Friday, May 21, 2010

The Art of the Shower

I am a little embarrassed to admit how long it took me to be able to take a shower after Annalise was born without the assistance of another adult in my home. To be truthful, I don't even know how long it was. But think: REALLY LONG. Because Annalise cried her brains out if she was ever put down. Like, she would really lose it. And I worried that maybe her head would explode. So many days I waited until Dave came home for lunch and showered then. Or I didn't do it at all. Impeccable hygiene was sacrificed for the good of my child's head. Because nobody wants a kid with no head.

After many months Annalise calmed down and I could strap her into her bouncy vibrating seat in the bathroom and take the quickest rinse known to man or mother. Our shower doors are glass but you can't see through them but I can talk to her so that helped.

She is older and crawling all around now and while I would never normally put her in that seat, the bathroom is too small for an exersaucer or pack n' play, so I've continued to do it at shower-time so she doesn't hurt herself or start crying in a far-off room where my soothing tones from underneath the waterfall can't lull her back to sanity. Since she sleeps and naps in our room I have to carefully time the showers nowadays around her naps. Her first nap is two hours after she wakes up. If I do it too close to the nap she is tired and cranky and will not allow it one bit. If I wait until she is asleep the shower will wake her up and her head will explode. If I wait until after the nap it's practically lunchtime by the time I'm done. So I really need to do it right when Dave leaves for work. Which I heroically (and oh-so-hygienically) did today, even though I was so tired from her nighttime antics I thought my own head would explode. Getting it all just right is really an art form and we have it down.

I strapped her in the seat, gave her a binkie and a new cloth book and hopped in. She fussed a little off and on and then after a while her fusses turned to real cries. She wasn't screaming though, so I just kept talking to her while I cleansed at the speed of a Super-Sonic Mommy Missile. Finally she was crying a little too hard, so I stuck my head out of the door to take a glance and she was UPSIDE-DOWN IN HER SEAT. As in, hanging upside down by the twisted seat straps with her legs up where her head should be and her howling head knocking into the metal bar where the feet rest. COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN. And flailing and repeatedly bashing her head and completely a tortured wreck. Soaking wet and full of conditioner, I rescued her and she was fine, but other than vowing to toss her seat into the garbage and being mad at the manufacturer for attempting to kill my baby, all I could think was DANG IT NOW WHAT WILL WE DO?

Any suggestions?












5 comments:

  1. Hi Jessica

    You don't know me but I stop by from time to time and I think you are hilarious!
    My hubs Brian grew up with Dave and I've met him a few times. So glad you found each other and are enjoying your adorable little girl!

    My suggestion? Early on we purchased a traveling high chair booster - one with a tray that can be easily folded costing perhaps $20. It can strap on a chair or it has legs that unfold to make it sturdy on the floor. We have used this a ton on the road, at the neighbors for dinner, at picnics, even in restaurants. We still use it instead of a bulky high chair.
    If your little one is able to sit I'd buckle her in on the bathroom floor and throw some puffs on the tray for her to snack on. It worked great with my third during some cartoons while I grabbed a quick shower...knowing she didn't have free reign in the house.
    Good luck!

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  2. Cirque du Soleil's Kooza is still in town. I'm just sayin'...

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  3. I don't know if your little one likes the water, but I always shower with mine. I know this sounds a bit odd, but it works. I bring in some of the bath toys, and let them sit on the floor of the shower.

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  4. Both of those are good ideas! I am going to look online right now for traveling high chair boosters. (It will come in handy next week for our out-of-town family reunion too!)

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  5. LOL! Boy I have been there with my first also!! It will get better and hopefully your next baby will be happier....mine all were ;)

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