Proper Infant Bathing Techniques

For many parents giving a baby their first bath is one of the most nerve wracking experiences. This is because so much can go wrong in even a very shallow amount of water, and it is because of this that you should know a few different bathing techniques that will help to make sure that giving your infant a bath is not the big problem that so many perceive it to be. Also, you should know that a baby’s skin does not need to be washed every single day, and giving too many baths when they’re not needed can cause some problems with skin drying out. So, it’s ideal if you can give your baby a bath just once or twice a week.

Okay, when setting up for the bath you’ll need to make sure that you have everything you might need right in front of you so that you won’t have to turn away from the baby even for an instant. Line up the soap, towel, lotion, washcloth, and small cup next to the sink or baby basin. Then, fill it up with just a very shallow amount of water, not even half an inch, and make sure that the water is lukewarm as an infant’s skin is very sensitive. Place the baby gently into the water, elevating their heads so that no water gets into their ears. Then, wash them all over with the washcloth and the soap. Rinse them off with water from the cup, or if you prefer, you can get some water in the palm of your hand and push it over the baby’s skin until the soapy residue is gone. Remember, never leave your baby alone or set them down in the water for any reason as they might roll over and breathe in the water accidentally. This can occur even in a brief moment, so that’s why it’s important to not leave them unattended even for a split second.

There are also some products available which prevent the need for the baby to be around standing water at all. These are types of nets which usually sit atop a sink or specialized basin and allow the water to run over the baby and into the area below while the baby is suspended in the net. This is ideal for those new parents who might be worried about having their baby be around even a small amount of standing water, and it can make bath time a lot less worrisome, but it is still recommended that you do not leave the baby alone even if they are in this device as accidents can still happen.

It’s also a good idea to be prepared for potty accidents while bathing as many times babies will urinate when they are exposed to cool air or warm water. The combination of these factors at bath time makes it a prime opportunity for accidents to occur. So you might consider wearing an old T-shirt or a towel yourself to keep from getting peed on, and this can be especially helpful it you’re dealing with bathing a baby boy.