My wife is a member of this list, I'm not.  BUT I am my kid's dad!  When our son
was born (1988 at an Army Hospital) they told me to give him his first bath.  It
was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.  I am tearing as I write
this.  Our second was born at a "County Hospital" and the nurses let me bathe
her with little objection at all.  Our Third was born at a "Private Hospital
with Birthing rooms" and when I asked to bathe her, you would have thought I had
proposed to do a caesarian section myself!   They pitched a total fit and I
think were it not for the fact that my wife WORKED there, I would have been told
it was against the law!!!!!!

PLEASE remember that the child belongs to the family and this is a day which can
never be replayed!

Also, thanks for letting me "butt in" here!

Leslie A. Mathewson, MSW, RN-Hubbie, and my kid's dad

Susan Kay wrote:

> In our hospital, in Qld Australia, our babies are bathed when we get around
> to it, or Mum and Dad ask for it. I have recently changed my practise so I
> no longer bath babies- the Dad's do.
> They are usually a bit nervous, but I figure that is some small thing that I
> can give them that no one can ever take away- "I gave my baby his/her very
> first bath".
> I will stand beside them, and encourage them, but leave a lot of it up to
> the Dads- I believe we had too many mothers asking "am I doing it right?" I
> think they  were worried that they may have 'washed the right arm before the
> left"!!
> This seems to be very well accepted as the Dads are really proud of
> themselves afterwards!
> My definition of a successful bath is "parents and baby enjoyed it and no
> harm was done"
>
> Of course we still have the midwives who are cleanliness freaks, but I
> encourage the parents to choose their own time. We NEVER bath a baby in the
> Birthing Suite, it's  too cold, and breastfeeding and loving is more
> important. I do believe there are some hospitals in Australia who do bath
> very soon after birth in the birthing suites.
> Best wishes
> Susan
>
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