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01-02-2013 at 8:08 PM
Runaway22
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Stupid FTM ? about showering

Ok, don't attack too hard. I am clueless and willing to admit it :P

I am a single mom with no practical help from anyone. At all. That includes "friends and family." I've read some places that you should never, ever leave your baby unattended, even if it's just to shower. I am thinking I won't really have a choice. I know it won't be easy, but do you have any tips on how I can both maintain my hygiene and keep a close eye on my LO?

Obviously, showers will have to be very brief, and I expect to throw my normal routine out the window, (I can deal with waiting til LO is sleeping to lotion up, and such... if I even have the energy).  I guess I'm just worried about doing this raising-a-baby-alone thing right. Am I just psyching myself out?

TIA!  


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01-02-2013 at 8:12 PM
Kristen050
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Do you have a bouncy seat or portable swing that you can bring in to the bathroom with you while you shower? That's what I usually do or I shower while they are sleeping and bring the monitor in the bathroom.

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01-02-2013 at 8:13 PM
sogborn1
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I wait until my LO has eaten and then bring her in the bathroom with me in her snuggler/ bouncy seat. She sits right there on the floor in her seat and either keeps quiet or falls asleep no problem. At first I was waiting until my husband got home from work to shower, but that wasn't practical when I started having to go places during the day. Good luck!
 
01-02-2013 at 8:25 PM
Kie310
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for a long time I would just bring my son in the bathroom with me, in a bouncy chair & leave the door open so it wouldn't get too hot. As he got older I mostly shower when he is in bed. Sometimes I let him play in his room with the door open & leave the bathroom door open so we can hear each other better and shower. 

This little one, when we are alone, I will go back to the bouncy chair in the bathroom!

 

You can always find a way. It's not stupid.  


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01-02-2013 at 8:26 PM
Runaway22
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Good advice - thanks! I will try to find a bouncy seat, I think. Sounds like my best option. (Honestly, I didn't even *think* of that). 

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01-02-2013 at 8:31 PM
hilsy85
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Honestly, i leave my LO in his crib or in his swing (buckled in). He's safe, and I make sure he's not hungry and has a clean diaper. If he cries for the 5-8 min it takes me to shower, then sometimes that's what has to happen. For the record, he's never cried that long--at most he'll fuss for a minute or two and then chill out. But I think it's a bit ridiculous to think that you need to have the baby within your eyesight at all times. I mean, what are you going to do, jump out of the shower with soap in your hair if he makes a peep? For me, it was better to know he was safe somewhere else in our apartment. I will say that our apartment is small and everything is pretty close together. If we had a massive house and his room was way at the otehr end from where I was showering, I probably wouldn't leave him there while I showered. 
01-02-2013 at 8:42 PM
kieannb
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I usually shower at night, and usually when LO is sleeping. If she's being super fussy all day and I don't have to go anywhere the next day, I might just skip it if I have showered the day before, or put her in her swing.
I'm alone for 6 to 7 days at a time with DHs work schedule, and sometimes DD is in the other room.. You gotta pee, eat, take care of yourself too. It's just not practical to have them in your sight 100 percent of the time.
You will find what works best for you

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01-02-2013 at 9:27 PM
Kemare20
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I 2nd the bouncy or floor swing- ALWAYS buckle them in even if your baby isn't moving much. I ALMOST learned that the hard way! Or tak a shower when your LO is napping. You can leave him alone in a safe place like his crib or playpen.


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01-02-2013 at 10:14 PM
laxkal23
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I shower when CJ is in his crib napping. Usually I bring the baby monitor In with me. If he is awake and I HAVE to shower I put him in his bouncy seat in the bathroom.

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01-02-2013 at 11:40 PM
juliane200...
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You can leave them alone, especially while they sleep. What do you do overnight? Watch them all night? No. It's fine.

You can bring a bouncer in the bathroom but even then, that has always seemed like overkill. Babies need to sleep for like 16-18 hours a day, and you can nap while they sleep then.

Also, if they do happen to wake up while you are in the shower, they are OKAY to cry for the 5 minutes till you can get them. I promise they are okay.


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01-02-2013 at 11:56 PM
ilenegrace
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Kristen050:
Do you have a bouncy seat or portable swing that you can bring in to the bathroom with you while you shower? That's what I usually do or I shower while they are sleeping and bring the monitor in the bathroom.

This!


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01-03-2013 at 4:51 AM
peacelove&...
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Bouncy chair on the bathroom floor. I did it with DS1 and I'm doing it with this LO too... As an added bonus, at least in my case, the sound of the water and the fan running puts them to sleep.

