2torial #0495:
Learn2 Bathe an Infant

Slippery when wet

Nothing compares to the pure smell of a clean infant. Getting your baby clean, however, is another matter. If you're wondering about where and when to give a bath, what products to use, and the safest and easiest way to perform this important ritual of parenting, simply follow these basic baby steps.

There are a few details to be aware of before starting out. First, if your baby still has an umbilical stump (it usually falls off within the first 3 weeks after birth), he or she needs to have a sponge bath so the stump stays dry. See Step 1 and Step 2 for details.

Second, until they start getting mobile on their own--and getting into messes on their own--babies need bathing no more than 3 or 4 times a week. Too much washing can dry out an infant's delicate skin and cause rashes. You should, however, wash your baby's face and hands regularly (at least three times a day), as well as clean the genital area and bottom with each diaper change. Always use an unscented soap made specifically for babies.

Finally, and most important, never, under any circumstances, leave your baby unattended in a bath. A baby can drown in less than an inch (2.5 centimeters) of water, in less than 60 seconds. Schedule the bath when you know you'll have an uninterrupted amount of time (try to avoid scheduling a bath after feeding or before naps, when your baby may be cranky), and gather everything you'll need before you start. Let the answering machine pick up any phone calls that come through. That way, the bath will be a fun time for you and your baby to relax together.

Prepare for a sponge bath

A sponge bath is actually more like a washcloth rubdown. Here's what you'll need:

• A pillow that's a little larger than your baby (a regular bed pillow should work)

• Two fresh baby towels

• Two washcloths

• Baby soap

• Some fresh cotton balls

• A fresh diaper

• A baby blanket or a fresh set of clothes

• A large bowl of warm (90 to 98F, 32 to 36C) water. It's very important that the water be warm, not hot. Temperatures that you might be used to can hurt a baby. To make sure you have the right temperature, touch the inside of your wrist to the water--it should feel comfortable, and not at all surprising.

Note: Although you can buy shampoo specially made for newborns, baby soap works just fine--this goes for regular bathing as well.

Once you've gathered your materials, choose an area where you can work easily, without too much bending over. A kitchen counter or dining room table works well. Also, the area should be warm and free of drafts, since babies can easily become chilled when wet. Lay one of the towels over the pillow, set your bathing items within arm's reach, put your baby on the toweled pillow, and you're ready to clean.

Give your baby a sponge bath

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.

Prepare for a tub bath

Mastering a newborn's sponge bath should help ease the transition to a tub. You'll need many of the same supplies, including:

• A baby towel

• Two washcloths

• Baby soap

• A plastic cup

• A rubber suction mat for the tub or sink bottom (a towel can work as a substitute; if you have a plastic baby tub, it probably has a mat already)

• A fresh diaper

• A baby blanket or a fresh set of clothes

You may also want to keep these items handy:

• Cotton balls

• Baby shampoo

• Bath toys (although they won't use these in the first few months)

• A shower hose attachment (or a rinsing hose for a sink)

• A bath "seat" (a plastic seat with suction cups that attaches to the tub and helps hold your infant)

• A large bowl of warm water

Pick the bathing spot. While a standard bathtub will work fine, you may find the kneeling and reaching involved to be awkward. A clean kitchen sink will work just as well, as will a portable plastic baby tub. Whatever you choose, the room where you bathe the baby needs to be warm and free of drafts.

Draw the bath. Put the rubber mat or towel on the bottom of the tub or sink (if necessary), then add the bath seat and toys, if you want. Run 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 centimeters) of warm (90 to 98F, 32 to 36C) water into the tub. If your child is able to sit up without help (usually after about 6 months), you can fill the tub to waist-level in a sitting position. Test the water to make sure it's a comfortable temperature. Arrange your bathing materials close by, then all you need to add is your baby.

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 the 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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