?

Just like anything else that has to do with your babe, showering can be a fun experience for you to share with him. As long as you make sure to cover your safety bases, and prepare for your little one to be a fish-out-of-water the first time around, you'll both love sharing something new and exciting!