EVERYONE’S FAVORITE Groups
It's Bathtime!
Here is a list of the items you will need to bathe your little one.
- Soft, clean washcloth
- Unscented baby soap and shampoo
- Towels or blanket
- An infant tub. An infant tub is a plastic tub that can fit in the bathtub. It may make bath time a lot easier.
- Warm water - NOT HOT! Test the water temperature with your elbow or wrist.
- A soft brush for your baby's scalp
- Clean diaper
- Clean clothes
Sponge bath
Remember - you should be giving your newborn a sponge bath for about the first four weeks of their life. Once the circumcision heals (1-2 weeks) and their umbilical cord falls off and naval heals (1-4 weeks) you can transition to tub baths.
- Okay, first things first, pick a warm room with a flat surface. For example, the changing table in the nursery.
- Wipe your infant's eyes with a dampened wash cloth, no soap. Wipe from the inner corner to the outer corner and use a new clean part of the wash cloth for your baby's other eye.
- Clean your baby's nose and ears next. Wet the washcloth again and wash the rest of their face (avoiding their eyes) and pat it dry.
- Next, move on to washing their hair. Create a lather in your hands and gently wash your baby's head and rinse.
- You can now wash the rest of your baby with a warm washcloth and soap. Gently clean your child, paying special attention to the creases under the arms, behind the ears, around the neck and their genital area.
- Make sure your child is dry before you diaper and dress them.
Tub baths
When your baby is ready for tub baths, don't panic. The first bath should be gentle and brief. If they become upset, go back to sponge baths for a week or so, then try the tub bath again.
- Fill the infant tub with warm, not hot, water. Make sure the infant tub is secure and not slipping around the bath.
- Test the water temperature with your elbow or wrist.
- Undress your baby and place them into the water quickly to prevent them from getting chilly. Support their head with one hand, and use the other to guide the baby in feet first. You may want to speak to your child in a comforting voice, while you slide them into the water.
- Use a washcloth on your baby's body and hair.
- Gently massage your baby's scalp with the pads of your fingers of a soft baby hairbrush.
- When you rinse shampoo from your baby's head, be sure to cup your hand over their forehead to prevent soapy water from going into their eyes.
- When you remove your child from the tub, remember that wet babies can be slippery so be careful! Wrap them immediately in a towel and cover their head. Baby towels with little hoods are perfect for this.
Remember to never leave your child unattended in the bath. Interruptions happen, if you need to leave the bathroom, wrap your child up and take them with you. Continue when you are ready. Even if you have just left one bath related item in another room, do not leave your child alone to go grab it. Accidents happen quickly, and you never know what other distractions might be in the next room, extending your time away from your bathing baby. Bottom line, never, ever, leave you child unattended in the bath.
