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Intro: |
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| Don't skip the "soft spot" (the fontanel) on the top of your baby's head out of fear that you might hurt your baby. As long as you clean the area gently, your baby will be fine. Don't use baby powder after a bath or diaper change; the talc can irritate your baby's lungs. Lotions and oils are unnecessary unless specifically recommended by your pediatrician. If you do use them, make sure they're made especially for babies, and aren't perfumed. Never put cotton swabs in your baby's ears. You might accidentally damage the eardrum. If you have a newly circumcised boy, don't use soap on the penis until it heals (this usually takes about a week). If your boy is uncircumcised, don't try to retract the foreskin until your pediatrician says it's safe. |
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Time for the pat-down: Clean the face. Wet a washcloth and start with your baby's face. Don't use soap yet. With one corner of the cloth, gently wipe one eye (moving from the inside outward, toward the ear), then do the same to the other eye with another corner of the cloth. Wipe the nose and mouth clean. If your baby is particularly sensitive, try damp cotton balls for cleaning these areas. Use a new one for each eye, as well as for the nose and mouth. Clean the head and neck. Add a little soap to the cloth (enough to create very light suds) and move on to the rest of his or her head. Clean the insides of the ears with a clean section of the cloth, then do the backs of the ears. Wash the scalp and the neck (be sure to get in those baby fat folds). Finally, wet the second washcloth and rinse the soap thoroughly from your baby, wiping it up from the skin and rinsing as you go. Pat your baby's head and neck dry with the towel. Note: Some babies develop "cradle cap"--a waxy buildup on their hair follicles that can lead to crusty patches on their scalp. If you see this problem, you may not be rinsing the scalp thoroughly enough. To treat it, use a drop of baby soap on a warm, wet washcloth to gently wash the hair, then rinse a few times using a fresh washcloth. Rub the scalp back and forth with a soft towel to dry while supporting the neck and back of the head with your hand. Finally, comb the hair gently with a fine baby comb. Clean the body. Take the soapy washcloth and clean the arms and torso (but not the umbilical stump), then take the second washcloth and rinse. Sit your baby up with your hand supporting the head and neck, to clean and rinse the back. Do the same with the legs. Leave the genital and anal areas for last, gently wiping from front to back. If you have a girl, you may not want to use soap in the vaginal area--it can cause irritation or urinary tract infections. If you have a boy, be sure to wash underneath the scrotum. Pat the skin dry with a towel. Note: Check with your doctor for instructions on how to care for your newborn's umbilical stump. Some recommend swabbing it with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball 2 to 3 times a day, while others advise leaving it alone to dry up and fall off naturally. Never, however, wet the stump with water or use soap on the area until it's healed. Once you're done, slip on the fresh diaper (see 2torial #0588: Change a Diaper for details), then dress your baby or wrap him or her in the blanket. Congratulations--sponge bath accomplished.
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Give your baby a sponge bath
