6.0 - Bathing Your Baby

Sources

1. Guide to Childcare by Wong Boh Boi
2. Your Baby’s First Year by American Academy of Pediatrics
3.  Baby Must-Haves

(6.1) Bath Time

1. Infant doesn't need much bathing if you wash the diaper area thoroughly during diaper changes.
2. Three times a week during his first year may be enough.
3. Bathing him more frequently may dry out his skin, particularly if soaps are used or moisture is allowed to evaporate from the skin.
4. Patting him dry and applying a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizing lotion immediately after bathing can help prevent dry skin or worsening the skin condition called eczema.
5. During his first week or two, until the stump of the umbilical cord falls off, your newborn should have only sponge baths. Once the umbilical cord area is healed, you can try placing your baby directly in the water. Same goes for older babies who’ve moved on to the big tub, but once baby can sit up and play in the water, you may want to bathe him every day for the sheer delight of watching him splash and explore.
6. His first baths should be as gentle and brief as possible. He probably will protest a little; if he seems miserable, go back to sponge baths for a week or two, then try the bath again. He will make it clear when he's ready.
7. Toddlers, who can get pretty grimy while eating and playing, may need to be bathed daily as well.
8. If you've forgotten something or need to answer the phone or door during the bath, youMUST TAKE THE BABY WITH YOU, so keep a dry towel within reach. NEVER LEAVE A BABY ALONE IN THE BATH, EVEN FOR AN INSTANT.
9. If your baby enjoys his bath, give him some extra time to splash and explore the water. The more fun your child has in the bath, the less she'll be afraid of the water.
10. As he gets older, the length of the bath will extend until most of it is taken up with play. Bathing should be a very relaxing and soothing experience, so don't rush unless he's unhappy.
11. Bath toys are not really needed for very young babies, as the stimulation of the water and washing is exciting enough.
12. Once a baby is old enough for the bathtub, however, toys become invaluable. Containers, floating toys, even waterproof books make wonderful distractions as you cleanse your baby.
13. The bath is a relaxing way to prepare him for sleep and should be given at a time that's convenient for you.
14. Avoid bathing your baby immediately after feeding as it may cause him to throw up his feed. Baby may also want to nap after his feed.

