How to bathe a newborn baby is one of the most common problems faced by novice parents and is also a basic skill that must be mastered. Do you feel a little helpless in the face of a delicate baby? The following are scientific and correct bathing methods and precautions.
How often do you bathe your baby?
Frequent baths are not recommended for newborn babies, As long as every time you change diapers for your baby, you should pay attention to thoroughly cleaning your small fart. In the first year after the baby is born, it is enough to take a bath three times a week. Excessive frequent bathing for your baby, especially the use of bath gel, soap and other cleaning products, will cause dry skin and even lead to aggravation of skin diseases such as baby eczema.
Where can I bathe my baby?
In a warm room, place the baby in a flat place where you and he feel comfortable, such as the bed, floor, table near the sink, and of course need to be padded with blankets or fluffy bath towels.
What are you ready to bathe your baby?
Before taking off your clothes and taking a bath for your baby, you should prepare all the following items:
Step 1: A basin of warm water
The water temperature for bathing your baby should not be too high, but should be at a temperature where the skin on the inner side of your wrist feels warm and comfortable.
When adding water, the sequence of cold and hot water is very important: add cold water first, then heat the water; Similarly, turn off the hot water first and then the cold water to avoid scalding the baby and yourself.
2. Towel for Baby
Wet the towel to scrub the baby’s body. The towel should be washed repeatedly before use to ensure no chemical residue.
3. Mild baby bath products and baby care products
Including baby shower gel, if the baby has hair, baby shampoo, and baby moisturizer without spices and low sensitivity ingredients.
It is suggested to put the above baby cleaning and care products in a small basket, so that when bathing the baby, you will not lose everything and be in a hurry.
Step 4: A dry towel
After taking a bath, it is used to dry the baby.
How bathes the baby?
Babies of different ages use different bathing methods. In the first to second weeks after the birth of the baby, the umbilical cord stump can be wiped with a soft sponge or baby towel before it falls off. After the umbilical cord falls off and heals, the bath can be carried out.
How bathes the baby?
Wrap the baby in a bath towel, exposing only the parts that need to be cleaned at a time.
Step 1 Wash your face
First of all, use a moist towel to clean the baby’s face without using shower gel, which can prevent foam from entering the baby’s eyes and mouth.
Step 2 Wash your hair
When washing your hair, gently massage your baby’s scalp with your finger abdomen, including the location of the fontanelle. If your baby has hair, you can use baby shampoo, but it is not recommended to use it frequently to avoid damaging the balance of scalp sebum. It is enough to use shampoo once or twice a week.
If foam accidentally enters the baby’s eyes, it can be gently wiped with a clean warm water towel.
Step 3: Scrub your body
Use a towel to dip warm water containing shower gel and wipe other parts of the baby’s body.
Scrub from top to bottom, and finally clean the small fart.
When taking a bath, special attention must be paid to cleaning the skin folds such as armpits, ears and neck, and female babies should pay special attention to cleaning the vulva.
Step 4 Scrub with clean water
Change clear water to completely scrub the remaining bath products on the baby’s body and hair.
Step 5 Apply emollient lotion
After taking a bath, dry the baby and immediately apply a baby moisturizer without spices and low sensitivity ingredients to prevent skin dryness.
How takes a bath for the baby?
When the baby’s umbilical cord stump falls off and heals, you can try to put him directly into the bathtub to take a bath.
STEP 1 First bath
The baby’s first bath should be as gentle and brief as possible. Some babies may show some resistance. If he looks very uncomfortable, he can continue to extend the bath method by 1-2 weeks and try the bath again. By this time, most babies are ready.
2. Items to be prepared before taking a bath
The articles for the bath are similar to those for the bath, except that a clean cup needs to be prepared to wash the baby.
Step 3 Fill the bathtub with water
Put warm water about 5 cm deep in the bathtub, which can keep the baby’s face and most of his body above the water surface to ensure the baby’s safety. Shallow warm water can also avoid the baby’s excessive fear of water when taking a bath for the first time.
Step 4 Put the baby in the basin
Once you strip your baby naked, you should immediately put him in warm water to avoid catching cold. Support the baby’s head with one hand and put him into the water with the other hand.
Put your feet first. When you put them, you said some encouraging words to him while gently putting other parts into the water.
5. Cleaning sequence
Like wiping bath, bath bath is also in the order from top to bottom, washing face first, then shampoo, and finally washing other parts of the body.
When washing the foam on your head, you should place your hand on your baby’s forehead so that water can flow down from both sides of your hand to avoid flowing into your eyes.
6. Keep warm at all times
In order to keep warm, you need to continuously pour warm water on the exposed part of the water, or you can make a small hat from a baby towel and wear it on the baby’s head to keep warm.
7. Leave time for your baby to play with water.
If the baby likes to take a bath, you can give him more time to play with water. The more the baby likes to take a bath, the less afraid he will be of water. Bathing is a very relaxing experience for the baby. Unless the baby is very resistant, don’t finish the bath process in a hurry. However, attention should be paid to keeping the water temperature basically constant.
Step 8 Apply emollient lotion
Finally, dry the baby after taking a bath and apply baby emollient.
About Bathtub Toys
1. Babies don’t need bathtub toys
For little babies, the stimulation of water and bathing is enough to excite them, so all kinds of toys in the bathtub are not needed.
2. Containers, floating toys and waterproof books
As the baby grows up, various bathtub toys, such as various water containers, toys floating in the water or waterproof books, can fully attract the baby’s attention, can train the baby’s hand-eye coordination ability during playing, and is of great value to the baby’s sports and intellectual development.
Step 3: Choose a safe toy
Choose toys that children cannot put into their mouths and nostrils, and do not choose plastic toys with high smell.
Precautions
1. Always use one hand to protect
During the whole bath wiping process, always hold the baby with one hand to prevent the baby from slipping.
2. Never leave your baby alone
In the process of bathing, if you forget to pick up what’s things, or need to answer the phone or open the door, you must go with your baby in your arms. Never leave your baby alone beside the bathtub, even for a short period of time, so as to avoid accidents.
Step 3 Expose your skin moderately
Don’t expose the baby’s skin too much, pay attention to keep warm.
Step 4 Keep the umbilical cord stump dry
If the baby’s umbilical cord stump has not yet fallen off, care should be taken to avoid the umbilical cord stump when wiping the bath. If it gets wet, dry the water with a dry towel.
STEP 5 No Hair Dryer
The baby’s hair is easy to dry, so only need to dry with a dry towel, do not use hair dryer, even if use, also should pay attention to the wind temperature is not too high, avoid scalding.
6. Cut your nails and your baby’s nails
Cut your nails and your baby’s nails short to avoid scratching your baby’s delicate skin.
Step 7 Waterproof yourself
It is easy to wet yourself when bathing your baby. You can put on a waterproof apron or put a dry towel on your shoulders to keep yourself dry.
Responsible Editor: Ding Ruoshui
This article is compiled from the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The translator exclusively authorizes Clove Garden to use it and refuses to reprint it in any other form.