How To Shower Newborn Baby

Fill Your Babys Bathtub With Water

Bathing a Newborn Baby (with Umbilical Cord): Step-by-step Video

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.

Prep The Landing Zone

Before I bring Penellope into the bathroom, I always prep her landing zone the space on the floor where I will place her before and after the shower. I put the heat pad on top of a bathmat and then top it with a towel.

NOTE: When she was still small enough for the DockATot, I used to put the heatpad in the DockATot and then a towel over that.

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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Have Fun With Baby Shower Games

While your guests will be busy chatting, eating and watching the guest of honor open her adorable gifts, many hosts also like to plan some fun activities. You might have one big activity, like asking everyone to decorate plain white onesies for the new baby or one fabric square of a quilt, or a number of smaller baby shower games.

While they’ll certainly be fun, games are equally important for making the baby shower memorable. They’re a great icebreaker and open the door for other parents to pass on advice when appropriate.

Baby Bath: Time For A Sponge Bath

How to safely bathe your newborn: Simple steps for baby

Gentle sponge baths are perfect for the first few weeks until the umbilical cord falls off, the circumcision heals, and the navel heals completely.

The basics of bathing a baby:

  • First, undress baby — cradling the head with one hand. Leave the diaper on . Wrap baby in a towel, exposing only those areas that you are washing.
  • Using a baby bath sponge or wash cloth, cleanse one area at a time. Start behind the ears, then move to the neck, elbows, knees, between fingers and toes. Pay attention to creases under the arms, behind the ears, around the neck.
  • The hair comes toward the end of bath time so baby doesn’t get cold. While newborns don’t have much hair, you can sponge the few wisps that are there. To avoid getting eyes wet, tip the head back just a little. There’s no need for shampoo just use water.
  • Now it’s time to remove the diaper and sponge baby’s belly, bottom, and genitals.
  • Wash little girls from front to back. If there’s a little vaginal discharge, don’t worry — and don’t try to wipe it all away. If a little boy is uncircumcised, leave the foreskin alone. If circumcised, don’t wash the head of the penis until it’s healed.
  • Gently pat baby dry. Rubbing the skin will irritate it.

Bath time is over, and your fresh little baby is ready for a clean diaper and clothes!

Continued

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Keep Your Babys Face From Being Doused

Especially when youre first showering your baby, youll want to keep their face from being doused with water. I like to hold Penellope upright, against my shoulder and scoop water onto her head and then apply soap.

Initially, I repeated that same process to wash the soap out. Now that shes a little older, I take her up the water shaft. With my hands tucked firmly under her armpits, I raise her up through the spray, keeping her face towards mine and just outside of the water.

My mom swears washing a babys head this way makes them less afraid of the water and swimming. But honestly, who knows?

How To Give Baby A Sponge Bath

Your newborn should be bathed with a sponge bath for the first few weeks of life. This is the simplest way to clean your baby before the umbilical cord falls off.

Sponge baths are also the best way to bathe boys who were circumcised while the circumcision site heals.

You can also give your baby a sponge bath anytime you want to wash one part or all of their body without getting them soaking wet.

Before giving your baby a sponge bath, make sure you have all the supplies you need within easy reach. Youll also want to warm up the room to keep your baby comfortable.

Once youve gathered your supplies, follow these steps:

  • Choose a warm room, around 75°F for the bath, remove your babys clothes and diaper, and wrap them in a towel.
  • Lay your baby on a flat surface, such as the floor, changing table, counter next to a sink, or your bed. If your baby is off the ground, use a safety strap or keep one hand on them at all times to make sure they dont fall.
  • Unwrap the towel one part at a time to expose only the area of the body youre washing.
  • Start at your babys face and top of their head: First dip the clean cloth in the warm water. Use only warm water without soap for this step to avoid getting soap in your babys eyes or mouth. Wipe the top of the head and around the outer ears, chin, neck folds, and eyes.
  • Add a drop or two of soap into the warm water. Dip the washcloth in the soapy water and wring it out.
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    Naturally Alleviating Toddler Cold Symptoms

    It doesnt matter how you slice it, sick kiddos are tough. And the younger your child is, the harder it is. The following tips and insights have been gleaned from nurse friends, doctor visits, and personal experience. Please contact your childs medical provider before administering any treatment or protocol.

    Babys First Bath: When Should It Happen

    How To Bathe Your Baby: Tips for Bathing Your Newborn

    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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    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.

