Bringing Up Bella Eveline

They say babies are creatures of habit (I guess they don’t “come” with lots of pre-programming) and that routines make them feel secure and comfortable. We decided that we would make bathtime FUN, and add a little ritual/routine and a little goofiness and there you have it!

I was completely grossed out when the doctor told me that the baby only needed a bath once a week (see previous post about me being a clean freak). I mean, this is a creature that pees and poops into a diaper and sits in it. She gets formula and drool all over her face, chest and neck. She licks her hands and has about a sockful of lint between her toes. She doesn’t need a bath more than once a week ? I think not.

We bathe daily. In the kitchen sink. In a wonderful little foam tub that forms a cone around Bella. We tried the standalone hard tub on the counter and she hated it. No warm running water for my Princess = squeals of misery, rather than joy. I use organic soaps, without artificial numbing agents (which is how all the OTHER shampoos are no-tears) and I cover her with warm, wet washcloths so she doesn’t get cold. About 50% of the time, she’s sleeping halfway through the bath!

But the real fun starts after we pull her out of the bath. Daddy and mommy dry the wet chicken, like she’s a car coming out of a hand-carwash. Lots of towels! And we make sure to get every Little Piggy, including her special baby toe, which curls under when she scrunches her toes! Then comes daddy’s all over body massage (for Bella, not daddy… He could only wish!). He rubs her, stretches her and she loves every minute of it!! She will clearly be a spa-goer when she’s older. And last, our favorite part, we sing Old McBelly’s Farm (our rendition of Old McDonald). This is the goofy adult part. We do 4 verses, the last one is always a chicken. But the remainder, we get creative and make up all sorts of crazy sounds for animals. In addition to “normal” farm animals, McBelly’s farm has had snakes, llamas, penguins, moose, elephant and even monkeys. Her favorites lately, that get BIG smiles are the snake and the duck. Surefire wide open, toothless grins with those two!

And bathtime is made so much more special when we share it. All of Bella’s grandparents and aunts/uncles have participated. And also a cousin or two. Everyone is encouraged to sing along and act silly, hoping to be rewarded with her sweet smile. We make all guests pick an animal, so if you are coming for bathtime don’t show up without one! And if you participate “virtually”, we do take email requests!

Wash, rinse, dry, massage, sing, smile, REPEAT !!