2torial #0495:
Learn2 Bathe an Infant (continued)

Give your baby a tub bath

Before putting your baby into the tub, wash his or her face (it's a little easier to do if you don't have to maneuver around the tub's edges). With the baby held in one arm and wrapped in a towel or blanket, wash the face the same way as you did during a sponge bath (see Step 1), with a damp, soapless washcloth or cotton balls.

Note: Infants can be startled by the feeling of water, particularly if they haven't had many baths yet. To ease your baby into the experience, trickle a few handfuls of warm water over his or her body while you're still holding him or her in your arms.

Slowly slip your baby into the tub, feet first, using one hand to support the neck and head and the other to sit the baby down in the water. Once the baby is sitting, always keep one hand supporting the head and neck (if he or she can't sit up alone). You can also support the baby by putting your hand across the chest and letting him or her lean forward--whatever is most comfortable for you both (but remember, babies can be slippery when they're soapy--always keep a firm grip).

To keep your baby warm throughout the bathing process, try draping extra washcloths, dampened in the warm water, over his or her arms, legs, and torso before you start washing. Once a body part is washed and rinsed, re-cover it with the warm cloth until it's time to dry the baby off.

Put a little baby soap on the damp cloth and start washing, moving from the head downward, similar to the sponge bath. Wash the genital and anal areas last. To wash the bottom, pick up your baby and hold him or her above the water with your hand and arm across the chest. Your baby should be facing downward toward the water, with his or her back toward you. Wipe the area front to back.

To rinse, you have some options:

• If it's not too soapy, you can use the bath water, wiping the head with a fresh, damp washcloth and ladling water over the body with the plastic cup.

• If the bath water is particularly soapy, however, use clean water. You can have clean, warm water nearby. Or take your infant out of the water, wrap him or her in a fresh towel, and hold your baby as you drain or pour out the water from the sink or tub. Refill it at the same level and temperature. Put your baby back in and use the ladle and washcloth method.

• You can also use a shower hose attachment, or a rinsing hose if your sink is equipped with one. Test the water pressure (it should be light) and the temperature before rinsing your baby. Be sure to keep water out of his or her face.

Finally, wrap your baby in a fresh towel (hooded towels are nice) and pat his or her body dry. Be sure to get into all of the folds and crevices, like the armpits and behind the ears. Put on the new diaper, then wiggle him or her into a clean set of clothes or wrap the baby in a blanket. Breathe in that utterly amazing, one-of-a-kind smell and feel of a freshly bathed babe.

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