How To Do A Newborn Sponge Bath

How Often Should You Bathe Your Loved One

For older adults, you can give a bed bath 2 or 3 times each week. Bathing more often may put the person at risk for skin problems, such as sores. Younger people can bathe more often if they want to and they have no problems with blood flow. Let your loved one clean himself or herself as much as possible.

Which Items You Will Need

A sponge bath can be fun and easy if you have prepared all the needed supplies beforehand. Here is what you are going to need: two towels, a large bowl of warm water, two washcloths, cotton balls, gentle baby soap, clean diapers, baby wipes, and clean clothes.

Now that you have all the required supplies, the fun can start. If you are going to use the bathroom to do the sponge bath, it would be wise to let the warm water run for several minutes to warm up the area. Then, follow this guide to clean your baby:

First, you need to undress the baby. Lay the baby on his/her back on one of the towels and cover him/her with the other towel. Take the two cotton balls and dip them in water, then wipe the babys eye and the nose area by using a different cotton ball for each eye. Then, use one of the washcloths and dip it into the water and wipe the babys ears and face. Dont forget to clean the creases behind each ear because some of the milk spit-ups might have collected and dried over there. The next step is to squeeze few drops of the baby soap onto the washcloth and use it to wipe the babys neck and scalp after you are done with that, dry off the areas by gently tapping with the towel.

When And Why Babies Should Get Sponge Baths

Babies need a sponge bath at the start of their life for only a few weeks. After a few weeks, the baby can get a traditional regular bath. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, young babies do not need much bathing if you wash their diaper area thoroughly during a diaper change.

Your baby may start smelling bad if not given a sponge bath. You need to wash your baby 2 or 3 times a week. After the umb- cord falls, you can give a regular bath to the newborn. But bathing a baby too much can make his sensitive and delicate skin dry out.

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When To Give Babys First Bath

It used to be the norm at hospitals to whisk newborns away right after birth for a bath. Not anymore. Recommendations have shifted in favor of waiting at least a few hours, if not longer, for babys first bath .

Research indicates that there may be significant physical and emotional benefits to delaying that initial newborn bath. Since young babies are especially sensitive to cold, it can decrease cold stress, says Katherine Williamson, MD, a pediatrician at Childrens Hospital of Orange County in Orange, California. Cold-induced stress can cause the body to work to keep itself warm, which can cause blood sugar levels to drop, she explains, citing studies that show delaying babys first bath decreases rates of hypothermia and hypoglycemia. Plus, babies are born with a waxy, cheese-like coating on their skin, called the vernix, which you dont want to wash off, Williamson says, since it helps retain heat and can serve as an additional barrier to infections. In addition, a 2013 study found that delaying babys first bath in the hospital until at least 12 hours after birth led to an increased breastfeeding success rate, since mom can nurse more quickly and have more time for skin-to-skin bonding, Williamson adds.

Why Is It Important To Bathe A Newborn Baby

The benefits of bathtime go way beyond a basic cleanup! Heres why baths are good for babies:

• They boost bonding. Bathtime quickly becomes a highlight of the day because its all about time spent together. Taking care of your baby lets her know you care, so gaze into her eyes, kiss that yummy baby belly, count those tiny toes and sing silly songs as you wash. Feeling your gentle touch and hearing your voice will let your little one know how much she’s loved.

• Theres so much learning. Yup, there’s plenty to learn in the tub. Tickle your little one’s senses by trickling water gently onto her tummy or teach a lesson in cause-and-effect by showing how to kick the water and create a splash. And don’t forget a play-by-play as you wash name her little body parts as you bathe and she’ll be learning a tub-full of words!

• They can be soothing. You probably already know this from your own bathing experience, but nothing’s more calming and comforting than a soak in a tub after a long day. Up the relaxation even more by trying your hand at infant massage afterwards. While most little ones love it, if your baby balks , don’t sweat it just cuddle instead.

• They may induce sleep. There’s even more reason to love bathing your baby, especially if you add it to her bedtime routine. The warm water, warm room and warm feeling of being safe, secure and loved work magic and will put your baby in the mood to snooze.

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How Often To Sponge Bathe A Newborn

Some people call newborn sponge baths topping and tailing because, once a day, you clean their faces and their bottoms.

Although newborns dont get that messy, there are a few reasons to clean them every day:

• When they spit up, it can get trapped in the folds of their neck, and this can make their skin raw and sore.
• Their first poops are very sticky and harder to clean.
• Newborns tear ducts can often become blocked, which can lead to discharge from their eyes.
• Keeping their umbilical cord clean reduces the chance of an infection.

Wash Babys Lower Body

More gentle wiping, soap as you see fit, around the legs, buttocks and private parts .

Dont forget that cute butt crevice! Another place that can become sore if missed. Either lift baby high up by holding her legs and reach all the way under or hold her over your arm on her front, so you can see exactly what youre doing.

Follow any specific instructions your pediatrician gave you regarding care of the umbilical cord.

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When To Start Using Baby Soap & Shampoo When Bathing A Newborn

Firstly, do you even need to use soap when sponge bathing a newborn with umbilical cord still attached? The answer is probably not and if you can do without then so much the better the longer you wait until introducing soaps and products to your newborns delicate skin the better.

