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When it comes to giving your newborn a bath for the first time, alone, it can be very nerve wracking. Follow these tips for making bathtime easier for both you and baby.
The first thing as a new parent or as an old pro. is that safety always comes first. Make sure that you never leave your baby alone in any amount of water or near any as well. Never walk away from your infant for even a moment. They always seem to choose those moments to suddenly roll over for the first time!
The first step to giving your baby a bath, is to make sure that you have everything that you may need before you start. This list should include a bath tub, a facecloth, baby wash, a towel, a safe place to give the bath, and water. If you do not have a baby bathtub, the kitchen sink works just fine, just be sure to place a blanket in the sink for cushion. Also, make sure that there are no dishes nearby that the baby could grab or that could fall over on your baby.
Fill the sink or bathtub with about two to three inches of water. This is a safe amount and plenty to wash and rinse your baby. The temperature of the water should be about room temperature. Test the water with your elbow. It will be more sensative to the temperature than your hand. Once the tub is set and the water is ready, take your baby and support his/her whole body as you gently place the baby in the water. If the tub is not equipped with a slanted insert or a slanted side that will let the baby lay back in an inclined position, be sure to continue to support the baby's back and head.
Once your baby is in the water, take the face- cloth and dip it into the water. Begin with your baby's eyes and without any soap. Start at the inside corner of the baby's eye and wipe outward. Do this to both eyes and then gently wash the rest of the face without soap. Make sure you get behind the ears, drool and spit-up tend to collect back there.
After the face, take the facecloth and dip it again into the water. Wet the baby's head from front to back and then apply a small amount of shampoo or body wash. You won't need more than the size of a pea to get the job done. Use your hand to lather it up and then take the facecloth again and dip it in the water then squeeze the water onto your baby's head being careful not to get soap into your baby's eyes. Continue to do this until the soap is washed out completly. Remember to consantly keep one hand always on your baby.
Once the soap is out of the baby's hair, take the facecloth and apply some of the body wash to it. You will only need about the size of a quater of body wash. Rub the cloth together to get lather and begin at the baby's neck and begin to wash in small circles. Wash down the front of your baby's torso and then lean the baby forward to do the same on your baby's back. Lean the baby back again. Then begin to wash the baby's legs and feet. Be sure to get in between the baby's toes. Last, wash the baby's private parts. Get in between all the folds of the upper thighs and remember that with a baby girl to wash from front to back so not to spread germs that may cause infections. Then lean baby to the side to wash the baby's bottom. Lean the baby back and begin to rinse the baby's body off with the facecloth and water in the tub.
After the baby is completly rinsed off, have the towel laying spread out on the counter or floor. Take the baby out of the bathtub and lay him/her on the towel and wrap them up snuggly. Bathtime is now done and you can now dry your baby up and get them dressed.
Giving a baby a bath the first time can be a little tricky, but if you follow these steps you will soon become a pro. As your baby grows the amount of water you use does not need to icrease by much. You may also want to add a favorite bathtime toy to the list of things to have on hand to keep the baby happier during bathtime.
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