How to Wash A Baby

There are lots of choices of where to bath a baby. Some choose a sink others choose a baby bathtub set on the cupboard or in the adult bathtub. Choose the best for you. Remember bathing in an adult tub means you will be bending over for awhile during the bath, your back will ache and you might not feel you have a good hold on the baby. A tub on the cupboard will mean you are standing straight and will feel more secure but a wet baby is slippery so a longer way to fall if you accidentally loose your hold. Whatever you choose - don’t choose the kitchen sink. Babies loose heat quickly when undressed. Choose an area that can be closed off, like the bathroom. Make sure it is free of drafts.

The water should feel lukewarm on our skin. Baby’s skin is very sensitive and can burn easily in water that feels comfortable to us. They also cannot regulate their body temperature so if the water is too hot they will get too hot. Test the water on the inside of your wrist of your arm not just your hands which aren’t as sensitive. Don’t fill the sink or tub with too much water. Just a few inches will be enough. And, don’t run the water while the baby is in the tub. Not only is it a scary thing for a baby but it is hard to regulate the temperature while your holding onto a slippery baby.

Cover the bottom of the sink with a towel or washcloth. Pad the faucet with a washcloth tied with a rubber band. You will be so busy holding onto the baby that you will forget where faucets, plugs and drains are that can scratch or pinch the baby.

If you can help it, don’t give a baby a bath by yourself. Have someone else in the room that can help you with things. They can hand you things or just be there if they need to catch a slippery baby or just to support you so your not too nervous.

Babies are ultra sensitive to everything. They are just getting used to the world and you have just plunged them into water! They will cry. Don’t fret about it, just make sure nothing is hurting them and continue bathing them talking in a soft gentle voice.

Have everything ready within your reach before you put the baby in the sink or baby bathtub. You cannot go wandering around looking for the shampoo with a wet baby and by the time you get back to the bath it will be cold and you will have to start all over again. Have a towel laid out right next to where you will be bathing the baby.

Start with the baby’s face. Using a baby washcloth, wash the face, pay close attention to all the baby wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. Don’t forget behind the ears and under the chin. Wash the front of the baby; again get into all the folds and wrinkles the little ones seem to have. When you are ready for the back, place one hand under their arm and gentle lean them forward as if you were burping them while they are sitting up, let their head rest on your arm. Wash their back, lifting up just a bit to get their bottom. Use the wash clothe to rinse as you go. Wash the baby’s scalp/hair last. Dampen the head with your rag. Apply just a dab of baby shampoo, lather and rinse with the rag. Don’t pour water over the baby’s head it will scare them and they might swallow some. When you are done take the baby under the arms and move your body close so as you are lifting the baby you are bringing them close to you as a brace. Move them over to the waiting towel, dry well and then breathe!

Babies don’t need baths everyday. Just washing up is probably good enough. They are really not doing a whole lot other than lying around looking cute. And, the areas that get the dirtiest - their face and their bottoms are washed quite often throughout the day. So, give a bath every few days or so.

Every new mother gets a ton of cute, animal shaped, scented soaps at the baby shower. Don’t use it on a newborn. Not only can their skin be sensitive to the dyes and chemicals but most of that stuff is not tear fear and will burn like the dickens if it gets in their eyes. So, throw it away, use it for decoration or try it yourself.

How to wash a baby:

Check the bath is full of warm water (comfortably warm to your elbow or inner wrist) and take all your clothes off. Lay the baby naked on a towel on the floor beside the bath. Get in the bath. Take the baby into the bath with you. Don’t use soap. Use your fingers to gently wipe obvious dirt off. Place the baby on the towel again and wrap him up. Very quickly soap yourself and rinse. Get out of the bath and wrap in your own towel. Cuddle.

Or, for baby’s who don’t like immersion,

Undress the baby’s top half and wipe with a warm damp cloth. Blow a raspberry on baby’s navel. Dry and dress again. Undress the baby’s bottom half and wipe with a warm damp cloth. Kiss baby’s feet. Dry and dress again. Wipe the baby’s face and dry it. Nuzzle baby’s nose.