Prepping For Baby Bath Time
Create a bath time routine
The sooner you can set some sort of bath time routine, the more it will help set your babys clock. Babies are generally more alert in the morning, so you could choose to incorporate a bath into your waking up routine. Or, because the warm water of a bath is soothing, you could use a bath to signal that youre winding down for the day and getting ready for bed. Whatever you choose, keeping your bath time consistent is a great way to start building a routine for your baby.
Choose a safe washing station
There are plenty of options out there when it comes to a washing station. Companies make baby-sized plastic tubs, slings that you can place inside an adult-size bath time, or you can always opt for the sink thats lined with a soft surface. Regardless of what you choose, you want to make sure that the spot is safe for your baby. This means making sure theres no hard surface that your baby could accidentally knock against.
Keep things warm
Use less soap than youd think
Although some parents prefer to forgo soap completely and only use water on their newborns, the accumulation of dead skin cells and sweat on your babys skin need to be properly cleaned. This is where soap can come in handy. Because a babys skin is so sensitive, operate with the less is more mentality when using soap. Too much soap can dry out a babys skin. Likewise, youll want to select a soap that is mild, fragrance-free and dye free.
How Often Does A Newborn Need A Bath
Growing up, you may have heard that babies and children must be bathed daily for optimum cleanliness. However, this isnt the case. Especially with a newborn, bathing daily can actually dry the skin, and irritate it.
Additionally, most newborns do not get very dirty, so its not necessary to fully immerse them in a bath each day or night. You can spot clean any areas of concern in between baths.
For these reasons, most doctors recommend only bathing your newborn baby a few days per week.
AAP recommends bathing your baby no more than three days per week. Of course, even that is not a hard and fast rule.
If you want to bathe your baby more often, thats fine, and if you only bathe your baby one or two days per week , thats fine too!
As your baby gets older and ventures into the toddler years, they are going to get dirtier, because they will be exploring everything and playing outside. Your bathing frequency will likely naturally increase during this time.
Babys First Bath At Home
Once you get your little one home, theres no set timetable for when to give baby her first sponge bath. Experts agree that the timing for bathing a newborn is up to the parents, and that theres no big rush. Many families are excited about giving a baby their first newborn bath at home, but waiting a few days is fine, says Justin Smith, MD, a pediatrician at Cook Childrens Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Holly S., a mom of two, gave birth to her second baby at home and didnt bathe him for more than a week. Theres no need to wash them right away in most circumstances, she says. Any blood from the birth can be wiped off, and you just need to wipe their diaper areas thoroughly in the meantime. She also made sure to rub the vernix into her babys skin to get the most out of its antimicrobial and moisturizing properties.
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How To Bathe Your Newborn For The First Time
Your baby is covered with vernix , after-birth to protect your babys skin from germs and infections in the environment outside your womb. If youve given birth in the hospital, your healthcare practitioners will be there to clean up the vernix. However, as far as your babys first bath is concerned, WHO recommends giving your baby his or her first bath after 24 hours of his or her life. As your baby might catch a cold if youre bathing him or her immediately after birth. Once you bring your baby home, with your childs specialists suggestion, you can add bath time to your babys routine. You can also start by sponge bathing your baby.
Babys First Bath: When Should It Happen
If you give birth in a hospital, nurses will probably bathe your baby within a few hours of delivery. However, the World Health Organization recommends waiting 24 hours for your newborn’s first bath. WHO claims this delay regulates blood sugar and body temperature, promotes bonding, improves breastfeeding success, and keeps Baby’s skin from drying out.
Your baby won’t be ready for the infant tub until the umbilical cord stump falls off . This usually takes about two weeks or longer. In the meantime, you’ll be giving your newborn a sponge bath.
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Fill Your Babys Bathtub With Water
The second step is to fill the bathtub with water. You only need two to three inches of water to bathe your newborn.
The water temperature should be roughly the same temperature as the human body98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Anywhere between 90° F and 100° F is perfect. Use a thermometer to make sure youve got the temperature just right.
Dont Forget All The Easy
Newborns have an abundance of adorable folds and rolls, which can be easy to miss when you’re bathing them. Specifically, make sure to wash the folds around your newborns neck, wrists, knees, and elbows.
And dont forget to clean behind your babys ears, as well as in-between their fingers and toes. Wash your babys genitals and diaper area thoroughly. Its extremely important to clean this area well, but this task should always be left for last.
That way, any bacteria or germs that get washed off wont dirty other areas of your loved ones body, which helps prevent rashes and other skin conditions.
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When To Give Your Newborn A Bath
You can bath your baby at any time of the day. Its a good idea to pick a time when youre relaxed and you wont be interrupted. And its best to avoid bathing your baby when baby is hungry or straight after a feed.
If bathing relaxes your baby, you can use it as a way to settle your baby for sleep in the evening.
Setting Up A Baby Bath Safely: Tips
Drowning and scalds are the two main risks with bath time. With these simple tips, you can avoid these risks and keep bath time fun and safe for your baby:
- Take the phone off the hook or turn your phone off while bathing your baby. Youll be less likely to get distracted.
