New mothers can have a hard time when it comes to bathing newborns. It's enough to frighten a new mom to bathe a small, fragile, and slippery baby. You'll get better after a few times, though. Newborns only need to be bathed two or three times a week - bathing more often can result in dry skin.
You should make sure not to put your baby in a bathtub if the umbilical cord hasn't fallen off yet. If your baby has been circumcised, you'll also have to wait until this has healed, too. Just give sponge baths until your baby is better.
When you place your baby in the bathtub, give your whole attention. Leaving her for even a minute can literally be fatal. Turn the answering machine on and ignore the doorbell. Never run the bath water with the baby in the tub. Fill the tub and check the temperature before you add the baby.
Bathing is not an enjoyable activity for some babies, so be prepared. Your baby might cry a lot, so keep the bath as short as possible. In addition, bath water gets cold to babies quickly, so short baths really are the best. You can keep the water warm by soaking a towel in very warm water and placing it at the bottom of the tub. This keeps the water warmer, provides a nice cushion for baby, and keeps her from slipping around. Support your baby's neck so he won't slide into the bathwater. Speak to her in soft soothing tones, reassuring her that everything is ok.
Bathwater should be lukewarm, and use baby soaps and shampoos. It's even better if you use only water for bathing your baby during the first few weeks since you don't know if he has any skin allergies or not. Keep the towel and diaper close by so you can wrap the baby after his bath to keep him from getting cold.
As your baby gets older, bath time will probably become a favorite part of the day for your baby. You can find out more by checking out my article, "Mommy to Mommy - The Truth about Taking Care of Baby".
You should make sure not to put your baby in a bathtub if the umbilical cord hasn't fallen off yet. If your baby has been circumcised, you'll also have to wait until this has healed, too. Just give sponge baths until your baby is better.
When you place your baby in the bathtub, give your whole attention. Leaving her for even a minute can literally be fatal. Turn the answering machine on and ignore the doorbell. Never run the bath water with the baby in the tub. Fill the tub and check the temperature before you add the baby.
Bathing is not an enjoyable activity for some babies, so be prepared. Your baby might cry a lot, so keep the bath as short as possible. In addition, bath water gets cold to babies quickly, so short baths really are the best. You can keep the water warm by soaking a towel in very warm water and placing it at the bottom of the tub. This keeps the water warmer, provides a nice cushion for baby, and keeps her from slipping around. Support your baby's neck so he won't slide into the bathwater. Speak to her in soft soothing tones, reassuring her that everything is ok.
Bathwater should be lukewarm, and use baby soaps and shampoos. It's even better if you use only water for bathing your baby during the first few weeks since you don't know if he has any skin allergies or not. Keep the towel and diaper close by so you can wrap the baby after his bath to keep him from getting cold.
As your baby gets older, bath time will probably become a favorite part of the day for your baby. You can find out more by checking out my article, "Mommy to Mommy - The Truth about Taking Care of Baby".