Where Can I Bath My Baby
Babies dont tend to care what theyre bathed in, as long as they have room to move around and the water is deep enough so they dont get cold. Baby baths are ideal because theyre portable, easy to empty and easy to clean. Some parents like to use the kitchen sink in the early weeks of their babys life before graduating to the big bath. You may like to use the big bath as soon as your baby is beyond the newborn stage.
How To Give Your Newborn A Sponge Bath
Until your newborn is ready for full-body baths, give them sponge baths:
- Fill a basin with warm water, then wrap your baby in a towel and lie them on a comfortable surface. Always keep one hand on your baby and your baby covered with a towel.
- Dip a clean washcloth in the water and clean their face, starting at the bridge of the nose and wiping over their eyes. Clean the outer folds of the ear with a corner of the washcloth .
- Use the washcloth to wipe the rest of your baby’s body from the neck down, only uncovering the parts of the body you’re cleaning. You don’t need to use soap it can be drying for sensitive newborn skin. If you do, use a mild, moisturizing soap made for babies.
For little messes like milk dribbles on your newborn’s chin or neck, you can spot-clean with a damp washcloth. Once or twice a day, wipe down your baby’s face, neck, and hands, as well as the folds of their skin as needed. And thoroughly clean their genital area with wipes after each diaper change.
Many newborns have scaly, peeling skin on their scalp a harmless condition known as cradle cap. It won’t bother your baby, and it’s perfectly fine to leave it alone until it goes away on its own. But if it really bothers you, you can try to remove the scales by washing your baby’s hair with baby shampoo and gently passing a soft-bristled brush over your baby’s scalp.
When Is The Best Time Of Day To Give Your Baby A Bath
There is no one perfect time to give your baby a bathâitâs your decision. Choose a time when youâre least likely to be interrupted and when your baby is calm.
You may like to give your baby a bath in the daytime because sheâll naturally be more alert. Or, you may give your baby a bath at nighttime as part of her bedtime routine.
If you plan to give your baby a bath after feeding her, wait a while to ensure her tummy has had a chance to settle.
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Before The Umbilical Cord Falls Off
Florencia Segura, MD, a board-certified pediatrician at Einstein Pediatrics in Vienna, VA, notes that the AAP recommends sponge baths until the umbilical cord has fallen off and healed, which is known as dry cord care. “Keeping the umbilical cord as clean and dry as possible as it’s healing to minimize infection is optimal,” she says.
When And Why Babies Should Get A Sponge Bath
The American Academy of Pediatrics says to give your baby a sponge bath until the umbilical cord stump falls away.
The average amount of time it takes for this to happen is 2 weeks, but sometimes the cord may fall off a little earlier or later. Anywhere between 5 to 15 days after your baby is born is typical, according to a 2016 study .
Your baby might also need a sponge bath if theyve had any kind of surgical procedure and have stitches or bandages on their skin.
Make a sponge bath easy and fun by having all your supplies on hand before you start. Heres a list of what youll need:
- a large bowl of warm water
Now the fun starts. If youre in the bathroom, you can warm up the air by letting the warm water run for a few minutes.
Then, follow this step-by-step guide for a clean and happy baby:
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Reasons Why Doctors Recommend Delaying A Newborns First Bath:
Reduced risk of infection
Babies are born covered in a white substance called vernix, which is composed of the skin cells your baby made early in development. Vernix contains proteins that prevent common bacterial infections. Think of vernix as a sort of natural antibacterial ointment. Your baby is born covered in this anti-germ barrier. Bacteria such as Group B Strep and E. coli are often transmitted to newborns during delivery and can cause bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and meningitis, and can be fatal. These are not rare infections we test babies for them daily. Vernix is natures protection against these infections.
Stabilized infant blood sugar
Bathing a baby too soon after birth can cause low blood sugar. Heres why: in the first few hours after birth, a baby has to adjust to life outside the uterus, including losing the placenta as a source of blood sugar. Bathing causes crying, stress and the release of stress hormones. Stress hormones can cause a babys blood sugar to drop, which can make a baby too sleepy to wake up and breastfeed, causing the blood sugar to drop even more. Rarely, low blood sugar can cause neurological injury.
No baby lotion required before a newborn bath
Vernix is a natural skin moisturizer and skin protectant. Babies need skin protection during the transition from the amniotic fluid into the air environment. If you delay the bath, there is no need for artificially scented baby lotion. Instead, you get to enjoy that new-baby smell.
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, 2 towels, a clean nappy, clean clothes and cotton wool.
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Giving Your Newborn A Bath: Steps
These steps make bathing your newborn easy:
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.
Situating And Supervising Baby
To place baby in the bath, gently slide them into the baby tub, feet first.
- As you slide baby in, hold them securely.
- One arm should provide support under their head, and that hand should grasp baby under their underarm.
- The other arm should support baby’s bottom.
Never leave baby alone in the bath, not even for a second.
- There’s a high risk of drowning if baby is left unsupervised in the tub.
- As the American Academy of Pediatrics cautions, babies can drown in as little as 1-2 inches of water.
- And over half of bathtub deaths involve children under one year of age.
Never leave baby in the bath with only another child watching them, either. Babies need close adult supervision in the bath.
If you need to leave the bath area for any reason, you must take baby with you!
Keep one hand on baby at all times during the bath — use “touch supervision” to keep them safe.
- Ideally, use one arm to cradle babys head while you bathe them with the other hand.
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If Your Newborn Hates The Bath
You may think you are doing something wrong if your little one cries or otherwise protests during bath time. However, many newborns dislike being bathed at first.
One reason some babies resist bath time is that they dont like the sudden temperature change. You can lessen this transition by slowly getting your baby into the water. Wrap them in a towel at first and gradually immerse them in the water, keeping the towel on until they are all the way in.