- Make sure you have everything you need nearby for example, towel, washcloth, bath toys, lotion or shampoo, clean clothes and clean nappy. This way you can keep your eyes and hands on your baby at all times.
- Make sure all bath lotions, shampoos and electrical appliances are out of babys reach.
- Take off your watch and jewellery. Wash your hands.
- Check the water temperature is 37-38°C before you put your baby in.
- Dry and dress your baby on a towel on the floor if possible. Its safer than on a change table. If youre using a change table, always keep one hand on your baby.
- Place your baby in a safe area like a cot after theyre dry and dressed.
- Empty the bath as soon as youre finished with it. Remove bath plugs from the bath when theyre not in use.
Children can drown in a few seconds in very shallow water. Never leave your baby alone in the bath, even if youre using a bath seat or cradle. Never leave older children or siblings to supervise. If youre disturbed by the phone or another task, take your baby out of the bath.
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What Is A Swaddle Bath
If youve got a fussy baby, especially in the earliest weeks, a swaddle bath can help make babys first few bath times go a lot smoother.
A swaddle bath is when you loosely swaddle your baby before putting them in the tub, keeping your baby wrapped while theyre in the water. This helps them feel secure and warm, and it helps you keep a grip on your slippery, wiggly little one.
Heres how to do a swaddle bath:
Heres a helpful video showing how to do a swaddle bath.
If you give your baby a swaddle bath, the same guidance applies as for regular baths: dont bathe baby every day , make sure baby is sitting up in their tub or sink, use warm water and keep one hand supporting baby as much as possible.
Have All Of Your Supplies Handy
First things first: make sure to have all of the supplies we listed above easily available. Choose a stable place to set out all of the items. Some parents like to use a bathroom countertop, or even just the bathtub itself.
Other folks prefer to use a changing table or a kitchen countertop. Whatever surface you choose, just make sure that its safe and stable.
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How To Bathe Baby In A Bathtub
After your infants umbilical cord falls off, you can bathe them in a baby bathtub. Follow these steps to safely bathe your baby:
Remember to never leave a baby unattended in a tub, even for a second. They can quickly drown, even in a shallow amount of water.
Why Wait That Long Bathe A Baby After Circumcision
Due to religious reasons, a lot of people get their babies circumcised. Mostly in Islam and Jews, it is very common to get a baby boy circumcised as it is seen as a good sign in their respective religions.
However, as said before, circumcision leaves the wound exposed on the penis of the baby. So it is dangerous to wash the open or exposed wound on the penis as it could make the baby sick or could cause harm to the baby. Newborns and infants are very fragile so an adult is supposed to take care of them and make sure that nothing would harm them.
So to prevent any harm to the baby it is suggested that one should wait for a day or two so that the exposed wound heals properly. Once, the wound is healed, it is safe to bathe the baby but only sponge baths and towel baths are recommended. As newborns are too young for a proper bath. The water used in towel bathing or sponge bathing should be warm and not too hot or cold. The towel should be soft and clean as well.
Also, one should always consult a doctor to circumcise their baby. Doctors take all the necessary safety measures to prevent any harm to the baby. Other than that, doctors provide proper guidance about the baby bath and other required steps that are needed to be taken by the parents of the baby.
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What You’ll Need For Your Baby’s First Bath
For a sponge bath, you’ll want to gather up the necessities before you get started. This makes the process easier for you and your baby, and it can prevent them from getting too cold while you work.
Before you get started, prepare your bath area. You might lay a blanket or towel down on a hard surface to cushion your baby during their first bath. Then, grab:
- A big bowl of warm water
- Gentle baby soap
- A baby towel
- A clean diaper for afterward
How To Wash Babys Scalp And Hair
Plan to wash your babys scalp or hair twice a week. To wash your babys scalp or hair, gently massage a baby shampoo into their hair, if they have any, or directly onto their scalp. Rinse it out by dabbing with a wet washcloth.
In a baby tub, you can also gently tip your babys head back and keep one hand over their forehead while you pour on some warm water. The water will spill over the sides of their head to rinse out the shampoo.
Gently washing your babys hair will not hurt a soft spot, but talk with your pediatrician if you have concerns. If your baby has cradle cap, you can gently brush your babys hair and scalp. But take care not to pick or scrape at their scalp.
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Bathing A Newborn Baby Just After Birth
Right after birth, you should gently apply coconut oil or Sesame oil and then bathe your newborn in warm water. A new mother should shut the door and windows to prevent drought. The mother should shut the door and windows to prevent drought. Bathing babies should preferably be done in the afternoon. Bathing a newborn in Indian style is the ideal one. The mother sits on the ground with legs extended and touching each other. The baby is kept on the legs with its face towards the ground so that the face and tummy of the baby are touching the mothers legs and the nose lies in between the legs. Bathing a baby can also be done in a plastic tub.