Keep your baby warm. "For diapering, keep as much of her body covered
as possible and keep the room warm," says Ari Brown, M.D. "For bathing,
make the water comfortably warm - about 75 degrees."
Tip: Turn on the shower for a few minutes so the room is nice and warm
before the bath. Also make sure to have your water heater set at 120
degrees or less to avoid accidental scalding.
Never leave your baby unattended. Diaper changing and proximity to water
require your undivided attention.
Stick to the basics. Scented baby hygiene products can cause skin
irritation in newborns. Try to use products that are as natural as possible
and are perfume-free and dye-free.
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Once your baby is older, you'll start
submerging her body in a bath. You
can use a small infant tub that fits into
the regular bathtub, or a rubber pad
on the base of the tub to prevent slippage.
The small tub may be easier for
you at first.
Fill the tub with two inches of water
that is warm and comfortable to the
touch. Test it on yourself first. Immerse
your baby in water that has already
been drawn, keeping her face well
above the water surface. (Don't put her
in while water is running when temperature
can vary.) Have all supplies
(soap, washcloth, shampoo, towel)
ready so you never have to take your
eyes off baby while she's in the water.
Hold the baby's head for support
while washing with your other hand -
babies can drown in less than six inches
of water. Use a slightly soapy cloth
to wash her face first and then her
body. Make sure to clean the genitals
with plain water, pouring over all the
creases. For circumcised boys, be sure
to clean the area between the head
and the shaft as debris will collect
there. Shampoo hair last. When you
rinse soap or shampoo from the head,
make sure to cup your hand across
baby's forehead so that suds stay out
of the eyes.
"You don't have to bathe your baby
every night," says Brown. "Every three
to four days is fine, but some families
do it more often because they like a
bath as a winding-down ritual.
M. J. Horowitz, a writer in Pasadena,
California, remembers bathtime fondly
now that her children are teenagers.
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Related Articles:
 Umbilical Cord and Circumcision Care
Crying Time
There, There
New Parent Report: Immunize Baby
New Parent Report: Made in the Shade
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