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It's
best to sponge bathe your baby for the first few weeks until the cord
heals and falls off. When the cord comes off, you may tub bath the baby.
At first, the baby may object. But with time, the baby will come to enjoy
having his or her clothes off, getting wet and being washed. When getting
a tub bath, the child's safety and comfort are important.
How often you bathe the baby depends on his skin, the baby's activities
and the weather. Babies with dry skin and those who sleep most of the day
may need a bath only 1 to 2 times a week. If the baby has normal skin is
active and the weather is hot, a daily bath may be needed.
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Put the baby on a towel and give a sponge bath only, until the cord
comes off.
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During the first few months, use a baby bathtub or a clean plastic
dishpan. The family bathtub may be used once the baby is 6 months old.
Fill a basin with 3 to 3 inches of lukewarm, not hot, water. Test the
water temperature using your elbow or the inside of your wrist. Slowly put
the baby's body in the water. Use one hand to support the baby and the
other to wash the baby. Start at the top and move down. Pay
special attention to the folds in the neck, under arms and the creases
in joints, which are especially prone to rashes. You can
wash the baby's head and hair 1 or 2 times a week with a gentle
shampoo. Rinse with a washcloth to get rid of all shampoo.
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Never leave your baby unattended during a bath.
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Use water that is warm not hot.
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Wash the face first and the bottom area last.
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Use a wet washcloth with no soap to clean the baby's face. Rinse off
the eyelids with fresh water. Wash the ears with a cloth. Do not put
cotton swabs in the baby's ears. This will push the wax back into the
ear. A mild shampoo may be used on the head.
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For boys, wash the bottom with a mild antibacterial soap or with
plain water. Be sure to lift the scrotum and wash underneath it.
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For girls, wash the bottom with plain water. Wipe from front to back
to keep from spreading germs from he rectum to other parts of the
bottom.
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When you are finished bathing, make sure all the soap is rinsed off
the baby's skin. Soap left on it can be irritating.
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You may apply lotion after the bath once the baby is 3 to 4 weeks
old. Use only lotion suggested by your doctor. Lotion can be warmed by
putting the container in warm water before the bath.
-
Do not use baby powder because it contains talc and may irritate
your baby's lungs. You may use cornstarch.
Baby
Have a rash? See our Diaper Rash Decoder
Will my baby stop Crying?
Babies cry, and they always cry
for a reason. Newborn babies may cry
when they are hungry, need
changing or are craving to be held. Sometimes, they may just be
having trouble adjusting to life outside the womb. But some newborn
babies cry more than others, and the wailing may signal colic or
another underlying medical condition.
More...
Choosing
the Right DayCare Place
Every parent, at some time, needs child care. Whether for an
occasional evening out or a 40-plus-hour work week,
finding the right
care isn't easy. Before starting your quest for child care refer to
our comprehensive Daycare guide. More... Tell us your amazing
Birth Story
(labor) and get featured in the Kidsdirect
Family Corner
Each Month KidsDirect,
ParentsDirect, and BabiesDirect will feature a new AMAZING Birth
(labor) story here. Make sure you email us the complete store
with a Picture of your NEWBORN baby! More...
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