Best Kind Of Soap For Babies
Newborns dont need a ton of soap, and baby shampoo isnt strictly necessary.
Doctors recommend using the most mild soap you can find, as baby skin tends to be very sensitive. Unscented soaps are usually your best bet, and you can stay away from antibacterial soap or soap with many additives.
Read labels: If the soap has a long list of ingredients, its probably best to try something simpler. After bathing your baby, it can be helpful to follow up with some baby-friendly moisturizer, especially if your baby tends to have dry skin.
When Can Your Baby Have A Bubble Bath
Bubbles definitely make excellent bath time a very fun one for your baby, but you have to avoid it until your baby turns 3. By that time, your baby can tell you if he feels something bad especially when the eyes got irritated. If youre wondering why this is so, its because of the bubbles — those soaps that are not mild could some infections especially if not thoroughly rinsed off. Plus, the bubbles will also prolong your baby’s bath time because of too much enjoyment and this could lead to drying out of babys sensitive skin. The average bath time for the baby should be no longer than 10 minutes.
However, if you still want your baby to experience a bubble bath, make sure to use a very mild soap which is specially formulated for infants, as this may not cause any irritation on baby’s skin. Don’t let your baby soak and stay too much on the tub. Rinse them thoroughly from head to toe with clean water.
Please remember that part of keeping your babys bath time fun is making sure your baby is safe. NEVER EVER leave a baby alone in the bath. Not even for a tiny second. So make sure you have all the things you will need for the bath beforehand and let the phone ring over to voicemail.
Reasons Why Doctors Recommend Delaying A Newborns First Bath:
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How To Give A Newborn A Bath
Once the umbilical cord stump has fallen off, you can start giving baby full baths. Bathing a newborn can be tricky at first, so if possible, enlist the help of a partner or family member. Its best if those early baths can be done with multiple caregivers around so you have extra hands if you need them, Smith says. After youve rounded up your baby bath supplies and decided where youll be bathing your little one, follow these steps.
Step 1: Fill the tub with a few inches of warm water. Aim for about 2 to 3 inches of water, to keep baby safe. Making sure to support babys head at all times, gently lower your little one into the water. The bath temperature for a newborn should be between 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, never hotter than 120 degrees. While most parents are worried about making the bath too hot, be sure you dont err in the other direction, since babies get cold easily. Kelly B., whose baby is now 3, learned a thing or two when she nannied for a woman who had infant twins. She taught me that the water should be warmer than youd expect, she recalls. Dipping your wrist in is a good way to gauge the temperature, but if youre nervous about getting it right, you can use a thermometer.
Yes, theres a lot to think about when it comes to babys first bath. But soon enough bathing a newborn will become second nature, and before you know it, your child will be sitting up on his own and splashing away in the tub. Thats when things really start to get fun!
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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Start The Sponge Bath
Now you can undress your baby and lay them flat. Put some mild baby wash on a soft washclothbut don’t overdo it, since newborn skin is prone to irritation. “Look for products that don’t have added perfume or dyes, which can irritate sensitive skin,” says Parents advisor Ari Brown, M.D., founder and CEO of 411 Pediatrics in Austin, Texas.
Wash their neck and scalp, then work your way down the front of their body. Make sure to clean between the folds of skin. Rinse the soap off with a second damp cloth, drying and rewrapping your baby with a towel as you go. Don’t wash the umbilical stump, and try to keep it dry.
Flip Baby over onto their belly with their head turned to one side. Repeat the washing, rinsing and drying. Wash their bottom and genitals last. If your son hasn’t been circumcised, don’t try to push back the foreskin.
How To Do It: Set Up For Safety And Success
Prepare the tub: Your bathtub doesnt have to be especially large or pristine. Rinse out the tub, and then fill it deeply with water that is quite warm not as steamy as youd like if you were bathing for relaxation, but not lukewarm either. Dont use bubble bath, this is irritating to baby skin.
Prepare the room: Gather what youll need for washing your baby, and set up a diaper, lotion and clothing for afterwards. Keep the bathroom door closed while youre filling the tub, to create a warm and humid room environment. Set up your babys bouncer seat or car seat, lined with a bath towel and cloth diaper, right next to the tub. Place your naked baby in the seat and then get into the tub yourself.
