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Bathtime
with Baby
by Kelly Milano
Those
first few days home with a newborn can be a scary time for any
parent. You question everything and wonder if you are really
capable of this job of parenting. There isn’t much that is
scarier than those first few baths. Wet hands, slippery baby,
hard floor and an anxious new mom. But, bath time doesn’t
have
to be scary and it will probably come to be one of baby’s
favorite
times of the day. Here are some tips to help you relax and
enjoy this special time with your new little one.
*Make
sure your water heater is set at 120F degrees so that baby (or
you)
don’t get scalded by burning water. Babies have very delicate
skin and it can burn very quickly. Invest in a bathtub thermometer
so that you can easily check the water temperature before
putting your baby in the water. Even with a thermometer, the
water may be too hot, so we recommend sticking the inside of your
wrist into the water to better test. You will quickly find that
your wrist has many uses, from testing formula temperature to
testing the temperature on your toddler’s forehead!!
*Air
temperature is also important during bath time. If it is summer
and you have the air conditioning on, it’s a good idea to
turn
it off for a few minutes to let the air warm up. You don’t
want
baby to get too cold during his bath. After baby is dried and
dressed you can turn it back on. If it is in the winter, make
sure the room is warm. You may wish to turn the heat up a few
degrees until bath time is over.
*Buy
a pair of bath gloves. Bath gloves are terry cloth gloves that
will help you hold on to a slippery newborn while washing them.
No need for an additional washcloth with these gloves. Just
put the soap on and wash.
*Wash
baby quickly. If you have a baby boy, make sure that you clean
all areas of his penis. For a girl, get in all the crevices.
This too, can be scary for a new parent but don’t worry
it will become more natural. Make sure to keep a washcloth
over a little boy’s penis so you don’t get your own
shower
while bathing him.
*As
baby gets bigger and moves to a tub, make sure that you have a
bathmat. You don’t want baby to move and slip.
*NEVER
turn your back on your baby while giving a bath. Have all
supplies within your reach around the tub before the bath starts.
If you are taking pictures of baby’s bath time, make sure
your camera is there and ready. Hold onto baby until you get
ready to actually snap the picture then move hand quickly and
replace. An even better idea for this is to have someone else
with you to take the pictures for you.
*After
the bath is over, quickly wrap baby in a towel, covering his
head. If your baby is still a newborn, you will need to clean
the cord and circumcision as recommended by the hospital or
doctor. This is also a great time for an infant massage or for
applying lotion to baby. Some parents enjoy cuddling with their
baby while he is wrapped in a towel, but this usually is not
recommended for a newborn as they need their body temperature
regulated more and need to be dressed more quickly. In
the near future, this may become part of your routine.
*Most
of all enjoy this time. As baby gets older, splash and play
with them in the water. It’s a great learning experience
for
them.
List
of recommended bath supplies:
Following
is a list of recommended bath supplies. You may modify
the list to suit your needs, but make sure you have all you need
with you
before baby’s bath so you do not have to
leave baby for even a second because you forgot something.
 *Baby
shampoo
*Baby soap
*Washcloth or terry cloth bath gloves
*Infant bathtub (such as the Daphne
Bath Seat or Tummy
Tub)
*Bathtub seat (for baby’s who can sit on their own)
*Hooded
towels
*Bathtub thermometer
*Baby lotion or oil
*Cotton
balls/q-tips (for circumcision and umbilical cord care)
*Alcohol (for circumcision and umbilical cord care)
Kelly
Milano is a SAHM mom to 4. Her and her husband live in Michigan,
where he is a home inspector and she owns two websites. www.friendsandfamilies.com
and www.shopNswap.net
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