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To
Bathe or Not to Bathe?
A few tips to help you know when and
how to keep your newborn clean
And the answer is … “to bathe!” But the question
is … “how?”
You’re on your way home from the hospital. You’re
exhausted and a little nervous – yet you’re full
of intense joy and excitement for the new life born just days
ago.
Reality is starting to set in. You begin to realize that even
the most seemingly-minor things become huge question marks in
your mind – being that this IS your first baby.
You can’t believe you forgot to ask Doctor about bathing
your new little girl! You begin to wonder … how often
should I bathe her? When should I start bathing her?
How do I bathe her? This seemed like common sense prior
to birth – but now you’re second-guessing yourself.
Let us shed a little bit of light on your questions –
and attempt to ease your fears.
First of all, don’t worry about bathing your new baby
several times a day … or even daily for that matter. In
her first year, a gentle cleansing every few days is great.
(Obviously the diaper area may require more attention).
Until her umbilical cord falls off (or, if a boy … his
circumcision is healed), the best cleansing method is a sponge
bath.
As you’re getting ready, remember that you never want
to leave your baby unattended so make sure you have all the
baby supplies handy.
Make
sure room temperature is warm and water temperature isn’t
too hot or cold. Dab her skin with water and a little mild baby
soap (test it first for allergies). To keep her from getting
chilled, dry as you go – and keep her covered as much
as possible!
Once the umbilical cord stump area is healed, you can start
giving her a tub bath – we’d recommend using the
kitchen sink or a plastic tub. (Try
out the Safety Tub and Ducky) – it’s the perfect
size for little ones and lets you know if the temperature is
too hot!)
Have fun with it … but whatever you do, remember “to
bathe!”
P.S. If you’d like more detailed tips, visit:
www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babysafety/40.html.
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