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The Basics of Bathing your Baby
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Bathing Baby pg 3
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A bath is an important part of your baby's routine, however you needn’t bathe your baby every day.  It’s strictly an individual and in some cases a cultural matter.  American babies, for instance, are bathed twice as often as European babies, without any difference in the health of either group.

In a warm climate, you may wish to give your baby a bath daily, even sponging a baby off (without soap) every few hours during hot summer months to help keep them cool.  In winter, you may cut back to a bath every other day or three times a week, because indoor heat lowers humidity and dries out a baby’s skin.  Frequent bathing increases chafing and itching.  The number of baths also should be reduced if the baby has a skin rash.  Too much bathing does bother a baby’s delicate skin.  

A baby’s first bath is usually a sponge bath. Tubless cleansing continues for the first three or fours weeks, until navel and circumcision are healed.  After that babies are generally ready for his or her own portable tub.

Set a regular place and time for bathing the baby.  A bath after a feeding is a good idea, because babies are generally less restless when they have full bellies.  Many parents prefer a morning bath, so the baby is dressed in clean clothes for the day.  After the bath, the baby can be tucked into the crib or bassinet for a morning nap.  In many families now evening is bath time and many fathers pitch in to help and give mom a much needed break.. This also allows him socializing time with the baby, which some say is comparable to the mother’s intimate periods of nursing.

Almost any place that is warm, free from light wind, and a convenient height is good for bathing.  The kitchen sink will do if it’s large enough, or baby’s own plastic tub may be placed on the kitchen counter.  There is no special magic about a bath table except to be sure the height is right for you to bathe the baby without stooping.

Keep baby’s bath supplies together in a tray or basket so you won’t have to search for them at bath time.  You won’t need special toiletries, any good, mild and unscented soap will do.  A castile-based soap meets these requirements.  Liquid soaps are good to use and you will find that some soaps are less drying than others such as soap-free liquid products; trial and error will establish your preference.

Some parents like to apply baby oil, creams, lotions, or powder to the baby after bathing, but none of these are really necessary.  If you use any of them, do so sparingly, as excessive use of oils may clog the baby’s pores and shaking on powder lavishly may infiltrate the baby’s lungs.

When preparing the bath make sure to test the temperature of the water on the inside of your wrist; it should be comfortably warm, not hot.  Whether you’re giving the baby a sponge or tub bath, use your hands or a soft cloth and gentle soap.
Some parents like to start with the face and work in a head-to-toe fashion; others leave the face for last, because some babies don’t like face washing and may protest vigorously.  In either case, wash the face carefully, trying not to get soap in the eyes.  

Cleanse the baby’s head about three times a week and rinse with clear water at other times.  Work from the front of the head to the back, so that shampoo or soap doesn’t get into the eyes.  Scrub well, using the tips of the fingers (not the fingernails) and rinse thoroughly.  Clean only the outer areas of the ears, using a soft cloth or moist cotton.  Don’t use a cotton-tipped stick and don’t wash the inside of either nose or ears.

 

Some parents wait to trim fingernails until the child is sleeping.  It’s possible, though, that the baby will wake suddenly, with a jerking movement.  Another way is to hold the baby securely on your lap while the child is awake, holding the hand with each finger extended individually.  Cut nails straight across with a blunt scissors; pointed scissors may poke the baby’s delicate skin.  You may also choose to use nail clippers specially designed for babies that are small enough for baby finger and toenails.  

Many babies enjoy their baths immediately.  They splash and kick and squeal with delight.  But others find bathing traumatic, howling with protest as soon as they’re wet.  It may take eight or ten baths before they adjust to the water. Introduce these reluctant bathers to the experience gradually.  Soap and wash them on a towel outside the tub; then immerse them in the water to rinse them only; however be careful when you pick up the squirming, soapy infant for you can lose your hold on them more easily.  Using the “football carry”, placing your arm under the baby’s head and back, the other hand supporting the head, is a good way to hold an infant when moving them while wet or soapy.

Never leave any baby unattended in the bathtub, even for a few seconds.  A few inches of water can be dangerous to a newborn; when you turn away to for reach bathing items, always keep one hand firmly on the baby.  If an interruption occurs like the telephone or doorbell rings, wrap the dripping baby in a towel, and take him or her with you when you respond.  In a real emergency, wrap the child in a towel and put them on the floor, where the baby can neither fall nor drown.