In and out safely: Once youre safely sitting in the tub, reach over and pick up baby from her seat. When exiting the tub, do the same thing in reverse: while still sitting in the tub, lean over and place baby back in her lined seat and cover with the towel before exiting the tub yourself. This way youll avoid needing to climb in or out of the tub while holding your baby.
Floating in the Bath: With your hand behind babys head, allow your baby to freely float shell LOVE the deep warm water. Watch her arms and legs stretch out, wave and kick. Your babys eyes may open wide open in amazement while she remains calm and alert throughout the bath. This is the perfect time for your partner to take some photos!
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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.
Add The Finishing Touches
Finally, apply a safe, gentle, moisturizing lotion, like Mustelas Hydra Bebe Body Lotion. It protects your babys skin from becoming extremely dry and delivers long-lasting moisture.
And if your baby has eczema-prone skin, try our Stelatopia Emollient Cream and say good-bye to irritation! It moisturizes and soothes your babys skin.
What makes this cream so amazing is that it absorbs quickly into your babys skin and provides moisture to relieve any irritation, itching, or discomfort that accompanies eczema.
We also recommend soothing your little one after their bath with our Melting Massage Balm. Composed of 100% ingredients of natural origin, this balm has a luxurious texture perfect for baby massages.
Finally, put a new diaper on your newborn and dress them in a warm outfit. And voilà! Youve got a clean, adorable baby on your hands.
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Try Different Holding Positions
Every baby is different, meaning they all dont like being held the same way. Some like to be held facing forward, while others like to feel secure and face inward.
Its vital that you check how theyre reacting when you pick them up if you find theyve started fussing before starting to panic, try changing your holding position. Sometimes one position is much more comfortable than the other.
Best Bath Toys For Toddlers
- One of the best toys for toddlers would probably be the one that makes learning fun – letters and numbers that can stick to the bathroom walls! This makes it easy to practice ABC’s and number recognition while having fun in the tub
- Another fun toy is the Alex Toys Spin and Wash RubaDub Bath Toy – spin the wheel and that body part is washed. It can also give a sense of control to the toddler, thus eliminating bath fights
- Yay for indoor basketball! Munchkin Bath Dunkers Toy Set is great for hand-eye coordination
- Perfect for the little doodlers and wall writers- ALEX Toys Rub a Dub Draw in the Tub
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Bathing Your Baby Safely
You don’t need to bathe your baby every day, but if they really enjoy it, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t.
It’s best not to bathe your baby straight after a feed or when they’re hungry or tired. Make sure the room you’re bathing them in is warm.
Have everything you need at hand: a baby bath or clean washing-up bowl filled with warm water, two towels, a clean nappy, clean clothes and cotton wool.
Can You Bathe Your Baby While The Umbilical Cord Stump Is Still Attached
During your babyâs first few weeks, while the umbilical cord stump is still attached, you should only give sponge baths.
A sponge bath is as simple as wrapping your baby in a towel, and wiping her with a damp washcloth and soapy water. Youâll want to do this on a comfortable surface such as a changing table. Keep your baby wrapped in the towel, bathing one part at a time.
The umbilical cord stump typically falls off in a few weeks. If it stays on longer than that, you might want to check with your babyâs healthcare provider.
Youâll want the umbilical cord stump to dry up and fall off on its own, which is why only sponge baths are recommended until that time.
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How Often Should You Bathe A Newborn
For newborns, a sponge bath one to three times a week should be sufficient. Babies dont need to be bathed that often, Williamson says. Newborns dont really get dirty. Keep in mind that you shouldnt fully immerse baby in water until the umbilical cord falls off. For circumcised baby boys, sponge baths should continue until their penis is healed.
Jacoba C. waited several weeks to give her daughter her first newborn bath at home, and rarely washed her after that. She was so clean and smelled so good, I didnt see any reason to, she says. Of course her diaper area was getting cleaned all the time, and I made sure to wipe down all the little fat roll crevices under her neck and behind her knees regularly.
Some parents prefer to give regular baths as part of a bedtime routine, which is fine as well. Baths can help soothe babies who are fussy and be part of a healthy sleep regimen, says Sabrina Fernandez, MD, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital San Francisco.
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:
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