Mom’s advice to put baby in kitchen sink while cleaning house causes concern
Mother Cecily I thought she had cracked the code on how to clean her kitchen and keep her baby occupied, a task every mother struggles with. So, to be helpful, he decided to share his trick on TikTok, but the response was not that good.
Parents love to share their thoughts and opinions when it comes to raising children. In theory it’s a wonderful idea: Moms help each other, share tips, and even commiserate over all the hard things. Unfortunately, mothers seem to be very tougher on each other than they should be. This is probably a lesson from the concern and criticism that Cecily faced when she shared a video of how she does chores around the house while taking care of an infant. However, this does not mean that their concerns were not justified. But perhaps we need to be less judgmental and more helpful in delivery.
One mom shared that she holds her baby in the kitchen sink while she cleans.
In one video, Cecily shared that she holds her baby in the sink for a bath while cleaning the kitchen. “New moms: Wash your baby in the sink so you can clean your kitchen while they have sensory time,” she wrote in text over the video, which shows her baby happily kicking his feet in the water while emptying the dishwasher.
Her child appears happy and content in the sink, lying in a plastic bathtub with his body covered with a cloth. “He loves to kick around!” His mother added.
While the woman believed it was a sensible parenting hack, many others disagreed.
Critics were harsh towards the mother, claiming that her moves were unsafe and unhygienic.
Ana Sha | Shutterstock
Some viewers expressed concern about the child being in the water without having an eye on him at all times. One mother shared, “As a third-time mom, I would encourage a lot of multitasking and I do. But we don’t mess with water like that.”
Another commented: “Oh my god, never take your eyes off a child drowning in water.” Another parent advised, “How unsafe it is to take your eyes off the bath bubbles in the water, even if only for a few seconds.”
Others were disgusted that the mother would bathe her child in the same sink she used to wash dishes. One mom wrote, “After taking a microbiology class I avoid sink bathing for young children. Even if you keep it clean, there is still too much risk for bacteria.” Another simply thought it was gross and said, “I always feel weird when people do this, and that’s why I don’t eat at everyone’s house.” In case you were confused, one person said: “What if the kid pees in the sink… and then you wash dishes in the same sink…”
one in follow up videoCecily shared that she has had accidents while bathing in the sink, but like the criticism, she seemed to roll with it.
The mom insists her baby is never in danger when bathing in the kitchen, but experts still advise against the practice.
As for those concerned about her baby’s safety, Cecily insisted that she never takes her eyes off her baby for more than a few seconds. “He’s in very small amounts of water, and I’ve had several baths where I sit and stare, so I know he’s OK, and I’m right next to him the whole time,” she shared in the comments.
Although both of these things are true, the water is short, and she only takes her eyes off it for a few seconds at a time, this practice, which is more common than you might think, is not a good idea. Pediatric ER doctor and mother of 4, Dr. Beachgameshared some great advice about kitchen sink bathing and babies that can definitely be helpful to all parents.
In one of her own TikToks, she shared that babies, especially newborns, are vulnerable to all kinds of bacteria, and she’s even had to treat babies who became infected with salmonella after bathing in the kitchen sink. This is because raw meat, such as chicken, is often cleaned and prepared in the sink, and even the most thoroughly cleaned surfaces can harbor pathogens.
Additionally, Dr. Beachgame warns that kitchen sinks are not ideal bathing sites for infants because they pose hazards that most parents don’t consider, such as slippery surfaces and easy access to faucets, which pose both burn and drowning risks. However, most importantly, Dr. Beachgame points out that no matter where the baby is bathing, parents should never look away. Not even for a few seconds, as Cecily claimed.
Cecily is obviously a loving and caring mom, but maybe her kitchen sink bath baby trick should be retired. Although the “concern” she received was justified, perhaps it could have been expressed a little more gently. Researcher Kelly Odenweller shared, “Moms should think of other moms as an ally, not someone to compare themselves to.” Add. “Try to avoid sounding like the best mom. Talk about the things you both have in common, the things you both enjoy as moms, and don’t feel like you need to be better than her.”
Megan Quinn is a writer who has a bachelor’s degree in English and a graduate degree in creative writing. She covers news and lifestyle topics that focus on justice in the workplace, personal relationships, parenting debates, and the human experience.
