I totally agree with you Megan and Denise. For most of us up here (Cairns) "teaching" the parents how to bath their baby is showing them that water immersion is actually OK and they take it from there. Of course there are the safety messages about hot water and not leaving baby alone in the bath etc.. Babies do get bathed a lot up here especially in summer when the humidity is so high and so a lot of time is spent on keeping baby cool discussions. It is pleasing to see on home visits that mum and dad are taking baby into the shower or bath with them. I remain surprised at how much fear there is around babies and water, so my main message is reassurance. Of course I love water myself.
marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au> Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 1:39 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] newborn bath > I have to agree there. > My memories of my husband and I being "taught" how to bath our first child (6 yrs ago) are embarassing. I hadn't ever bathed a baby before, but to be told that today we will take you down and teach you how, it clearly was a messge that we weren't capable. Then the instructions on doing the head first, blah, blah, blah. My poor deprived fourth child, if it wasn't for the school and kindy "show and tell" bathing a baby sessions, he wouldn't have known what baths were. > > I know I'm being highly critical here, and I realise some parents will want to be shown, but really??? > I also have a problem with the idea that these babies have to be bathed at all. Babies smell just beautiful all on their own, the "Johnson and Johnson" smell just gets in the way of this, not to mention the sensitivity these tiny new darlings are dealing with. > Providing women with an option and explaining that not bathing their baby all the time is perfectly fine too. > and, Yes, I know that water emmersion is lovely and relaxing, but thats not about washing them. > > anyway, my two bits worth, > cheers > Megan > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Denise Hynd > Sent: Thursday, 3 March 2005 7:33 PM > To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] newborn bath > > > I find the whole idea of teaching an adult woman HOW to bath the most cherished person in her life a reflection of our patriachial attitude and approach to women, birth parenting......... and another step along the path to disempowered parenting or re-enforcing the need for outside experts in deciding how respond to your child > > Perhaps supporting a woman to bath her child as she can in her home in her way is a little more respectful? > > > > Denise Hynd > > "Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by anyone, our bodies will be handled." > > - Linda Hes > > > This message was sent through MyMail http://www.mymail.com.au > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