You can also experiment with water temperatures to see what your baby likes best. And always have a warm towel ready when they come out so that the air on their wet skin doesn’t feel too jarring.
Some newborns tolerate baths better if you are holding them. As a result, many parents decide to bathe with their babies in their arms. This can be a wonderful bonding experience, but remember to keep safety in mind. Only bathe with your baby when you are fully alert, make sure you have a towel ready, and possibly another grown-up to hand your baby to when you are done. And dont use soaps and other bath products geared toward adult skin.
Finally, keep bath time fun for your baby! Newborns cant play with bath toys yet, but that doesnt mean they cant be entertained by them. Funny faces and games of peek-a-boo can be very helpful as well.
Can You Give A Baby A Bath Before The Umbilical Cord Falls Off
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to not submerge their newborns in water while their umbilical cord is still attached. While the umbilical cord is still on, you should give your baby sponge baths. The sponge bath mirrors a regular bath but does not involve putting your newborn into water.
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Where To Bathe Your Newborn
The perfect place to give your newborn a bath is:
- Where you can comfortably hold your baby in a stable position
- Optional yet best would be is where theres enough space for you to put and wrap your baby in a dry blanket
- No chance of you or the baby slipping
- No pets can go near your baby or babys essentials
I added that last part because, as a new and frantic mom then, my cat came in contact with my newborns clothes while I was giving my newborn a bath then proceeded to lie down on it.
But I digress. You dont need to necessarily bathe your baby in a bathroom or the kitchen sink.
The bottom line is, just as long as the room is warm, the baby wont feel cold, you feel comfortably safe holding and drying your baby, then any place should be fine.
Personally, I used our dining table which I thoroughly cleaned, before and after bathing.
I lay down some huge towels covering the area, making it non-slippery for the bathtub and I made sure that our cats were inside their cages. I learned my lesson the hard way.
When To Give Newborn A Bath
Giving a newborn their first bath at home can be overwhelming. You might wonder what you should do when the right time is to bathe your baby and whose help you will need.
Its also a good idea to know what items youll need on hand before you start bathing your baby.
This article explains how long it is advisable to wait before bathing a newborn, how to give them their first bath at home and when the time for full baths arrives.
When to give newborn a bath? The first bath should be given after the umbilical cord stump falls off and within 24 hours of being born. This is because as soon as you can wash/bathe your newborn, it will help prevent any infections from developing from bacteria present within urine or stool .
Bathing your baby can depend on various factors, such as whether or not your baby was born prematurely and how many weeks old they are at birth.
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Preparing For A Newborn Sponge Bath
- A commercial baby bathtub or a changing mat or other warm place to lay the baby, with a basin of water close by.
- You can also sit in a comfy chair with baby in your lap, with a basin of water close by.
- A room that is comfortably warm.
- A gentle baby cleanser made for a babys skin.
- Warm water that is around 98-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
- A towel for underneath the baby to protect yourself from water.
- A towel to cover the baby during the bath.
- A towel for drying your baby.
- A clean diaper and fresh clothes.
Setting Up A Newborn Bath: Tips
Heres how to get ready for a newborn bath:
- 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 within reach for example, towel, washcloth, cream or ointment, clean clothes and clean nappy.
- Avoid using soap because this will dry out your babys skin. If needed, use a fragrance-free oil or a gentle non-soap cleanser at the end of the bath.
- Position the bath somewhere stable and at a height where you can comfortably hold your baby.
- Fill the bath with just enough warm water to wash your baby. Use jugs of water to fill the bath if youre planning to bath your baby away from the tap.
- Take off your watch and jewellery and wash your hands.
- Check the water temperature is 37-38°C before you put your baby in the bath. If you dont have a thermometer, use your wrist or elbow to test the temperature it should be comfortably warm, not hot.
- Before bathing your baby in a sink, briefly run cold water through the tap once youve finished filling the bath.
- Dont add extra water while your baby is in the bath.
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What Is The Best Water Temperature For Your Baby’s Bath
When it comes to figuring out how to give your baby a bath, the water temperature plays a big role. You might even want to invest in a bath thermometer.
Generally, you should feel the water with the inside of your wrist as you draw your baby’s bath. It should feel warm, not hot. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using water below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This applies to water for a sponge bath or the water you draw for a baby bathtub.
Don’t forget the temperature of the bathroom, too. Babies get cold quickly, so you want the room to be warm, if possible. You can turn up the thermostat in or near the bathroom to about 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
How To Give Your Newborn A Bath: A Beginners Guide
If you ever thought that giving birth was the most difficult part then I would hate to break it to you that it isnt. Once the baby arrives, even the tiniest bit of task related to your baby can give you cold feet.
In the long list of such tasks is one that soon comes after giving birth and i.e., giving your newborn a bath.
Giving your newborn a bath can be a nerve-wracking experience for both you and your baby but theres nothing to stress over as a little practice can help you as well as your newborn enjoy bath time.
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Best Baby Bath For Sinks: Puj Infant Bath Tub
Its really easy to use as I can stand at any sink with it. It folds down flat for storage and it supports our baby boy really well. Perfect after a c-section.
The cleverly-designed Puj Infant Bath Tub turns any sink into a baby bath. Its made of soft, lightweight PVC and simply folds and squashes into a sink , giving your baby a soft base in which to sit and enjoy their wash.
Its mould- and mildew-resistant, unlike some of the sponge products that work in sinks, and hangs up behind a door to dry. Once dry, it can then be folded down flat for storage.
The Puj is suitable from birth up to around six months, or whenever your baby can sit unaided. Its a lifesaver for anyone with a tiny bathroom or for parents with back trouble who would struggle to bend over an adult bath.