Information on Baby Bathing

Home >> Parenting & Families >> Baby Bathing

Baby Bathing

Aside from daily cleansing of the diaper area, newborns and young babies don't need to be bathed more than two or three times a week. Before the umbilical remnany falls off, don't immerse your baby in water. Instead, give him a simple bath, using a soft wash cloth and a basin of warm water (comfortable tctouch) containing a small amount of a mild baby soap.

The remnant of your baby's umbilical cord may generate some goopyrial, and for the first several days the area around the umbilical stump sho-.1kept clean and dry. Use a cotton swab moistened with rubbing alcohol to -away any moist debris that accumulates until the cord falls off. The remna-the cord will shrivel and fall off within two or three weeks. You may notice s -spots of blood at the umbilical site for a few days.

Occasionally, local bacteria will get a foothold at the stump site, genera -pus, tenderness, and redness. Contact your baby's physician if this occurs if_there is any persistent swelling and moisture several days after the stugone. This area will normally be examined during the first few routine ups, but be sure to bring it to the practitioner's attention if you don't liway it looks.

If your baby was circumcised, he may have a small dressing wrapped around the area from which the foreskin was removed. The dressing will normally fawithin a day or two, and it does not need to be replaced. If a Plastibell wasfor the circumcision, it will begin to separate after a couple of days. Don'tpull it off; let it come loose by itself. A small dab of lubricating jelly apple.any moist or raw surfaces will prevent them from sticking to the diaper. Later on, you can use a soft, warm, moist washcloth to remove (gently) any debris that remains on the penis.

You can sponge-bathe your baby while he lies on any surface that isquately padded. To keep him from losing body heat, cover him with towels.cept for the area you are washing. Start with the head, using water only (no sc - eyes and mouth. Then, using the washcloth dipped in soapy water, work your way down, saving the diaper area for last. Be sure to cleanse the skin, the neck, behind the ears, under the arms, in the groin, and beneath the scrotum in boys.

After the umbilical stump is dry, you can bathe your baby in a "bathinctte" specifically designed for this purpose or even in the sink. As with the sponge should be comfortably warm but not hot (test with your elbow for no more than a couple inches deep. Make sure you have all your washcloth, soap, shampoo, towel) ready before you undress your baby. If you have forgotten something you need to pick your baby up out of the bacin and take him with you. Never leave a baby in a bath.

If he has a dirty diaper at the time you undree him, clean the area as you normally would before he goes into the water. You may choose to sponge bath just as you did before the cord remnant fell off and then rinse it in the bathwater. If you plan to use not necessary with every bath, especially if he isn't endowed with a lot of hair), be--sure to control his head so the shampoo and wa-ned to rinse it don't get in his eyes, nose, or baby will have no interest in rubber ducks or other bath toys at thisSome babies fuss when put into water, but usually the sensation of and rubbing by a pair of loving hands will have a calming effect. Atas- long baths arc neither necessary nor wise, since the effect of prolonged contact with water may dry out his skin and cause rashes. (This is alsoma he should not be bathed every day.) In a few months, as he comessplashing and playing in water, baths can extend beyond the time itbe cleaned.

Because he can lose body heat so quickly when he's wet, be ready to wraptowel as soon you bring him out of the water. This will also improve theof your hold on him.

Other Parenting Artcles:

Home Contact Us About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Site Map