How to Bath a Newborn Baby
| 5:52 AM |
How to Bath a Newborn Baby - Some babies enjoy being in warm water right from the start, while others need a little time to get used to these new sensations on their skin. Whatever's right for you and your baby, we have plenty of tips for keeping your baby clean and contented. Bathing your new baby may be about much more than just cleanliness.
If your baby is full-term and healthy, you can give your newborn her first bath as soon as you like. It’s best to wait at least an hour after the birth, and to keep the first bath short, no more than five minutes to 10 minutes.
A bath twice a week or three times a week is enough to keep your newborn clean. Between baths, wash your baby's face regularly, clean her genitals and bottom after each nappy change, and wipe any grime off her skin. If you enjoy giving her a bath every day, that’s fine, too.
If you live in a hard water area, bear in mind that too much tap water during the first month or so may dry out and damage your baby's skin. You could add a little mild, liquid baby cleanser or bath emollient to the water to protect your baby's skin. Though be aware that the emollient will make your baby slippery to handle.
If your baby is full-term and healthy, you can give your newborn her first bath as soon as you like. It’s best to wait at least an hour after the birth, and to keep the first bath short, no more than five minutes to 10 minutes.
A bath twice a week or three times a week is enough to keep your newborn clean. Between baths, wash your baby's face regularly, clean her genitals and bottom after each nappy change, and wipe any grime off her skin. If you enjoy giving her a bath every day, that’s fine, too.
If you live in a hard water area, bear in mind that too much tap water during the first month or so may dry out and damage your baby's skin. You could add a little mild, liquid baby cleanser or bath emollient to the water to protect your baby's skin. Though be aware that the emollient will make your baby slippery to handle.
Let's check this point. how to bathe your baby:
- Start with only a few inches of warm water. Baby’s bath water should be between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. After filling the basin or tub, be sure to swirl the water with your hands so there are no hot spots.
- Before you put your baby in the bath water, test the water’s temperature on the inside of your wrist to make sure it is not too hot. NOTE: Be sure that your home’s hot water heater is set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help protect against accidental scalding.
- Using one arm to gently support your baby's back, head and neck, gently place her in the baby bath. Continue to support her using one arm while bathing her with the other.
- Gently cleanse around your baby's eyes with a cotton pad dampened with clean, warm water. Use a new cotton pad for each eye and always wipe from the inside corner of the eye outward. Then, using a soft washcloth, wipe around your baby's mouth, nose and whole face, working from the middle outward. Wipe the creases in her neck and don't forget behind her ears!
- For younger babies, wet a baby washcloth with warm water and use a gentle cleanser formulated for babies, like JOHNSON'S® baby HEAD-TO-TOE® wash. If your baby has more hair, you might try a gentle shampoo, like JOHNSON'S® baby shampoo. Don’t be afraid to gently wash the soft spots (called fontanels) on your baby's head.
- Wash the diaper area last. For a baby girl, cleanse the genital area washing from front to back. For boys, gently wash the penis and genital area, also washing from front to back, and dry thoroughly. For an uncircumcised boy, avoid pulling back the foreskin.
- Let your baby take a few moments in the bath to enjoy the warm water. Pour cupfuls of water over her body to keep her warm. Be mindful of running water directly from the tap as water temperature can sometimes change suddenly.
- Wrap both hands around your baby's chest under her arms, support her head, and lift her out of the bath and quickly wrap her in a towel.
- Dry your baby well in all the creases, as excessive moisture could lead to skin irritation. Pat skin to avoid skin damage.
- Before dressing her, apply a gentle baby moisturizer, such as hypoallergenic JOHNSON'S® baby lotion which is clinically proven to be gentle and mild.
