Bathing 4 Month Old

Kids seem to do that, when my first did I was wondering what the deal was also. It isn't a big deal, I think it's just a new thing to taste for them. My 9 month old now leans over and sucks up water, kind of gross I think but I don't use any soap so at least he's not ingesting that. Maybe let him play for a while and then soap him up and take him out, that way he's not drinking soap water, though the small amount probably wouldn't hurt. Oh, and I wouldn't use anything scented, I recently read an article how lavender has hormones and can mess with a baby boy's development :(

Like several other people have said, kids experiment with water and there's a good chance he's trying to "feel" it in his mouth. As for which product to use, my ped said not to use any soap with added colorings or scents. They arent' necessary and introduce extra things onto your child's skin and possibly in his mouth. Just like laundry detergent, the fewer additives the better. At least that's what I was told.

Don't worry, it's nothing to worry about, he is just doing one of them baby things, he is discovering his hands and what he can do with them, in another month or so he will have his hand somewhere else that is very uncomfortable for you.It's normal.The shampoos and soaps for babies are completely safe, they will not put anything in it that will hurt him. I hope I have helped.

All kids do it. It's how they experiment with the water. As long as you use bath products that are designed for children you will be fine. The older he gets it will turn to eating the bubbles with his face. My 2 year old does it everyday and has now learned to make a beard. Very normal. You did it too.

He is just sucking his hand for the heck of it really. Lots of babies do it. The water will not hurt him unless he's actually drinking large amounts. Don't worry, your baby is normal!

I would recommend using all natural products for his bath, just to be on the safe side.

A.
http://www.audreysallnaturalshoppe.com

He is discovering lots of things at this age. Maybe it's the taste of the soap or water. Maybe he is just discovering his hands. Maybe it's the feel of the bubbles that the shampoo and baby wash make. Maybe he is thirsty, give him a bottle first.

www.http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
This website will tell you what is in your baby shampoo and how dangerous it is. Until then say "no" and take his hand out of his mouth. You may want to give him a pacifier to chew on, you can put it in the freezer to give him a little more comfort, because he is probably teething.

All great advice. We use Aveeno products because our little boy has sensitive skin. It is wonderful. Teething and exploring with his mouth is totally normal. Our little one is 15 months and still does it sometimes. You're fine.

Dear K.,

Please be careful. Many of these baby shampoos and body washes contain formaldehyde, a cancer-causing carcinogen. Another name is Quaternium 15. I shop from a wellness company that does not use formaldehyde in any of their personal care products. If you'd like to know more, please message me. You have to be a member to shop there.

K. C.
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They are kids - they will drink bath water and pool water and perhaps even the water in the dog dish. As long as bath water isn't his main source of fluids he will be fine (the amount of soap in the water is minimal). You can discourage this, but it will likely continue for quite awhile. Kids also seem to love sucking on the washcloth or soft toys in the bath.

(Why does he suck his hands in the bath? because they are warm and wet and feel different than other times when he puts them in his mouth. He is experimenting and learning about life.)

Absolutely normal. It is discovery time. At four months babies begin to put things in their mouth. Just to fee water, textures, etc. This is where the fun begins.
You will also notice that if you give him a wet wash cloth he will put it in his mouth, if you give him a toy he will put it in his mouth.

He may just be additionally soothing himself. Warm water is relaxing and so is sucking fingers and such. At 4 months he still doesn't need additional water than breast milk or formula so I wouldn't say he is thirsty. My child is 1 and he drank half a cup of soapy water and he is fine. If he starts gulping soap from the bottle I would call someone, but even then I don't think it is toxic. Kids experiments and babies at that age learn from sticking stuff in there mouth. Thats why you always have to watch them!

Hmm! He's probably just curious about water. Babies use their mouths to explore their world.

By the way, we all absorb products through our skin (and babies do more so). He's probably getting less by sucking on his fingers after dipping them into water with some rinsed-off product in it than he's getting through his skin in the course of a bath.

About the Aveeno products, I'd be leery. Aveeno uses some downright hazardous ingredients in many of their products. You can see at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/wordsearch.php?query=ave...

I try to stick with products rated at 3 or lower. For our daughter's soap, we just use our own, grown-up Kiss My Face olive oil soap (nothing else but that; the olive and chamomile and other combos are not as natural and healthy, but the straight-up olive oil soap is rated at zero, the best possible rating - safer than most "baby" products). It's a huge bar for just a few bucks and lasts a long time. We even use it for her hair. You can see and compare at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/wordsearch_free.php?hq=k...

L.

Hi K.! My son starting doing this around 3 or 4 months as well and it's perfectly fine. Aveeno is a great product and is recommended by pediatricians so don't worry about changing soaps.. I personally love the one with lavender scent. My son was teething, so that is one of the reasons he started putting his hands in his mouth. I really don't think children know what they are doing when they start doing this and is just their way of experimenting. What I do to prevent him from eating the soap off his hands when I'm washing him is I hold his arm and hand the entire time I'm washing it and then rinse it quickly.. then I let go and let him suck away. ha! Have to be pretty fast at it.. especially as your little man gets older. I just laugh at it. My son also has some squirt toys in the tub and now he tries to suck the water out of those!! I still don't understand how he knows there is water in there to suck out! LOL But I wouldn't worry too much.. just get a little quicker than he is and he won't eat too much soap.. or at least we hope he won't! Good Luck!

I have heard that some babies start teething early eventhough you may not see any teeth. I have a 9 month old and he has been putting everything in his mouth that he can get his hands on even his own hands in his mouth, this started as soon as he was able to reach for things. I don't think that there is a problem but you may want to talk to your baby's doctor about it just to be safe.
You might want to watch him when he's bathing cause eventhough some of the baby products may say they are safe, they may not be for your baby. I'm the same way with my son, I worry about everything.
I hope that you and your son have a wonderful day.

L.

Sounds like your little one may be beginning to teethe! If you think that your little man may be thirsty you should check for signs of dehydration, lack of wet diapers, but don't give him a bottle of water. Giving babies plain water at this age can mess up the PH levels in their bodies. Also, if you are using Aveeno baby products it won't harm your child if he consumes a minuscule amount. Try keeping the products off of his hands. Have fun with your baby boy!

I have three kids: 6, 4, and 9 months and they are all bath water drinkers. Kids are gross. And any baby soap is safe. We use Johnson and my daughter is getting ready to turn 7 so I think she will be okay/

Not sure about his sucking sounds like he is thirsty. As far as the products ck out the back of the bottle and see the ingredients and research online. I am almost positive that it has a tons of chemicals in them. Which as you may or may not know that what you put on your skin gets to all of your major organs within 26 seconds. So, that being said either way if it has chemicals/toxins as ingredients not good. Arbonne has a whole baby line of products that are Pure, Safe and Beneficial. Ck out web at www.successfromtheheart.myarbonne.com and click on products. Email me if you have questions. Thanks, K.

I have a 4 month old who has started doing the same thing over the last few weeks. Recently he has grabbed the wash cloth and puts it straight to his mouth, which is funny to see. I figured it was just discovery, which I still believe, but the last few days he started putting his whole hand in his mouth and making lots of vocal sounds with drool everywhere. Then a couple of days ago he had a really hard time going down for naps and at bedtime, turned into screaming evenings twice, then we gave him teething tabs and tylenol and he passed out in my husbands arms within 30 minutes and slept for 14 hours (waking for meals of course). Poor guy was so tired and we think he is teething. I hadn't researched much on teething because I didn't expect it till later. Since having tylenol a few times a day, nap time is wonderful and so is bedtime! Doesn't sound like your situation but just watch for it. For yours, I think he is just discovering.