About Baby Care

Posts Tagged ‘bath time’

Bath time for baby is a fun and enjoyable experience. Most babies love to take a bath though some may get a little fussy. For newborn babies, wait until the umbilical cord falls off before giving them a bath. They can do with a sponge bath in the meantime.

When your baby is ready to take a bath, it’s a great way to bond with your child! Here’s how to make your baby’s bath fun and safe.

1. Bring out all the things you will need before getting the baby such as wash cloths, soap and shampoo and of course the bath towel to dry the baby with. Place these items within arm’s reach. If you are using a small baby tub, make sure it’s placed on a secure surface that won’t slide around. It’s good to place a towel under the baby tub, as this will also absorb the extra water. Ready your camera if you want to take pictures.
2. Test the water temperature with your hand before placing your baby in the tub. The water should be lukewarm or around 38 degrees centigrade. As soon as your bath is filled or the water is ready, it’s time to bring out the baby. You don’t want your bath water to get too cold.
3. Use only mild products specially formulated for babies or children. There are a number of brands available in the market to choose from. Avoid perfumes, dyes and don’t use adult formulated products for babies. Baby’s skin is too sensitive and these may cause irritation or an allergic reaction.
4. Bring out the bath toys! For babies who get tense in the tub, you can make it a fun experience for them by bringing out their favorite bath toys! There are toys that float, make bubbles or even attach to the tile in your shower or tub and come in all their favorite popular characters. They can play with it while you shampoo and rinse their hair so they are distracted and don’t fuss. They may even have too much fun and not want to leave yet. However, once the water gets cold, it’s time to take the baby out.
5. Sing songs or make faces. It’s time to get silly with your baby. Hear her laugh as you make funny voices for her toys. Your baby will feel safe hearing your voice, especially when it’s her first time to take a bath.
6. Always keep a secure hold on your baby with at least one hand at all times. You don’t want your baby to slip around in his tub. For infants, always support their head and neck. For babies that can sit up, keep a hand on their back. Be careful not to get water in their ears and eyes.

Babies don’t need to take long baths since they are generally clean. Nighttime baths help calm down babies and help them sleep faster so you may decide to do their tub time at night. Remember to never leave your child unattended. Babies can drown in even a few inches of water. With these guidelines, bath time can be safe and fun!

Most babies love bathtime, and it can be a good way of getting them used to being in and around the water from an early age.

By the same token, even one bad bathtime experience can put some children off baths and water for a long time.

The most important thing about bathing your baby is that he feels secure while in the bath. It’s a foreign environment for him and he will be a little apprehensive, so reassure him as much as possible. A small baby won’t need a full bath every day, and you can simply top-and-tail him, using a bowl of warm water, baby lotion and a soft cloth or flannel to wash his top half and nappy area. Avoid using soap (even baby soap) or wipes until he is at least six weeks old. Try and give him a full bath every couple of days.

Bathing equipment
Baby bath: for small babies up to four or five months, a specially designed plastic baby bath is ideal. Some baths fit neatly over the sides of the main bath and can be filled from the main bath tap and drained away directly into the main bath.

Bath seat: the big advantage of a bath seat is that you have both hands free to bathe your baby. Seats generally come in two different types – seats for small (non-sitting babies) and seats for babies who can sit. The former are generally moulded seats on which your baby sits reclined, supported under his arms and between his legs; the latter is simply a round seat with arm rests. Both should have suckers that attach firmly to the base of the bath to prevent slipping. Always check that the seat you are buying will fit into your bath, as some can be very wide.

There are also sponge supports available, which are basically sponges about the size of your baby that are immersed in water, which your baby lies on with her head and neck out of the water. There are also baby floats, nests and tummy tubs on the market – all of which support your newborn safely in the bath. Which one you buy depends on you and your baby: some supports are ideal for smaller babies: for example, the tummy tub (basically an upright tub which your baby sits in). But some mums feel confident enough to hold their babies in the bath with no additional support.

The most important thing to remember is to never leave your baby unattended in the bath, not even for a moment. Even with the plastic bath seats that hold your baby in place, you must never leave your baby alone.

Bath thermometer: make sure the room is warm, then run the bath 2-3 inches (5-7cm) deep using first cold, then hot water. It can be hard to get the temperature absolutely right with the traditional “elbow test”, so it’s a good idea to invest in a baby bath thermometer. From 36-38°C (96-100°F) is ideal. If you put your elbow in, it should be comfortably warm. Also, to prevent accidental scalding, turn your household water heater down to 49 degrees °C/120 degrees F.

Baby bath and shampoo: always use specially designed baby bath soap and shampoo to wash your baby. Until the age of 12 weeks, babies’ hair can be washed with a mixture of bath lotion and water.

Bath safety
Baths can be dangerous for small babies and children. Never leave a child unattended in the bath, even for a moment – a child can drown in less than an inch of water and in less than 60 seconds. Keep the water shallow (no more than 5-7cm centimetres) and use a plastic, non-slip mat to prevent your baby from slipping. Some taps can get very hot and remain so long after the bath is run, so be sure to cover these with a flannel or towel.

Holding your baby in the bath:
With very small babies you will need to support his head and shoulders with one hand, and put your fingers under his armpit. When taking him out of the bath, make sure you have your towel already laid out nearby, and hold him very carefully, as wet babies can get very slippery.

Bath toys
Toys can help make bathtime fun, as long as they are safe. Toys for the bath need to be clean and waterproof and preferably made from plastic which will not disintegrate over time. Bubble bath can be fun for older babies, but do check in case the bubble bath irritates their skin.

Drying your baby
Keep heat loss to a minimum after the bath by keeping the room warm, wrapping your baby in a hooded towel and drying him immediately before putting his nappy on. Once his nappy is on, cuddle him up in a (dry) towel for around ten minutes to make sure he’s warm.

Good luck with Bathing your newborn.