Making Bathing a Fun and Safe Experience for You and Your Child…

Bath time can actually be fun as well as special experience to share with your baby. However, it may be tricky to keep your child safe while bathing him or her. The most important thing to remember is to never leave your child alone in the bath. You should never leave your child unsupervised, even if this is just for a minute, as children can drown even with small amounts of water.

When Should You Bathe Your Baby

Bathing babySo, how often should you bathe your baby? In most families, a bath has actually become the main focus of a bedtime routine. However, when it comes to cleanliness, experts recommend daily bath for babies who are already crawling around and have access to messes. For newborn babies, simple bathing may be performed a few times a week. Mothers should simply wash their newborn baby’s face frequently, skin folds and the genital area after changing diaper.

When bathing your baby, you should make use of a small plastic tub specially designed for babies. However, a kitchen sink may work as well. If you make use of a standard bathtub, you are required to kneel or lean in an awkward way. If you do this, you will have less control over your baby’s movements.

Tips and Tricks to Ensure Safe Baby Bathing

There are several tips that can make bathing your child enjoyable and fun for both of you. Here are some of the tips that can make bathing your baby safe and fun:

  • You have to make sure that your bathroom is comfortably warm before bathing your baby. Babies can easily and quickly feel cold.
  • You should not place your baby into a tub when the water is still running. The temperature of the water can actually change. Moreover, the water can also get too deep. You should make sure that the water temperature is just right and the water level is appropriate before placing the baby in the tub.
  • Since bath tubs are slippery you can put a rubber mat in the bathtub.. You can outfit your bathtub with a rubber mat, as this can provide a secure seating. In addition, you can also place a cushioned tap cover to protect your baby’s head from painfully bumping into the tap.
  • You have to test the bath water to ensure that it is comfortably warm. You can test this using your wrist or your elbow.
  • For babies, you can fill your family bathtub with two to four inches of water. You have to make sure that it is not too deep.
  • You should not let your baby stand in the tub. There is a tendency that he or she can slip and drown.
  • In bathing your baby, you can wash your baby with plain water if you prefer. You just have to make sure that you clean the skin folds and the diaper area. It is okay to make use of baby soaps and shampoos. However, you have to make sure that the solution is fit for babies, as there are formulations that can actually dry your baby’s skin and cause rashes.
  • You have to avoid letting your baby sit too long in soapy water. You can do this by playing at the start of the bath and saving the use of soap and shampoo at the end of the session.
  • Experts discourage the use of bubble baths, as this may become rather irritating to the urethra. Moreover, this can increase the risk of developing urinary tract infection.
  • You should not allow your child to touch the handles of faucets. Even if he or she may not be able to move this now, he or she will become strong enough to do this. This can actually lead to serious injuries. You can put your baby in the tub with his or her back to the faucet.
  • When bathing your baby, you have to make sure that all-electric appliances are kept away from the tub. Electric appliances can come in the form of curling irons and hair dryers.

How to Bathe Your Baby

In bathing your baby, you should be careful. If you are new to this, it may be best to have someone to assist you. Here are the steps in bathing your baby:

  1. The first thing that you need to do is to gather all the necessary supplies that you will need like baby shampoo, soap, and towel. You should also lay out the towel, clean clothes and a clean diaper. Moreover, you have to make sure that the room is comfortably warm.
  2. After gathering all the necessary supplies, fill the tub with two to four inches of water. You have to make sure that the water feels warm. You have to check the temperature of the water with the inside of your wrist.
  3. Once done, you can bring your baby to the bath area. You should undress him or her completely.
  4. Then, you can gradually slip your baby into the tub with his or her feet first. You should hold your baby in a way that one of your hands supports the head and the neck. During bathing, you should pour bath water over your baby to ensure that he or she does not get cold.
  5. You should make use of mild baby soap sparingly. You can use your hand or a washcloth, starting from the top going towards the bottom then on the front and back. You should wash your baby’s scalp using wet and soapy cloth. Once done, you can rinse the washcloth to remove the soap and use this to gently clean your baby’s face and eyes.
  6. After, you can rinse your baby thoroughly using clean water. Pat your baby dry and wrap your baby using a hooded towel. If your baby’s skin is dry, you can apply a mild lotion.