Here are some safety tips to remember when you give your baby a bath:
Gather all the things you will need before you start to give the bath.
The temperature of the room should be warm to keep the baby from chilling. Try to use an area free of drafts.
The temperature of the bathwater should be just above 100 F to prevent chilling or burning the baby. If you do not have a bath thermometer, test the water with your elbow. When you put your elbow in the water, it should feel warm, not hot.
Always keep a firm hold on your baby during the bath. Soapy bodies are slippery.
Keep one hand on your baby when you turn away from him or her or step to the side.
Never leave your baby alone during the bath, not even "for a second." Children can quickly drown in only one inch of water.
How to Bathe Your Baby
Wash your hands.
Fill the washbasin or baby bathtub with about 3 inches of warm water. Test for correct temperature. Do not overfill the tub.
Arrange all items within easy reach.
Undress your baby and place him on the pad.
Eyes: Wash baby's eyelids gently with the corner of a soft washcloth and clear water. Start at the inner corner of the eye and wash toward the ears. Use a fresh part of the washcloth for each eye.
Face: Using the washcloth, wash your baby's face with clear water. Don't use soap on his face.
Ears: Wash the outer part of each ear with a washcloth moistened with clear water. Pat ears dry.
Hair and scalp: Pick up your baby. Support his head in your hand and his back with your forearm (Picture 2). Rest baby's buttocks on your hip. Holding your baby this way gives him a sense of security. Wet baby's head with clear water. Using a small amount of baby shampoo, make a soapy lather with your hands. Put a small amount of soapy lather on his head, including the "soft spot." Rub gently in a circular motion. Hold your baby's head over the basin to rinse the soap off with water using your cupped hand or a wet washcloth. When all the soap is off, pat his head gently with a towel to dry.
Body: Place your baby on the pad. Make a soapy lather with your hands. Start at the neck and lather your baby's entire body. Be sure to clean the skin folds, between fingers and toes, and the genital area. (If your baby boy is not circumcised, do not pull back the foreskin on the penis to clean it. This could injure the child's penis.) Rinse the soap off with a wet washcloth. Dry the baby with a soft towel.
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Here are some safety tips to remember when you give your baby a bath:
How to Bathe Your Baby