How To Clean A Newborn

When Is The Best Time Of Day To Bathe Your Newborn

How to Wash a Newborn

There is no one perfect time to give your baby a bath â itâs your decision. Choose a time when youâre least likely to be interrupted and you arenât in a hurry.As a general rule, youâll find bathing your newborn is usually easiest when he or she is wide awake and content.Itâs best not to bathe your newborn baby when he or she is tired or hungry. If you plan to give your baby a bath after feeding, wait a while to give your childâs tummy a chance to settle.When your infantâs a little older , you might like to schedule bath times for the evening as part of his or her bedtime routine.

How To Clean A Baby’s Belly Button

This article was co-authored by Jami Yaeger. Jami Yaeger is a Parenting Specialist, Doula, and the Owner of AustinBorn, an online community offering comprehensive and modern education to growing families. With 10 years of experience, Jami specializes in whole family support for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting. Jami earned her BA in Theatre Performance from San Diego State University and earned her Certification as a Lactation Education Counselor from the University of California, San Diego. She is a Certified Infant and Child CPR Instructor, Birth and Postpartum Doula, and Childbirth Educator.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 21,530 times.

Cleaning your babys belly button can be easily managed at home. Depending on whether their umbilical cord has fallen off or not, the cleaning process is a little different. Babies with intact umbilical stumps can get sponge baths, but the cord itself should be kept dry. Babies with healed belly buttons can simply have warm baths and be cleaned with gentle baby soap. Enjoy bonding with your baby during bath time, and when cleaning their belly button just remember to be gentle.

How To Clean An Umbilical Cord Stump On A Newborn Baby

This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care. This article has been viewed 25,912 times.

Your babys umbilical cord will be cut immediately after theyre born, leaving a small umbilical stump thats usually ½ to 1 inch long.XResearch source Because your baby no longer needs their umbilical cord, the stump falls off after about 1-3 weeks and leave behind a belly button.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source In the meantime, its important to keep your babys umbilical stump clean and dry to prevent infection and irritated skin. Until the cord stump falls off on its own, clean your newborn’s stump gently with plain water and let it dry thoroughly.

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Oral Care Before The Teeth Come In

How you care for your baby’s mouth depends on whether they’ve gotten any teeth yet. Before your baby has teeth, you won’t need to use a toothbrush, infant tongue cleaner, or toothpaste. Instead, a small piece of gauze or a washcloth soaked in a bit of water should suffice. After feeding, you can wrap the gauze around your index finger and carefully lay your baby across your lap. By cradling their head in your arms, you’re in a good position to wipe gently inside their mouth.

How Hot Should The Water Be

How to clean your baby nose with and without a nasal ...

The water temperature to bathe your baby should be warm, never hot. The ideal temperature is 98.6°F . You can use a bath thermometer to monitor the temperature, or check the water with your wrist or elbow to confirm its warm and not hot.

Also, check different sides of the tub or baby bath to confirm there are no hot spots. If using a tub or basin, turn on the cold water first and then the hot water to fill it.

If you live in a house, you can also adjust the water heater to ensure it doesnt go above 120°F , which can badly scald your babys skin. You likely cant adjust the water heater if you live in an apartment complex or condo.

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Why Is It Important To Start Early

Bacteria exist in a babys mouth the same way they exist in your mouth.

But babies have less saliva than you, which makes it harder for their little mouths to wash away milk residue. This can also build up on their tongue, causing a white coating. Cleaning their tongue loosens and removes the residue.

Using a damp cloth to clean your babys tongue also introduces them to oral cleaning early, so its not a huge shock when you clean their mouth with a toothbrush later on.

When Should You Clear Your Babys Nose

The use of saline drops and the bulb syringe or the nasal aspirator can be done 3 to 4 times in a 24 hour period. Any more than that can carry a risk of damaging the lining of the nasal passages, causing irritation and nosebleeds.

It can be helpful to time these clean-out sessions just before feedings, to help your baby breathe while nursing or taking the bottle. Its just not possible to suck and breathe through the mouth at the same time, so babies must have clear noses in order to get in a good feeding. In fact, one of the reasons babies do not feed well with respiratory illnesses is that it is just too much effort. So you will notice they feed for shorter periods of time, just until they get tired of working so hard. And you will want to try and feed them more frequently when this is happening.

Another good time to clear nasal secretions is just before bed at night to help everyone sleep just a bit better.

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Should You Bath Baby In A Sink Or Full Bath

There are sink inserts available to bathe a newborn. This can be a good option if youre traveling or short on space in your home. Follow the bathtub steps above for giving your baby a bath in the sink, but take care that the water coming from the sink faucet isnt too hot.

When your baby is able to sit up on their own , you can use the full bathtub. Fill the tub with only a few inches of water and supervise them at all times, making sure their head and neck stay well above water.

What You Need To Clean Baby Toys

How to Clean Your Babys Tongue – Tips & Precautions

You likely own a number of cleaning products that are safe to use on plastic baby toys, such as Clorox or Lysol wipes, 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, and chlorine bleach. You can also check the baby care aisle of any grocery or drugstore, as you’re bound to spot some bottled cleaners specifically geared toward sanitizing toys.

“Toys are likely going into your babe’s mouth, so you’ll want to be sure to consider using a safe chemical for sanitation such as vinegar, alcohol, or peroxide,” says Brandi Winch, owner of Homemaid Cleaning Service and Homemaid Home Organization.

If you’ll also be washing some plush loveys or other stuffed animals, make sure to stock up on detergent and dryer sheets or balls that are safe for baby skin. Whatever you use to wash your little one’s spit-up-on clothing is bound to do the trick.

