Bathing a newborn baby can be a traumatic event for a first

time Mom. Newborns can seem so fragile, and wet, slippery ones

downright frightening. But, don’t fear; once you get the hang

of it, you’ll feel like a pro. Newborns only need to be bathed

two or three times a week – bathing more often can result in

dry skin.

First of all, it’s important not to put your newborn in any

sort of bathtub until her umbilical cord has fallen off. If

your baby is circumcised, you need to wait until this has

healed, as well. Until then, give your baby a sponge bath.

When it’s time to put baby in the tabletop tub, give her your

undivided attention. Leaving her for even a minute can

literally be fatal. Turn the answering machine on and ignore

the doorbell. Never run the bath water with the baby in the

tub. Fill the tub and check the temperature before you add the

baby.

Be prepared for the fact that your baby will not like the bath.

There may be a lot of crying, so plan to make it as short as

possible. Also, the bath water gets cold to the baby rather

quickly; another reason to make it quick. One trick to help

keep the water warm is to soak a towel in very warm water and

lay it in the bottom of the tub. This keeps the water warmer,

provides a nice cushion for baby, and keeps her from slipping

around. Keep one hand under her head to support her neck, and

keep her from slipping into the tub. Speak to her in soft

soothing tones, reassuring her that everything is ok.

Use lukewarm water on your baby’s tender skin, and only soaps

and shampoos designed for babies. In fact, during the first few

weeks of life, until you’ve determined if your baby has any skin

allergies, it might be wise to bathe her using only water,

especially on her face. Have a towel and diaper ready to wrap

her in immediately when you’re finished, to avoid her getting

chilled.

As your baby gets older, bath time will probably become a

favorite part of the day for your baby. For more tips on making

bath time fun for older babies, check out my article in “Mommy

to Mommy – The Truth about Taking Care of Baby”. You can find

it at http://www.educatedmother.com