Slippery when wet!

Commented by 1 Member   View Comments

Article Summary

Your baby's first bath is a real milestone.

Your baby's first bath is a real milestone. But when to give it, not to mention how and where, are questions every new parent has. Cleaning a slippery, squirming - and sometimes screaming - infant takes practice. So relax; it will get easier every time and your baby will soon come to love splashing in the water. In this section, we answer your basic bath questions and offer tips to help make bathtime fun and easy for both of you.

When to Bath: The Dirt on Dirty

How to Bath: To Sponge or Not to Sponge?

Bathtime Cautions

When to Bath: The Dirt on Dirty

How often you need to bath your baby depends a lot on how old your baby is. For a newborn, two or three times a week is probably enough, as long as you keep his nappy area well-cleaned and wash his hands and face several times a day. Unless they've regurgitated something or soiled themselves, newborns just don't get that dirty.

The older your baby is, the more regular bathing he'll need, particularly after he's started crawling and eating his first foods. By the time your baby's a toddler, you'll need to give him a bath almost every night - if not to wash off a busy day's worth of grime, then at least to help calm him down before bedtime.

When's the best time to give a bath? In general, it's better to bath your newborn before mealtimes, if he's not too hungry. Too soon after eating and he may vomit. For older babies, a bath before bedtime works best, since it cleans them up for the night and helps soothe them. You might want to develop this evening routine: a bath, reading a story, then bedtime. But use your best judgement and give your baby a bath anytime he needs one.

How to Bath: To Sponge or Not to Sponge?

Before your baby's umbilical cord stump falls off (between 10 days and three weeks after birth), it's best to sponge-bath your baby to avoid getting the cord stump wet. Here's how: Lay your baby on a soft, flat surface (on top of a clean towel works well). Have a basin of warm water and a sponge or flannel handy. Keeping your baby warmly wrapped, expose one limb at a time and gently wash it. Pat the area dry and start on the next limb. If you accidentally get the cord stump wet, simply use the towel to gently pat it dry. (See the latest information about cord care. )

The Big Bath

Once the cord stump has fallen off, your baby is ready for a real bath in the washbasin or a baby tub. Whichever you use, pad the bottom with a towel to make it softer. You might also want to have your partner nearby to help you hold on to your slippery little one. Assemble everything you will need beforehand so you won't have to scrabble around during the bath. Here's a sample list:

 A large towel
 A soft flannel
 Cotton wool balls
 Baby soap or bath wash
 No-tears baby shampoo, if needed
 A baby brush or comb

Although soap is listed above, often you do not need to use soap on your infant as most of the dirt that accumulates will be washed away with water alone. Soap can remove your baby's natural moisturisers and dry his skin.

You'll only need about 5 centimeters (2 inches) of warm water to give your baby an effective bath. Try placing a warm flannel over his tummy to keep him from getting cold. These early baths don't need to be long or involved, but they do need to get the job done. Hold your baby firmly and gently wash away any dirt or loose skin that's accumulated. Always keep one hand on him while he's in the bath. This is obvious when he's a newborn, and you'll have to cradle his head and back as you wash him. But it also applies to older babies who can sit up by themselves. As you wash him, pay particular attention to:

 The genital and nappy areas.
 The hands and feet. Check between the fingers and toes as well.
 The face and neck. If discharge or dirt has accumulated around his eyes, use a cotton wool ball to wipe it away, using a gentle outward motion.

Hidden Dirt

Newborns may not get very dirty, but they do accumulate dirt in places you might not expect. Make sure you check:

 The folds at the backs of the knees, the neck and the thighs.
 Armpits - fuzz from sleepsuits can accumulate here.
 Behind the ears.

Haircare

Not every baby is blessed with a full head of hair at birth, but if your baby was, wash it with a gentle no-tears baby shampoo as needed. Simply apply a blob of shampoo to his hair and leave it for a short while before rinsing it out - no rubbing or scrubbing is necessary at this age. Wash your baby's hair last so he doesn't have to sit in soapy water.

Finally, don't be surprised if your baby cries during his first few baths. He's just reacting to an unfamiliar sensation. Keep the room temperature warm and the bath water comfortable (see information on water temperature below), and soothe him by stroking and singing to him. He'll soon learn to love bathtime.

Bathtime Cautions

While bathing your baby can be a lot of fun, you need to bear two safety issues in mind: water temperature and never leaving your baby alone.

Too Hot to Handle

Your baby's skin is more sensitive than yours. As a result, bath water that feels comfortable to you will be too hot for him. Before you put your baby anywhere near the water, test it with the back of your wrist or your elbow - these areas are more sensitive to heat than your hand. It should feel warm - but not hot! Some other tips to consider are:

 Buy a baby-bath thermometer. A good temperature for a baby's bath is 32 degrees C/90 degrees F or lower.
 To prevent accidental scalding, turn your household water heater down to 49 degrees C/120 degrees F.

Home Alone?

The single most important thing to remember when giving your baby a bath is to never leave him alone. Not even for a few seconds. Babies can drown in as little as 1 inch of water - and in the time it takes you to answer the doorbell or phone. Don't take the chance. If you must attend to something while bathing your baby, always wrap him up and take him with you.

Category Tags:

Safety

,

Skin Care

Article Tags:

bath time

,

hair care

,

water safety

,

soap