One of the most difficult daily routines a parent faces when home with baby is finding an opportunity to shower. No sooner have you turned the taps to a suitable warmth and stripped off, a small cry (or perhaps even, a screaming torrent of cries) is heard down the hall. Waking earlier and tiptoeing to the bathroom doesn’t work…it seems like baby can smell your absence. In despair you find yourself waiting until the mid-morning or lunch time nap time. But alas, you either fall asleep next to baby, or again – get diverted by a much needed chore. It’s often at these times that a surprise guest knocks on your door and you find yourself answering it with unwashed hair and an unmade face (or worst, embarrassed, you pretend you’re not home). Have you had moments like these?
Late last year, Babes in Arms excitedly unveiled the Breeze Baby Sling just in time for summer. Crafted from a certified non-toxic, quick drying, machine-washable incredibly strong (tested up to 180 kilograms) material, the Breeze Baby Sling was (and is) the ultimate summer accessory for all Babywearing parents. But I’ve found another use for it!
Struggling to find a moment to shower each morning and unable to find an activity to safely engage my toddler in whilst I did so, I brainstormed a solution and found one right in front of me – combine my showering with Babywearing! Babies love the water, and as long as you take all the safety precautions and work out a system that works for you, showering will become hassle free.
So how do you go about it?
Firstly, positioning. The back carry is not going to work in the shower, so that’s out. The two positions I have found most effective are the Heart to Heart (otherwise known as Tummy to Tummy), with baby facing inwards in a front carry; or the hip carry if your shower will safely accommodate the two of you. The essential thing is that you have a full view of baby (who should remain in an upright position in water – ruling out the cradle position) so you can closely monitor any intake of water. If baby falls asleep against you, turn your body so the water is flowing behind you and isn’t pooling between you and baby.
Showering in a steamy bathroom with baby in a Breeze Baby can also be quite therapeutic for babies experiencing winter colds and flu, but it is important that you ensure that the water isn’t too warm for baby.
Washing yourself and baby can be easily accommodated using the Breeze Baby sling by following a simple procedure. Plan your steps ahead to prevent yourself becoming overwhelmed and ensure that you are familiar with using your Breeze Baby sling and that baby is secure within the sling before starting.
If you are washing your hair, I would start with this step first. Face away from the water, and gently tip your hair back into the water. This will aptly soak your hair, with the excess running down your back and away from baby’s face. Once sufficiently wet, turn slowly around so that the water is gently spraying on baby’s bottom and legs, keeping baby warm, but preventing and all over soak. Use your shampoo at this stage and lather. When finished shampooing, gently turn back around so that your back is again in the water. Tip your head back and gently rinse, using your hand to guide the excess water and suds down your back away from your face and baby. I then repeat the same process for conditioning my hair, lathering my body whilst waiting for the conditioner to soak through, before again rinsing my head in the water. I also keep a plastic cup handy to quickly and easily rinse those hard to reach places.
You can choose to then gently wash baby, although I have found that the daily bath is still appropriate despite this morning rinse with mummy in the shower.
Drying oneself after the shower is a matter of choice. I find baby is still quite slippery initially, so I will wrap myself and baby in a towel leaving the Breeze Baby sling in place until I have towel dried us both. The Breeze Baby sling fabric is quick drying and I find I can do a quick towel off, then wrap myself and baby in a robe for the short walk back to the change table to take baby from the sling and dress her ready for our day, before we both settle on my bed whilst I select my own outfit for the day ahead.
So, just when I thought I was packing by Breeze Baby sling away with summer departing, I have found a use for it which will continue to make life a breeze!
