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Bathing Your Newborn
When you bring a newborn home for the first time, preparing for that first time bath time can be a little traumatic for you. Babies always seem a lot more fragile than they really are and a whole lot more slippery too. But with a little practice you’ll soon be handling your baby like an old pro. Remember that newborns really only need to be bathed once or twice a week. Anymore than that can cause your baby to have dry skin which can soon cause more problems. Your baby’s skin needs to keep a certain amount of moisture in it to develop properly. Excessive washing shouldn’t become a habit if you want your baby to have healthy skin conditions. The water in the baby tub only needs to be 2 or 3 inches deep to provide enough water for a good bath. Any more water than that may prove to be overwhelming to the baby as she gets used to the new sensations surrounding her.
First off, it just makes good common sense not to put your baby into a bathtub that you’ve filled without first checking the temperature of the water. It’s also important to remember that you shouldn’t bath a baby until the umbilical cord has healed over and dropped off. If you’re baby’s been circumcised, this also has to heal first. Sponge baths can be used until these have healed properly. When you’re ready to bath your baby, make sure that you have the answering machine on and ignore anyone who comes to the door. Inattention with a baby and a bathtub of water can be a fatal combination. If you have to go to another room to use the washroom, wrap the baby in a towel and take her with you. Many parents start washing the face first and move on to dirtier areas of the baby’s body after that.
Chances are pretty good that your baby won’t like the bath, at first. It may take some time for her to get used to the sensations. If there’s a lot of crying, make it a short bath and get the baby dry and warm again as soon as possible, before she gets a chill. Keeping one hand under her head for support, gently wash her while speaking in soft and soothing tones. Until you find out about any skin allergies your baby may have, try not to use any soap at all for the first few times in the bath. This is especially a good idea when washing around the face, a very sensitive area of the skin on anyone, but especially a baby. Before you begin the bath, have a clean towel and a new diaper ready to place her in immediately after the bath to help her avoid getting a chill. After a few times in the water, your baby will soon learn to enjoy bath times with you. This is a very special bonding time for parents and their newborns as well. It’s also a good idea to try and schedule the bath for when you’ll have lots of time to devote to it and won’t feel rushed.
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