However, if a drop of mild soap means you can avoid rubbing a dirty diaper area too vigorously, then that could be the better option.

When Should You Bathe A Newborn Before Or After Feeding

Babies only need a bath 2 or 3 times a week, but if your baby really enjoys it, you can bathe them every day. Dont bathe your baby straight after a feed or when theyre hungry or tired. Its a good idea to give a baby a bath at the end of the day. This helps to set up a bedtime routine.

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Bathing A Baby: The First Tub Bath

Make the first tub baths quick ones. Fill the tub with only 2 or 3 inches of warm — not hot — water. Use one hand to support babyâs head, then slowly lower them.

• Using a washcloth or baby bath sponge, wash the face and hair. When rinsing, protect eyes with your hand across the forehead. Gently wash the rest of baby with water and a small amount of soap.
• Use water or a cleanser designed for babies. As hair grows, try gentle baby shampoo.
• To keep baby warm during the bath, cup your hand to let handfuls of water wash over baby’s chest.
• Gently pat baby dry. Apply baby lotion all over to seal in moisture.
• Now it’s time for a fresh diaper. Apply diaper ointment to protect against irritation.

When bath time is over, wrap baby in a towel right away, covering baby’s head for warmth. Congratulations on a successful bath!

How To Give Your Baby A Bath

Get everything ready before you start your babyâs bath:

• Ensure that all the supplies you need like shampoo, soap, a hooded towel, and a cup for rinsing are within armâs reachânever leave your baby unattended in the bath, so make sure you have everything you need on hand, including your babyâs fresh change of clothes

• Make sure the room is warm before undressing your baby.

Follow these step-by-step guidelines for bathing your baby:

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Change Of Clothes For Baby If Necessary

Its only necessary to change your newborns clothes when they are actually dirty newborns are comforted and soothed by familiar smells, including their own smell, so no need to bring out new clothes just because youre bathing. If baby has only been in her pre-bath clothes a few hours or even a day and theyre still relatively clean, refrain the urge to bring out clean clothes.

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How To Clean Your Baby’s Umbilical Cord:

• Ask your healthcare provider if you should sponge bathe or tub bathe your baby while his umbilical cord is still attached.
• Wash the umbilical cord stump if it gets dirty with urine or bowel movement. Clean it with a cotton ball or cotton pad that is wet with warm water.
• Gently pat the stump dry with a clean, soft towel. Do not pull on the umbilical cord stump.
• Fold the front of the diaper below the stump so air can reach the stump and help it dry out faster. Choose clean, loose-fitting clothes for your baby to wear. Ask his healthcare provider for more information about cord care.

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How To Wash & Clean A Newborn Baby Girls Private Parts

Learning how to bathe a newborn includes knowing exactly how to clean those delicate private parts. Whether a boy or girl, start by loading up some cotton wool with warm water and squeezing out the excess.

For a newborn baby girl hold the labia apart with your fingers and gently wipe. Just like when using the toilet, make sure you wipe from front to back.

Try to wipe away any excess diaper creams as you dont want these to accumulate excessively. However, dont worry too much about cleaning away any vaginal discharge, which is perfectly normal this can be left.

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Why Do Babies Need A Sponge Bath

Newborns need sponge baths to keep the umbilical cord stump dry and infection-free, which are necessary for fast healing. The stump usually falls off when the baby is one to two weeks old . If it doesnt, consult your pediatrician as it may indicate an underlying problem.

A sponge bath is also essential for boys whose circumcision hasnt healed completely. It takes about one to two weeks for a circumcision wound to heal . So, until the wound heals, keeping the area dry can help in speedy healing.

Note: Remember, babies need not bathe daily. Bathing more frequently may dry out the babys skin. A bath twice or thrice a week or every alternate day is sufficient for the first year of an infants life .

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Washing Baby During A Sponge Bath

Start with baby’s face — and wash their eyes first.

• Dip a clean cotton ball in the water bowl .
• Gently use the cotton ball to wipe baby’s eye from the inner corner out.
• Then repeat the process with a different clean cotton ball, to wash the other eye.

Gently wash around their mouth, and the rest of their face, next.

• Use a wet washcloth for this.
• Start by gently washing around their mouth with water only .
• Then, you can wash the rest of their face with a tiny bit of soap — or just use water, that’s up to you.
• Pay special attention to the chin areas, as lots of drool usually builds up.
• Also pay special attention to the areas behind the ears, as spit-up can easily collect there.
• Gently wash the scalp and neck areas with the washcloth and a bit of soap.
• If baby has hair, use a little bit of tear-free baby shampoo on their hair and scalp.
• Gently massage it in , then rinse.

Wash the rest of baby’s body in any order .

• Wash the hands, arms, feet, legs, back, and torso with water and a bit of soap.
• Uncover each part as you wash, then cover it back up as you finish.
• Use gentle strokes — don’t scrub hard.
• Pay special attention to skin creases and folds, including under the arms.
• Also be sure to gently wash in between the fingers and toes.
• Carefully wash the area around the cord stump.
• You can clean off crustiness in this area, but be gentle.

Finally, gently wash the private area.