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    How To Safely Bathe And Shower With Your Baby

    Once your babys umbilical cord falls off, you can then safely shower with your baby. If they are newborns, you may be wondering how to shower with a 2-month-old baby. The best way to shower with a small baby is to use a shower sling for the baby.

    This lightweight shower sling for the baby is super affordable and useful to shower with the baby safely. This sling is made up of material similar to bathing suits, so it dries very quickly. You can also use it at the beach or in the pool.

    If you dont want to wear your baby while bathing baby in the shower, you can use a baby shower chair instead. You can place the baby shower chair in the shower for the baby to sit in while you wash yourself and then them.

    These baby shower chairs are great if you have a large shower floor. Always make sure the spray is not directly hitting the baby. You want to work quickly when they are sitting in the shower chair so that they dont get too cold.

    Infants can get cold very easily, especially newborns, because they have not mastered controlling their own body temperature. Please dont get them wet until you are ready to wash them.

    When showering with my baby, I would keep them covered with a large washcloth in their shower chair until I was done washing myself. Then I would wash them while they were still in their chair and pick them up to rinse off.

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    Skin Care For Your Newborn

    A baby’s soft and delicate skin needs special care. Generally, it is best to use products made especially for babies, but your baby’s healthcare provider can advise you about other products. Products for adults may be too harsh for a baby and may contain irritants or allergens. Many parents like to use lotions. But unless the baby’s skin is dry, lotions really are not needed. Powders should be avoided, unless they are recommended by your baby’s healthcare provider. When using any powder, put the powder in your hand and then apply it to the baby’s skin. Shaking powder into the air releases dust and talc that can harm your baby’s lungs.

    Many babies have rashes and bumps that are normal. Some rashes may be a sign of a problem or infection. Diaper rash can be irritating to the baby and needs to be treated. If you have concerns about a rash, or your baby is uncomfortable or has a fever, call your baby’s healthcare provider.

    Laundry detergents may cause irritation to a baby’s delicate skin. If your baby seems sensitive to detergent, you can use a special detergent for babies with sensitive skin and give the laundry an extra rinse with plain water to remove any leftover detergent.

    When Should The Baby Shower Happen

    10 Essential Baby Items

    For pregnant moms-to-be, baby showers typically happen sometime during the third trimester. Around four to eight weeks before her due date is a good time.

    Holding the shower well before the babys expected arrival gives the expecting parents enough time to prepare the nursery with the gifts they received and purchase anything they didnt.

    Youll want to take into account whether or not she has other showers, cultural norms, and how comfortable shell be once her belly gets big later in her pregnancy.

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    Should You Give Party Favors To Guests

    If youre wondering whether or not you should provide party favors to your guests, honestly, its really up to you. Party favors are a nice gesture to thank guests for coming, but they can quickly get expensive.

    If you do choose to give party favors, feel free to cap your spending at just a few dollars per guest. For example, a bottle of lotion, bar of soap, candy bags, or little trinkets are good options.

    Also, consider giving a favor that correlates with the theme of the shower. If youre throwing a Mom-To-Bee shower, for example, you could give a honeycomb bar of soap to the guests as a party favor.

    How To Bathe A Newborn Baby

    The Baby Hamper Company

    Bathing a newborn baby can be pretty intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! With this guide and a calm mind, you can successfully bathe your little one for the first time without any problems.

    There are many supplies that you will need to bathe a newborn baby. You should think about the following: towels, washcloths, baby soap, and something for cleaning out their eyes, such as cotton balls.

    While you are here you might also be interested to see our range of baby bath time gifts.

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    Can You Give Your Baby Bath Toys

    Keep in mind that for infants, you donât need any bath toys at all, as splashing around in the water will be enough entertainment. As your baby gets older, you can add some floating baby toys or even waterproof books to keep him occupied.

    Eventually, your baby will start to enjoy baths, and at some point, it will become more like playtime than bath time. When sheâs bigger, let your little one splash around and have some fun in the water.

    Between your babyâs baths, youâll probably be doing a lot of diapering. Why not get rewarded for all your efforts? Download the Pampers Club app to turn your Pampers purchases into rewards like coupons, gift cards, and more.

    How we wrote this articleThe information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below.The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.

    • See all sources

    How To Bathe A Newborn: 10 Simple Steps

    How to Bathe a Newborn Baby | JOHNSONS®

    If youve recently given birth to your first child, congratulations! The first few months of your babys life are an amazing time. But you might be wondering about how to bathe your newborn.

    Not to worry! Its actually an easy process and, once you get the hang of it, youll be a baby-bath expert in no time. Keep reading to find out how to bathe a newborn in 10 simple steps.

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