Baby Bath: Time For A Sponge Bath
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
How Do You Give A Newborn A Bath
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.
Best Temperature For A Bath
You can experiment to see what temperature your baby likes their bath best. In general, lukewarm temperatures are ideal. You dont want the bath to be too cold, but you certainly dont want it too hot.
Some parents err on the side of heating the bath up too much, and risk scalding their babies. The AAP recommends that your babys bath be no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Its helpful to fill the baby tub or sink with a few inches of water before immersing your baby in it. Test the water first to see if it is an appropriate temperature for your baby.
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Why You Should Sponge Bathe Your Newborn
Experts recommend sponge baths for newborn babies whose umbilical cord stumps have not yet fallen off. Sponge baths are also a good option for boys who haven’t fully healed from circumcision. Keep in mind that daily baths aren’t necessary, and could dry out his delicate skin. Bathing three times a week will be just fine until your baby is a year old.
What To Do When Baby Outgrows Baby Bath
Babies most likely outgrow the baby bathtub at around 6 months of age. Below is the list of products you can use to bathe your baby once they outgrow baby bath.
1. Use the bathroom bath with a seat
One thing you can do when a baby outgrows a baby bath is to use a baby bath seat in a big bathtub. A good bath seat you can try out is the Summer my Bath seat. It is easy to set up and put in a tub. You can use both hands to clean your baby as it provides 360° support. It has a comfortable and supportive backrest for babies. It is suitable for babies from 5-10 months
2. Put a Duck tub in the bathtub
The Munchkin hot inflatable safety duck tub is great to use when your baby outgrows baby bath. It is designed for babies from 6 24 months of age. It is ideal for use in an adult bathtub. The inflatable design is padded making it secure and comfortable for babies to splash water around it. It folds easily when deflated which makes it easy to carry around when traveling. It has a white-hot dog that changes when the temperature of the water is too hot, cold and when it is right for the babys bath. It is useful for vacations and as a flotation device in the lake
3. Kinbor Baby Bathinette
4. BBSUN Folding Baby Bathtub Portable
5. Use the Yimobra baby bath floor mat in the bathtub
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Tips For Safely Bathing Your Newborn
Besides keeping your baby happy and getting them clean, safety should be a top concern when it comes to bathing your baby. Unfortunately, drowning is something all parents of newborns need to be aware of.
As the AAP notes, ost child drownings inside the home occur in bathtubs, and more than half of bathtub deaths involve children under 1 year of age. These are sobering statistics, but they are not meant to scare you instead, they are reminders to take safety very seriously when it comes to bathing your baby.
Here are some other safety recommendations to keep in mind:
Bathing In A Tub: Baby Bath Water Temperature And More
After their umbilical cord stump falls off, you can give a baby a bath in a bathtub. Follow these steps to bathe your infant safely in a bathtub:
Fill the baby tub with a little water. Its best to use an infant tub manufactured on or after October 2, 2017, so that it meets the most recent safety requirements. You can place the tub in your regular bathtub or sink, depending on the model.
After their umbilical cord stump falls off, you can give a baby a bath in a tub.
Start by filling the tub with cold water, then add hot water to bring it to the desired temperature. Generally, two or three inches of warm water in the tub is enough. Always check the baby bath water temperature using your wrist or elbow before placing an infant into the tub. If you have a bath thermometer, the baby bath temperature should be about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Undress the baby and immediately put them into the filled bathtub to keep them warm and comfortable.
Using one hand, support the babys head. Use the other hand to place them feetfirst into the bathtub. Always keep their neck and head above the water.
Use only mild, pH-neutral baby soap with no additives to give a baby a bath.
Gently pour or splash warm water over the baby to keep them warm in the bathtub.
Rinse the infant thoroughly using cups of warm water. Wipe them clean with a washcloth. Then, carefully lift them out of the bathtub by supporting their head and neck with one hand and their bottom with the other.
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Baby Bath Tub Alternatives
Here are the lists of baby bathtub alternatives you can use if you dont want to use a bathtub due to one reason or the other such as when your baby outgrows a bathtub or lack of space for baby bathtubs.
1. Baby blooming bath lotus
If you are looking for a baby bath that is easy to store and clean, the Baby blooming bath lotus it is. It is suitable for use in sinks such as kitchen and bathroom sinks. It is made from soft materials and it cradles and protects the baby during bath time. You can adjust the petals to support the neck so the baby doesnt slide down. This makes it comfortable for them to enjoy the bath.
2. Summer Lil Luxuries Whirlpool Bubbling Spa & Shower
The Summer Lil Luxuries Whirlpool Bubbling Spa & Shower gives your baby a luxurious spa experience right in your home. The calming whirlpool and massaging bubbles created by a motorized water jet entertain the baby during bath time. The insulated double wall tub helps to keep the baby warm during bath time. The newborn sling and plush bolster are suitable for the sink, infant tub, and adult bathtub. This is a bathtub that grows with your baby.
3. Soft sink baby bath by Frida
This is another suitable baby bath designed for the sinks. The soft sink baby bath by Frida fits in most sink sizes and shapes and helps to cradle your baby. It is easy to fold and store and even travel with. It is super soft and the padding is great. It has head and neck support which is important for the comfort of the baby.
Additional Newborn Bath Tips
- As you move from one area of the body to another, change the washcloth parts to keep the clean cloth on cleaner parts of the body.
- Pat the skin with a washcloth and blot dry with a towel rather than vigorously scrubbing, which may irritate your bathing babys sensitive skin.
- Spot-cleaning works best for babies who do not like either a total sponge bath or an immersion bath. Clean the areas that get the oiliest, sweaty, or dirty.
- Clean the eyes on an as-needed basis rather than during the regular bath. Infants often protest eye cleaning, which may set off a protest for the entire bath. Using cotton balls and warm tap water , wash accumulated discharge out of the corners of your babys eyes.
- Cotton-tipped applicators are handy when cleaning little crevices in and behind the outer ear, but never try to clean inside the ear canal, as you may damage the canal or eardrum.
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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.
What Do I Need For A Tub Bath
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Baby bathtub
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Nonslip mat or pad
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Bath thermometer . These often have “safe” bath temperature ranges marked on them.
When bathing your baby in a tub:
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Clear the counter or table top of breakable objects and electrical appliances to prevent injury.
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Fill the tub with warm water, making sure the water is warm, not hot. Always test the water before placing your baby into the tub. Some parents feel most comfortable using a baby bath thermometer to confirm the correct temperature of the water.
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Follow the same general bathing instructions for a sponge bath.
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NEVER take your hands off your baby, or walk away, even for a moment.
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Be sure to clean the bathtub after each use.
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How Often Should You Bathe Your Baby From Birth Through Early Childhood
One of the most common questions new parents ask has recently become the focus of anongoing social media debate among celebrity parents, including Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, and Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell: How often should I bathe my baby?
Some parents bathe their babies daily as part of a bedtime routine or due to regular baby messes, from extra spit-up to diaper blowouts. But for most families, bathing the baby two to three times a week is plenty after the first couple of weeks of life.
In fact, we recommend delaying your newborns first full bath for at least two weeks. Newborns shed about three layers of skin within their first week, which often surprises new parents. Their skin is still adjusting to the dry air, so its perfectly normal. You can prevent further skin irritation by moisturizing your baby with chemical-free lotion and washing their clothes with a gentle, chemical-free detergent before dressing them.
After that first two-week period, its OK to bathe your baby a couple times a week. You can follow this schedule through your childs elementary school years. Of course, you should modify the bath schedule based on your babys skin health and your familys lifestyle.
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.
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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 and for every purchase, youâll earn points that you can redeem for rewards.