(6.2) Bathing Your Baby Step-by-Step

1. Room has to be warm, comfortable and well-ventilated room.
2. Supplies: Large bath tub (avoid ergonomic and egg-shape tub, fanciful gadgets like bathing stools, slings or wedges in the bathtub), baby bath, towel, wash cloth, cotton wool, clean cloth, wet wipes, jug or cup, disposable diaper or napkin with liner, lotion and bottom barrier cream if needed – keep all supplies close at hand.
3. Wash your hands 7-step with soap and water at room temperature (20°C).
4. Put cold water into the tub first before adding hot water.
5. Check the temperature of the water with the inside of your wrist (not elbow) or using thermometer (ideal 30-36°C).
6. Undress baby’s shirt and leaving diaper on, and cover him loosely with towel (so he doesn’t get chilled).
7. EYE: Clean each eye with a separate sterilized cotton ball (soaked in the cooled boiled water, do not use contact lenses solution), wiping from the inner corner (near the nose) outwards. If the sticky eyes are inflamed, consult your doctor.
8. FACE: With baby in your arm, on your lap or on the bed, first wash his face with plain water (without soap) using cotton wool. Dap dry with a towel (do not rub his skin).
9. Support baby by his neck with one hand – football hold.
10. Squeeze a few drops of ‘rinse-free’ baby bath into the water.
11. HAIR: For newborns, the baby bath solution alone is enough for cleansing his hair. Rub dry after washing to avoid losing heat (as the head has the biggest area surface. If it is wet, baby may catch a cold). For older baby, you may wash his scalp using a washcloth with baby shampoo. Make sure the washcloth is not too wet or soapy water may get into baby’s eyes. Then rinse the hair clean and dry it. (You can sing – ‘Raindrops fallin' on our heads’ – so baby will know what’s happening)
12. Remove his wrap. If his diaper is soiled, clean baby first then clean your hands again (Always clean baby’s genitalia front to back – do not pull the foreskin that covers baby boy’s penis as it can cause damage. The foreskin retracts after 3-4 years on its own. Then clean the bottom)
13. Hold baby securely by his armpit (thumb on his shoulder and four fingers under his armpit) so that your wrist supports his head. Use another hand to hold his buttocks.
14. Then put him gently into the water, legs first, followed by the buttocks and then the trunk (the water level is under the chin to keep him warm like spa experience). Cover his chest with a washcloth to give him security.
15. NECK: With your free hand, clean the creases of the neck with wet cotton wool.
16. HANDS: Ensure that the creased areas are cleaned thoroughly with cotton wool or a cloth. It is easier to wash with your hands instead of using a cloth. Since his hands are always in a grip, you can rotate 3 times massaging his back palm – he will open his grip automatically. (You can sing ‘Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear, one step, two step, tickle you under there.’) Then wash his fingers one-by-one gently without bending them backward. This will break them (green stick fracture).
17. Make sure that your other hand is gripping his armpits and supporting his neck securely. If you are afraid that baby may slip off your grip when you use soap, soap him on your lap or on the bed first before rinsing him off in the tub. Soap is not recommended as it has a drying effect on a baby’s skin.
18. LEGS: Wash his legs and toes. You can sing ‘This little piggy went to market, This little piggy stayed at home, This little piggy had roast beef, This little piggy had none. And this little piggy went... "Wee wee wee" all the way home... (Challenge you to sing: When he reaches 9-month of age, he can fill up the blanks when you sing, and one fine day, he may crawl to your feet and sing the whole song to overwhelm you with surprise).
19. BONDING: You can turn the baby over to wash his back by supporting at the front with your hand under his armpit – bonding time. Maid can skip this bonding part.
20. GROIN & BUTTOCKS: Wash the areas last.
21. When you have finished, lift baby up with both hands, put him on a stable surface and cover him with a dry towel (Avoid hooded towel because you may ‘wing’ him and make him catch cold).
22. Pat him dry, especially the creases and folds, before dressing him. Avoid rubbing him.
23. Contrary to what you may read in ads for baby products, your infant does not ordinarily need any lotions, oils, or powder. You may apply oil or lotion if baby’s skin is flaky or dry. Ideally, don’t use powder. If you have to, dust the powder away from him with your hand to avoid inhalation of powder particles or dust. Then rub gently. Avoid baby oil, which does not penetrate or lubricate as well as baby lotion or cream.
24. You may also use baby barrier cream (only when baby starts to have them).
25. EARS: Use a dry cotton bud to clean his outer ear after bath. Do not try to clean deep inside as you may cause injury. The earwax is for protection and is not really dirty.
26. NOSE: You can remove any dried mucus from the nose with damp cotton wool rolled into a tip (Avoid poking into baby’s nostril with a cotton bud). Wet the mucus and wipe it out or use a mucus extractor.
27. MOUTH & TONGUE: Baby’s mouth is generally clean and does not require much cleaning during the bath time. There is no need to clean his tongue. If you have to, it is safer to use clean, wet gauze wrapped around your index finger. Insert your finger by the corner of his mouth, rest your finger on his tongue and swipe outwards once only (too much cleaning may cause bulimia – by 3 month, baby may not want his milk again). Avoid rubbing his throat. Always consult your doctor if you have concerns over his tongue. If baby is bottle-fed with formula, a teaspoonful of water can be given to him to cleanse his tongue after each feed.
28. CORD CARE: Clean the cord with cord spirit or sterilized water 3 times a day and leave it to air. There is no need to cover the cord with a bandage. Baby’s diaper should also be positioned below the navel to avoid any irritation in that area. Do not be too alarmed if you notice some discharge or bleeding at the cord stem when it drops off from the part where it was cut at birth. Apply a little pressure with a cotton ball soaked in cord spirit over the bleeding point using 2 fingers (do not poke it in further with one finger). The bleeding should stop. However, if you notice any strange smell and the area surrounding the cord becomes red or swollen, or the navel is shiny and swollen, consult your doctor.
29. FINGER NAILS: Let him wear mittens (After 6 weeks, let him be free to do acrobats/be active with his finger movement.  Rest assured that he wouldn’t scratch his face). Trim his nails when he is a few weeks old.
30. TOENAILS: Baby's toenails grow much more slowly and are usually very soft and pliable. They needn't be kept as short as the fingernails, so you may have to trim them only once or twice a month. Because they are so soft, they sometimes look as if they're in-grown, but there's no cause for concern unless the skin alongside the nail gets red, inflamed, or hard. As baby gets older, his toenails will become harder and better defined.
31. CRADDLE CAP: It occurs as a result of excessive oil around the head, eyebrows and face. It is a common condition that affects babies under the age of one. Causes are thought to be related to hormones transferred or stimulated by the mother’s hormone during the last week of pregnancy. The stimulation leads to over-production of a waxy, oily substance called sebum. The skin around the scalp, eyebrows or even eyelids is covered by flaky, crusty orange-yellowish patches. The skin is reddened and scaly but is usually not itchy. It is also believed to be caused by strong shampoo. Apply some olive oil on the area for 2 hours (or overnight if the condition is bad). If it is on the head, use a fine-toothed comb to comb baby’s hair from front to back to ensure that the olive oil permeates the scalp.

(6.3) TYPES OF TOYS TO LOOK FOR:

1. Toys that will help your baby experiment with the properties of water: things he can fill and pour from, and have sieves that allow water to flow through
2. Boats that really float
3. Aquatic creatures that bob and float in the water
4. Terry cloth bath puppets (these can double as washcloths, meaning your child might be more compliant when it’s time scrub up)
5. Shapes, letters, and numbers that stick to the side of the tub
6. A doll that’s meant to go in the tub; your child will love washing up his own little baby