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01-03-2013 at 7:08 AM
mamaHippo2...
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Honestly, it's very important you have at least a few minutes of "you" time to care for yourself each day to preserve your sanity. I know you don't have help, but letting baby chill in a swing or safe place is definitely fine. Or wait til nap time.

Being a FTM is very stressful and you can drive yourself crazy with all the worry and self-doubt. Trust yourself and your instincts, don't overthink the small stuff!


 
01-03-2013 at 7:13 AM
PeonyPumps
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Add me to team bouncy seat!

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01-03-2013 at 8:58 AM
skychick31...
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I will shower when he is sleeping, either in his bounce chair, bassinet or even in the middle of our bed. i leave the door open so our toddler can come in if needed. When DD was little i would shower with her.

Where there is a will there is a way!  


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01-03-2013 at 11:06 AM
wo0shply
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I showered when LO was sleeping and left the door open, she slept in the room next to the bathroom. If you have a baby monitor you can always bring that to the bathroom with you. I also recommend a bouncy seat or RnP and leaving the door open so you can keep on eye on your LO when you're showering and they're awake.
 
01-03-2013 at 12:49 PM
Runaway22
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hilsy85:
But I think it's a bit ridiculous to think that you need to have the baby within your eyesight at all times. I mean, what are you going to do, jump out of the shower with soap in your hair if he makes a peep?

Actually, I was wondering about this lol Can't help it, I'm a little clueless. But you ladies have given me a lot of good ideas AND peace of mind. It's so easy to guilt yourself with "rules" you read about when you don't know what you're doing. 

Thanks, everyone!!! Really. This is one less thing I'm going to let myself stress about :)  


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01-03-2013 at 1:15 PM
cardiganmo...
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Kristen050:
Do you have a bouncy seat or portable swing that you can bring in to the bathroom with you while you shower? That's what I usually do or I shower while they are sleeping and bring the monitor in the bathroom.

This 


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01-03-2013 at 4:45 PM
katie599
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I leave my twins in their RNPs right outside the bathroom and I leave the bathroom door open.  At least one of them is usually crying by the time I come out of the shower, but at least I know they are safe in the RNPs.

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01-03-2013 at 5:24 PM
pb_bride
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I shower in the AM when DS is asleep in his crib.  He usually wakes up around 6-7am to nurse.  After he's done eating & burping, he routinely goes back to sleep for 2 more hours.  (His wake up time is around 9:30-10a).  I use those 2 hrs in the AM to shower, eat breakfast, enjoy my coffee etc.  That is my ME time for the day.  

DS''s crib is in our bedroom, and we have a master bath, so he's just a few steps away from me anyway.  Like PP said, if he wakes up and starts crying, it'll only be a few mins til I get out of the shower.


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01-03-2013 at 5:41 PM
Lori_n_Lio...
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I bring her rock and play in the bathroom if she is awake. The sound of the water keeps her happy.

if she is asleep I bring the monitor. It has lights when she makes noise so I know if she has woken up and I need to hurry. 


 
01-03-2013 at 6:04 PM
lovinluke
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I wait til my sweetie is starting to fall asleep or is already asleep in her swing and take a shower. I make sure to strap her in cause she is a wiggle worm, but she is always fine and usually still sleeping when I get out. Good luck! :)
 
01-03-2013 at 7:07 PM
Stillharbo...
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My LO loves her car seat.  You could strap baby in the car seat and let her sit outside the shower.  Shower when LO takes a nap, put the monitor in the bathroom near the shower.

Sometimes you just have to put LO down and let them cry if you have to use the bathroom. (Yes, I've had to work myself up to this.).  

 
01-03-2013 at 7:36 PM
poopy007
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First of all: congratulations, Mommy-to-be!

I've no idea what your financial situation is -being a single mother with no real support system- but if money's tight for you like it was (heck, still is) for me, you can always try what I did before investing in a RNP or bouncy seat - put him/her in the car seat base on the bathroom floor.

On my "travel system" (and probably on most), the bottom of the car seat is slightly curved and rocks easily on my uncarpeted floors. I attached an infant toy to the handle and left the handle up so he could interact with the dangling toy. When he became squirmy, he effectively started the base a-rockin' just enough to soothe him further. (Keep LO strapped in if you keep the handle up.) In fact, I still have yet to buy a bouncy seat of any kind because he just plain likes his car seat!

Certainly not the most desirable solution, but I thought I'd throw the idea out there just in case the immediate purchase of a rocker/bouncer/soother was beyond your means at the moment.

Best of luck to you! 


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