A newborn baby has soft and delicate skin. Therefore, it is important to take steps to ensure proper skin care as well as bathing. A healthy bathing routine will help keep your baby’s skin texture smooth. Proper skin care and bathing will be a pleasant experience for you and your baby.
While there is a common myth that babies need to be bathed everyday, they don’t need to have a bath everyday. It is best to bath a baby two to three times a week.
You can choose to give a bath any time of the day. Bathing your baby before feeding them tends to be effective. Most parents seem to prefer bathing their baby as part of their evening bedtime routine. This is effective especially if your baby finds bath time pleasant and soothing.
A baby’s first bath is best done using a sponge. Take care not to bathe your baby in a tub until their umbilical cord is off. If your baby is circumcised then take care to only bathe him if the wound has healed.
Now let us look at what you need to bathe a newborn baby and how you plan to go about it.
What Do You Need to Bathe Newborn Babies?
To bathe newborn babies you need thick towels or a sponge like bath cushion, soft washcloths, basin or clean sink, cotton balls, baby shampoo, a hooded baby towel, clean diaper and clothing.
Now let us look at how you can give your baby a sponge bath next.
How to Give Your Baby a Sponge Bath?
First make sure that your room is warm and free of drafts. Collect all the things you need before you begin. Add warm water to a clean sink or basin after making sure that the water is warm but not hot to the inside of your wrist or elbow. Place your baby on a bath cushion or thick towels on a surface that is waist high for you. Remember to keep your baby covered with a towel. Don’t take your hands off your newborn baby for a minute. If you want to fetch something you have forgotten while bathing, take your baby with you.
When bathing your baby’s face, start there. Use one moistened clean cotton ball to wipe every eye starting at the nose bridge and wiping out to the corner of the eye. Next, wash off the rest of the baby’s face with a soft and moist washcloth that is clean.
Add a but or baby soap to the water or washcloth and bathe the rest of your baby gently from the neck down. Do it one area at a time, and rinse with a clean washcloth. Make sure that you avoid wetting the umbilical cord.
Finally wash your baby’s head with shampoo on a washcloth. Rinse and take care not to let the water run over the face. Firmly hold your baby with your arm under their back with your wrist and head supporting their neck.
Scrubbing is not needed but usually most babies like to have their arms and legs massaged with mild strokes during baths. Wrap your baby in a hooded bath towel once done.