When I was pregnant with my first child, H, my mom made me and my husband an advent calendar for my final month of pregnancy. She asked our friends and relatives for parenting advice and wishes for us and the baby. One of my favorites came from a friend and co-worker who reminded us “Always clean the neck folds.” Her advice came from her own experience with two chunky babies and a memorable moment where she thought, in her words, “Why does my baby smell like ass?”
After my son was born, it soon became apparent that I wasn’t going to have the neck fold issue. He was a string bean, spider monkey, bundle full of limbs. There were no folds, rolls, or chub on this baby, and as a result, I never fully understood her advice.
Flash forward three years and my daughter is pushing the limits of every growth chart and appears to be auditioning to be the new Michelin man. One day, as I went to snuggle my new baby, I was taken aback by an odor I never thought such a tiny creature could produce. A quick pants check indicated no poop. And that’s when my sister said, “Oh. You better check her neck folds.”
My confusion quickly turned to disgust as I discovered several days worth of fuzz, spit up, sweat, and who knows what else caked underneath her sweet chin(s). I. Was. Horrified. Having been spared this experience with my son, I quickly realized my bath routine had, thus far, been insufficient. Time for a new approach.
What Worked For Me…Get the right equipment.
Disclosure: the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. I am not sponsored by any brand/product featured – I just love their stuff and hope you do too!
Bathing a baby should be an olympic sport. At no stage is this easy. As a newborn they are all floppy and slippery. Infants are squirmy and slippery. Toddlers are splashy and slippery. It’s all a pain. For me, I needed the right equipment to get the job done and done quickly.
Actual footage of my husband trying to bathe our newborn.
So here’s what you need to give your chubby baby a quick detail and remove all hints of neck cheese:
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- A baby tub: For years I thought these were totally pointless and stupid (“I have a sink/real tub/shower/bucket, why would I need this?”), but after finding one that I like, it is WAY better than trying to improvise with something not made for baby. I love my Summer Infant Splish ‘n Splash Tub*. By the time we got it, she was too big for the sling, but the second stage (reclined) position is a great angle and she doesn’t slip around at all.
- A peri bottle: Remember that bottle they gave you at the hospital to spray your nether-regions after using the bathroom? Yeah, you need that. Maybe not that exact one, if you feel weird about it, but one just like it. I found that a peri bottle filled with warm water was way better about clearing neck cheese than a wash cloth. It also gives you more control than cup or bucket when washing shampoo off baby’s head. There are several on the market, but I use the most basic model and it works just fine. You can order them online for about a dollar.
- Lotion: After cleaning her folds, a lot of them were red and irritated. My doctor recommended a gentle lotion for after every bath, and I went with Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion*.
Pro-Tip: If you never feel like you can’t get the temperature right on baby’s bath and don’t want to burn your kid, forgo the expensive tub thermometers and just dunk your elbow. If it feels warm, it’s too warm.
TL;DR – Just tell me how to fix it!
- Use a peri bottle to help you bathe your baby, making sure to check and rinse all folds.
- Use a gentle lotion to condition any redness.
- Snuggle that fresh-smelling baby and give yourself a high five!
*Affiliate link! Just FYI.