Bathing And Grooming
In the nursery, you will be advised about when your baby can have his first bath. Your baby doesn’t need a daily bath, although there’s nothing wrong with one if you both enjoy it. Most older babies love bath time, but newborns may find water and nakedness upsetting. If your infant howls throughout each bath, don’t force the issue. Instead, keep the diaper area clean with commercial wipes or a washcloth, and sponge the face and head once a day.
Whenever you clean your baby, make sure everything you need is handy. The room should be warm and free of drafts. To freshen up a baby without the hassle of a bath, sit him on your lap (which you may want to cover with a waterproof cloth) or changing table. Dip a cotton ball in warm water or baby lotion and wipe the face and creases around the neck, then use a fresh cotton ball to cleanse the diaper area. If your baby seems to need it, use a gentle cleansing bar or baby wash. (Newborns are unlikely to require soap, which can dry the skin.) Rinse gently with a washcloth dampened with warm water. Then pat dry, giving careful attention to drying the skinfolds, where irritation from moisture and chafing are most likely to develop.
For a regular bath, you can use a baby tub placed in the sink or bathtub or on the floor. A baby’s delicate skin scalds much more easily than adult skin, so the bath water should feel warm to the touch on your elbow (not your hand, which is tougher). Put only a couple of inches of water in the tub, and never leave your baby unattended, even for a moment. If the phone or doorbell rings, ignore it, or wait until the baby is safely wrapped in a towel in your arms.
It will take a while for you to become adroit at bathing your baby; wet babies are slippery. Rest the baby’s head on your left wrist and forearm (if you’re right handed), and hold the left shoulder between your thumb and fingers. (Practice on a dry baby if you feel insecure.) Don’t bend over to reach the baby. Instead, kneel or sit on the floor next to the baby tub, or place the tub on a counter that’s about as high as your waist. If you bathe your baby in a baby tub placed in a full-sized tub or sink, place a washcloth over hard or hot taps and faucets, and pad the bottom of the basin with a large sponge or towel.