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Newborn Care Topics..

 
You are here : home > Newborn Care > Massaging and Bathing > Preparing for bath

Preparing for bath

Preparing for bath

Markets are flooded with various baby products. Choosing a product carefully is of utmost importance. Before bathing a baby, everything should be assembled beforehand. Here are few tips for preparing a baby for bath.

I am very uncomfortable about bathing my baby

Until they have done it once or twice, most parents are terrified at the thought of bathing a soapy, squirming infant. Typically, newborns do not like to be bathed; the first few times she may howl from start to finish, so be prepared. Soon enough, though, she will anticipate her bath with delighted squeals. Fortunately, a sponge bath will do until the umbilical cord has fallen off and your baby's navel has healed. A circumcised infant can be bathed once his penis has healed.

How do I prepare for a bathing a baby?

It is important to assemble everything you need beforehand since you should never leave the baby unattended. You will need a soft washcloth, a large soft towel, baby shampoo and lotion, gentle unscented soap, cotton balls and, if the navel is unhealed, rubbing alcohol or first aid ointment. Some paediatricians recommend that you shop carefully for all purchasing only those with natural ingredients. Artificial colours, preservatives and fragrances can irritate the baby's skin, so be sure to choose baby shampoo that will not irritate her eyes, and special baby soaps or a mild soap with lanolin or pure glycerine.

Tips for bathing a baby the right way

Here are summarised the steps you should keep in mind when you take your baby for bath. Take a look below.

Dress appropriately

Yes, you too need to be ready to bath your baby. Pull up the sleeves if they are long and take off all the jewellery that you might be wearing. You need to be prepared for all the splashes and wet times with your baby in the bath tub.

Keep the essential ready

As mentioned above you must be ready with all essentials such as fresh set of clothes, towel, nappy, soap, shampoo, bath toys and baby powder.

Fill up the bath tub

Make sure her bath tub is filled up to the right height. Filling it up to 3 inches shall be a good way to ensure she is not drowning by any chance.
  1. You must test the water temperature before putting her in.
  2. You must not place her in the tub when the cold or hot water is still running.
  3. Adding some toys in the water shall only make bathing more fun. However, make sure you are not overdoing with too much of bubbles or toys, as your baby might get overwhelmed.
  4. Closing all doors and windows while bathing is a good way to ensure she does not feel the chill from outside.

Take help

If your baby is too young and you find it difficult managing her during the bath times, you can seek help. You can consider your friends, in-laws, grandparents or an experienced someone to guide you through the process. When you have someone by your side, you shall feel all the more reassured.
However, you need not worry if you have to do all yourself. You are after all you are a supermom and doing simply great.

Undress your little one the right way

Remove all the clothes and her diapers. You must be ready with the water and all essentials before undressing her.
Splashing some water at her before finally getting into the bathe can help her get used to the water temperature.

You must never leave her unattended

You must make sure there is someone always there when she is being bathed. Your baby may be at risk. So, make it a point to be there all through her bathing time.
If you forget to bring something, you can ask someone to get it for you or let it go. You must not make the mistake of leaving her unattended.

Use no tear supplies

Using the no tear supplies for babies is a good idea to make bathing more fun. Moreover, these are known to be highly sensitive and do not irritate the skin in any ways.
You can use soft cloth or your hands to rub soap all over all. If you are using a shampoo, you may only pour a drop in your hand and then gently massage her scalp.
Clean her hair and eyes thoroughly and make sure there are no traces of soap left.
Washing the genitals is a good practice that you should make a habit from the very tender age. If you find any mucus around the eyes and nose of your baby, you can use soft cotton balls to wipe them clean. Once it is over, take her out of the tub and pat her dry with a clean towel. Dress up your baby and put some lotion. You are done!



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Krishna
Krishna.14 years ago
hey! these are really very informative articles.
 
 
 
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mother to be
mother to be.14 years ago
i want to know how to give bath to a new born,is ther any need to use soaps and washes for him since hes so small.anybody with an answer?plz help me.
 
 
 
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ness
ness.14 years ago
hello! please don't use alcohol on the cord! it actually makes it take longer to dry up & fall off!
 
 
 
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Seema
Seema.14 years ago
whenever i bath my children just prior to bedtime, i purposely leave off their rubber pants for about 20 minutes to give their skin a chance to "air out" before putting rubber pants on over top of their cloth diapers. this nifty little tip will help reduce the likelihood of diaper rash.
 
 
 
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new moms
new moms.14 years ago
as a new mom its ok to ask questions on newborn/infant care but ask the right people or at least confirm with the pedeatric doctor or nurse your baby will be healther and you will be happier. every baby has thier own specific needs. ps for mother to be from past experience the instructions on this website are very good other tips are check the room temperature make sure it is comfortable not to hot not cold. just relax and don't be scared but be informed. my son he is big now was also very sensitive and had broncitis and rsv at 2 weeks old there are a lot of moms out their that understand. just relax enjoy time with baby and you will be fine remember good room temperture, no, no, no submerging in water until umbical has fallen off and navel has healed completely, mild baby soap adult soaps and bathing products may be to harsh for sensitive skin mine was alregic to everything. if something seems odd, tell your doctor. 1 or 2 drop of soap on a damp warm cloth and one little precious baby section at a time. newborns skin doesn't get dirty as quickly as aduts check with a nurse. i was told by a nurse to wash every other day and every day for diaper area. remember baby feels your emotions as well so be confident and enjoy your newborn. if still feeling overwhelmed never be inbaressed to ask a doctor or nurse. also the notes from other moms very helpful!
 
 
 
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alice brown
alice brown.14 years ago
interesting comments, but what about a rash that's both on the legs and in the diaper area, almost like small bites? heat rash? bedbugs?
 
 
 
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AJ
AJ.14 years ago
i didn't know you couldn't get the umbilical cord wet very informative. pregnant just now so good to know. wish me luck?!?
 
 
 
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Seema
Seema.14 years ago
one very important safety tip i have for mothers and even babysitters is to leave on the baby's diaper (if not soiled) until you get the baby into the bathtub. i take off my newborn baby's rubber pants then grab hold of his cloth diaper to keep a firm grip of his slippery little body. it works great!
 
 
 
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abcd
abcd.14 years ago
alcohol on the cord is a good thing....please dont stop using it
 
 
 
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mary
mary.14 years ago
i think that you all are correct when you talk about bathing your baby. my baby is healthy thanks to you guys. ashley says thankyou. tootles. oh and i am single with big boobies. hahahahaha
 
 
 
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