BABY HEALTH

BABY IN BATH

  1. Select a site for the portable baby bath. The kitchen or bathroom sink or counter or the big bath (though the maneuvering involved when bathing a tiny baby while bending and stretching over a bath can be tricky) are all good candidates. Be sure you will be comfortable and have plenty of room for the bath and bath paraphernalia. The first couple of times you give a bath. you might want to omit the soap - wet babies are always slippery, but soapy-wet babies are extra slippery.

  2. Have all of the following baby bath suppply ready before undressing baby and filling the bath:  

• bath, basin or sink scrubbed and ready to fill
• baby soap and shampoo, if you use it
• two flannels (one will do if you use your hand for soaping).
• sterile cottonwool balls for cleaning the eyes.
• baby bath towel, preferably with a hooded baby bath towel
• clean nappy and clothing
• ointment or cream for nappy rash, if needed

  3. Run water into the baby bath (enough so that part of baby's body is in the water but not too much); test with your elbow to be sure that the baby bath temperature is comfortable . Never run the water with baby in the bath because a sudden temperature change might occur. Don't add baby soap or bubble bath to the water, as these can be drying to baby's skin.

  4. Undress baby completely.

  5. Gradually slip baby in the bath tub, talking in soothing and reassuring tones to minimize fear, and holding on securely to prevent a startle reflex. Support the neck and head with one hand unless the bath has built-in support, or if your baby seems to prefer your arms to the bath's support, until good head control develops. Hold baby securely in a semi-reclining position slipping under suddenly could provide a bad scare.

  6. With your free hand, wash baby working from the cleanest to the dirtiest areas. First, using a sterile cottonwool ball moistened in warm water, clean baby's eyes, wiping gently from the nose outwards. Use a fresh ball for each eye. Then wash face, outer ears and neck. Though soap won't usually be necessary elsewhere every day (unless your baby tends to have allover 'accidents'), do use it on hands and the nappy area daily. Use it every couple of days on arms, neck, legs and abdomen as long as baby's skin doesn't seem dry - less often if it does. Apply soap with your hand or with a flannel. When you've taken care of baby's front parts, turn him or her over your arm to wash back and buttocks.

  7. Rinse baby thoroughly with a fresh flannel.

  8. Once or twice a week, wash baby's scalp, using mild baby soap or baby shampoo. Rinse very thoroughly and towel-dry gently.

9. Wrap baby in a towel, pat dry and dress.

  BABY NEEDS

  BABY CARE

NAIL TRIMMING
EAR & NOSE CARE
UMBILICAL STUMP CARE
BABY PENIS CARE
BURPING BABY
SWADDLING BABY
BATHING BABY
SHAMPOOING BABY
DRESSING BABY

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