My brand new little great-granddaughter is a few days over a month old. Apparently her mother's doctor told her not to bathe her except 2-3 times per week, as more frequent bathing removes some critical substance from her skin. Consequently, the baby smells bad. I bathed my kids every night, just before I put them down to bed, and they were never fussyfussy like Taylor is.

Has anyone else heard of this? Sherasi? Nursey? Dr. Sid? Mr. Sensitive? anyone?

Catty (who is perturbed, being turned off by a stinky little baby)

Boy Catty, I have never heard this either. That is strange, you figure a baby wets all the time and needs bathed. All the new things these doctors come out with makes me wonder, Tell her grandma knows best and to bathe the baby lol.

I've never heard of this either, and I bathed my sons almost everyday. I also put moisturizing lotion on them if they seemed like they were getting dry skin. If they smell bad, then that is a problem. If they get an open scratch, dirty skin can lead to problems with infection. I'd maybe look for a second opinion myself.

If they are not willing to bathe the baby, could you suggest that they use the baby wash that comes in a bottle. The stuff that they wipe on with a warm, wet washcloth, then rinse off with the washcloth? At least it smells pleasant like baby oil/baby lotion.

Thank you 'becca and Sherasi. I had a feeling my instincts were right. The poor baby has thrush really bad right now, but she's going to the doctor as soon as Mom gets off work, so maybe we'll get something done. Mom agreed to ask the doctor about it (the advice was on a piece of paper she got from the hospital).

Catty (who's crying now...)

I didn't know about that Oceangirl. I'll suggest that. Thanks.

Catty

Hey, don't panic! Most babies in the world are not bathed each day and are fine. I helped my parents a lot with my little siblings, and they were bathed like once or twice a week. As long as you clean them properly each time you change the diapers it's okay. We used those special cleaning tissues and also lotions and powders each time we changed their diapers. My siblings were very healthy babies and definitely not smelly! Maybe you can make a compromise like bathing the baby every other day. I don't want to say it's harmful to bathe a baby each day, I just don't believe it's necessary. I think it makes sense to use a mild baby-soap that's pH-neutral, because that's better for the skin.