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How To Prevent Baby Congestion

Pediatricians recommend only using the suction methods a couple of times per day, to keep the delicate mucous membranes inside the nose from getting irritated and inflamed. If your baby has allergies or is ill, you may want to use other methods to keep the nose as clear as possible. Here are a few things you can do to help the nostrils drain more easily:

  • Humidifier: Dry air in your home from the heater or the air conditioner can cause noses to become dry and then produce extra mucus. This problem is especially prevalent in the winter. Run a humidifier in your babys room to moisten the mucus membranes in the nose and help alleviate the symptoms .
  • Steam: Steam also can help loosen the mucus inside your babys nose. Close the bathroom door and run hot shower water to make the room steamy. Then turn off the water and sit inside the steamy room with your baby for 510 minutes to let it penetrate the nostrils. You can also try a vaporizer to create warm steam in babys bedroom for a similar effect while sleeping.
  • Gravity: While your baby is taking a nap, try propping them up a little bit. You can use a folded or loosely rolled blanket under their head to give it a little elevation. This should only be done when you are awake and can see your baby and not during the nighttime hours. When baby is awake, tummy time can help the nose to drain, and help your baby developmentally at the same time!

Bathing Your Newborn In A Bath

Youâll still want to give your baby girl or boy a proper bath every few days or so. If you feel a bit nervous about giving your newborn his or her first bath, donât worry. Bathing a slippery, squirming newborn baby can take some practice, but youâll soon get the hang of it.Bath time is also a great time for your partner, a grandparent or other close relative to lend a hand. Delegating bath duties isnât just a fantastic bonding opportunity for the person doing the bathing, it can be an opportunity for Mum to grab a little extra âme timeâ â especially during the whirlwind first few weeks with your newborn.When the time comes, itâs important to be prepared, so make sure the room is warm enough and get everything ready before you start giving your baby a bath:

  • Your babyâs bath â this can be a special baby bath or you could use a clean washing-up bowl. A smaller baby bath might help your child feel more secure.

  • Two towels

  • A clean nappy

  • Clean clothes.

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Why You Should Keep Your Baby’s Tongue Clean

Infants start teething at around 4 months old. Even before that happens, regular oral hygiene is a must. Leaving breast milk or formula residues in your baby’s mouth for days allows bacteria to thrive in their sugary saliva. This can cause fungal infections.

âIt’s normal for your baby to have a seemingly discolored tongue after nursing. That’s the milk residue that sticks to the surface of their tongue. But if you notice creamy white wounds inside your baby’s mouth, that’s probably oral thrush.

Thrush is a common fungal infection that can spread rapidly, so talk to your doctor if you think your baby has it. It looks like small lumps of cottage cheese that you can’t easily wipe away. Babies with thrush have discomfort and burning that makes it hard for them to eat.

It can easily spread to a breastfeeding mother’s nipples, too. â

âLack of oral hygiene in babies with teeth and toddlers can quickly cause plaque to build up, and it could lead to tooth decay. Bacteria in the plaque produce acids whenever your infant or toddler eats a sugary snack. These acids corrode the protective exterior layer of the teeth called dental enamel and cause cavities.

Oral Care After The Teeth Come In

How To Clean A Babys Tongue: A Step

Your baby’s oral care routine should change slightly after their first tooth comes in. This usually occurs anywhere between the ages of four and six months. Once those first teeth pop up, you can start using a soft, kid-friendly toothbrush with a head that’s designed to fit in a very young child’s mouth for easy navigation. Use this toothbrush to clean their visible teeth, and continue to use the damp gauze to clean their gums and tongue.

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Introducing A Toothbrush And Toothpaste

You can either continue using a finger brush or introduce a toothbrush once your baby’s first tooth comes in, at around six months of age. It’s best to start with a child-sized brush with soft bristles. At this stage, you should not use toothpaste just add water to the brush.

You can start to use toothpaste once your child is two years old. Start them off with a tiny smear of fluoride-free toothpaste on the toothbrush. You can increase it to a pea-sized amount by the time they turn three.

You should use fluoride-free toothpaste until your child learns to spit out the toothpaste instead of swallowing it. Because swallowing too much fluoride can upset children’s stomachs and cause damage to teeth. Pediatricians generally recommend using fluoride-free toothpaste until age three.

You can start teaching a child to brush their own teeth as soon as they develop enough hand coordination to hold a toothbrush steady. By age six or seven, kids should be able to brush their teeth without any supervision. However, “children experiencing developmental delays may require assistance while tooth brushing at all ages,” Chandna says.

Pediatricians recommend a pediatric dental visit starting at 12 months.

Maintaining A Healthy Environment

  • 1Change the newspaper and towels regularly. Puppies will make messes in their shelter, so regular cleaning is important. Each day, replace the newspaper, blankets, and towels. Wash blankets and towels completely before returning them to the shelter.XResearch source
  • 2Clean the puppies on your own if necessary. For the most part, the mother will take care of cleaning newborn puppies. However, if the mother rejects the litter, that task is left to you. It’s important that you keep newborn puppies clean to prevent infections and other complications.XResearch source
  • Use a warm and wet washcloth to clean the puppies. Use gentle wiping motions to clean your puppies.
  • Clean the puppies around their faces. You should also clean the genitals and anal area after they eat, as this will encourage them to eliminate.
  • 3Check stools when cleaning. When cleaning a puppy’s cage, take this as an opportunity to check the stools. Healthy stools are a sign your puppies are developing safely. In general, stools should be brown and firm. Loose or discolored stools should be evaluated by a doctor.XResearch source
  • 4Designate different areas for sleeping, eating, and eliminating. As puppies get older, have different areas of the cage for eating, sleeping, and eliminating. This will help the puppies stay clean on their own.XResearch source
  • Use a low board to separate the sleeping and eating area from the bathroom area. Lay down newspaper or cedar pines to encourage the puppies to eliminate here.
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