Bathing your baby can be a relaxing and bond-strengthening occasion.
Whether you prefer to bath your baby in a smaller bathtub or in the family bathtub, there are some safety guidelines you should be aware of.
Where should I bath my baby?
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Sponge bath
When your baby is a newborn, it may be a good idea to simply sponge bath baby, at least until the umbilical cord detaches. This can be done simply by laying baby down on a blanket, or towel on a secure surface. Have everything you need to hand including a small basin of water, soap if you are using it and a towel to wrap baby up in afterwards.
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Baby bath
Smaller baby baths are widely available and may be good to use once your baby is a few weeks old. Once again, ensure everything you need is to hand and always keep one arm under baby.
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Family Bathtub
Having a bath with your baby can be a great bonding experience for both mom and dad. However, if you want to bath with your young baby you should ensure there is help to hand you baby before stepping in and to hand baby back to before stepping out. It can be dangerous as it may be slippy so always take necessary precautions.
How often should I bath my baby?
Bathing a baby too much can actually dry out his skin. For the first few weeks once or twice a week should be enough, unless there is a spillage or nappy accident. For many new families, bathing baby is a fun routine event so it is up to you how often you wish to bath baby.
How do I bath my baby?
If you wish to use a soap for baby’s bath choose a sensitive and mild one suitable for baby’s skin as some soaps can be irritating to baby’s skin. Soap can also make the bath and baby slippy so always ensure you have a firm grip on baby. It is important to wash baby’s nappy area, in between little fingers and toes, neck, under arms, skin folds and behind ears. Baby’s hair doesn’t not need to washed as often, perhaps once a week.
Safety guidelines
- Never, ever, under any circumstances leave your baby unattended in any bath of any type. Babies can drown in less than an inch of water.
- The water should be enough to cover baby’s shoulders and to be able to only expose the bits of baby you are washing at any given time to ensure his body temperature doesn’t drop.
- The water should be about 37 degrees Celsius or so.
- Get everything you need for your baby’s bath beforehand. This includes towels, nappies, soaps, shampoos etc. Make sure it is within arm’s reach so you never have to let go of baby.
- Ensure the room you are washing baby in is warm and wrap him in a warm towel straight after taking him from the water so his body temperature doesn’t lower too much.
- When you move from a baby bathtub to the family bathtub as baby gets older, always run the water before putting baby in. Free running water could burn baby or become too deep.
- Put a non-slip mat into the bath so maybe doesn’t slip if he attempts to stand, though you should teach him to never stand in the bath.
- And once again, because it is so crucial: Never, ever leave baby unattended in the bath under any circumstances.
