Gearing up for baby’s bath? First, assemble all your provisions before you turn on the tap, together with baby-safe soap& shampoo, wash-cloth, towel, rubber ducks. You can also gather a clean cloth & diaper, ointment or cream for after the bath. When all the belongings are ready you can start bath time;Babies lose body heat very quickly above all when they’re naked so make sure the bathing room is warm enough 75to80 degrees before you get started turn up the thermostat or steam up the room by letting the shower turn on hot for a few minutes. Whether you’re using an infant tub or a sink save the big tub for when she’s actually sitting up, fill it first never put a baby in while the water is still running with enough water to cover the bottom of her body. The water should be comfortably warm, so test the temperature with your elbow or the inside of your wrist these areas are more sensitive than your fingertips.
Gently slide your baby into the tub, feet first, holding her firmly with one of your arms under her head use your hand to grasp her underarm farthest away from you & the other supporting her tusk. She may be slick as a fish, but you’ll soon get the hang how to hang on to her. Once she’s in avoid letting her sit for to long in soapy water it can irritate her skin, plus she might get chilly.
Use a mild soap on her hands and diaper area. You can jus use water on the rest of her body most days, unless she’s really dirty. Working from the top down; focus on the cleanest areas first& removed to-ward the grimiest. Her hair needs shampooing only once or twice a week especially if she has none with just a drop or two of tear-free soap. After washing each area, rinse thoroughly.
Eyes, ears & soft spots. Be extra gentle but thorough with her face, neck & ears. When washing the scalp, massage it with the pad of your fingers, including the area over the soft spot on the top of the head. Clean her eyes with a soft dampened washcloth or dampened cotton balls, wiping from the inner corner to the outer corner. Wash only the out side of those tiny ears & never put any thing inside them.Go easy on the private parts. Use a soft clean cloth gentle soap& Luke- warm water to clean your baby genitals. Have a girl? Wash the area from front to back & don’t forget to gently wipe between skin folds. But no need to clean inside the labia. Bathing a boy? Just wash his penis with soap & warm water no tub baths for a circumcised newborn, until his penis has healed. Until then put a piece of sterile gauze coated with petroleum jelly or antibacterial ointment over the area.
Use clean warm water for that final rinse cycle then pat (don’t rub) your baby’s skin with a soft dry towel. Be sure to thoroughly dry her bottom & any other areas where there are folds of skin. Some skin potions can lead to rashes, not to mention mask that incredible natural baby smell. Also avoid powders, which can irritate a baby’s breathing passages. If your baby’s umbilical cord stump is still intact, avoid tub baths altogether & just use your hands or a baby washcloth for cleanups. If your baby’s umbilical stump has fallen off but you’re not quite sure she’s ready for a tub bath, give it a go but keep the sub sing gentle & brief.
If the absolutely hates it, go back to sponge baths for a few days, then try again. And keep in mind that while bed-time baths are relaxing, its fine if another time of day works better for you & your baby. One word of warning post-pone the bath if your baby is hungry, grumpy, or has an upset tummy (that wouldn’t be good for anyone involved) Never leave a baby alone in or near the tub & keep at least one hand on her body at all time.
