Everything with a newborn is scary, especially if it's your first. Today we gave him his first bath at home. Dad was armed with the camera, while I had the washcloth and tub of warm water. In our birthing class we watched videos on giving babies sponge baths, listened to the nurse talk about them, dad even got to watch the very first one in the hospital. Having said that, I still had no idea what I was in for. A million thoughts were running through my head; not too hot, not too cold, keep him covered up, don't get him too wet, make sure you get him wet enough, don't wash both eyes with the same part of the wash cloth, make sure you really wash his scalp but don't scrub too hard... It still amazes me that any of us make it to adulthood.
While I wouldn't say I did a perfect job I did manage to get through it. The only part he really enjoyed was getting his hair washed. I can already see how he is going to be just like his dad. He laid his head back in my hand and relaxed completely. The rest of the bath he screamed through. I tried to keep him covered except for the area I was cleaning but that is easier said than done. By the end his little lips had turned blue and his face was red from screaming. I laughed through my fears and was rewarded by being able to bundle him up and hold him close. I can't wait 'till he's able to have a real bath. The way he acted when I was washing his head makes me think that will go so much better.
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