Bathing

As a new parent, the amount of care and caution that is required for your new baby can seem overwhelming. From buying the right clothes, toys, furniture, and bathing supplies, everything has got to be safe and appropriate for your new baby. When bathing your baby, there are a variety of different soaps available. The type of soap that is best for your baby will of course depend on your baby’s individual needs; some babies have sensitive skin while others do not. Below is a basic guide to baby soaps to help get you started.

Things to Consider:

When choosing a soap for your baby, it is important to keep in mind that your baby’s skin has not been exposed to many chemicals found in ordinary soaps. As a result, it will be extremely important to monitor your baby in case he/she has a reaction to whatever soap you choose. There are certain soaps that are manufactured especially for babies. These soaps range from brand name soaps such as Johnson and Johnson to natural soaps that are made without potentially harmful chemicals found in ordinary soaps. Just because you do not react negatively to a soap does not mean that your baby won’t. Try to keep in mind that your baby’s skin is far more sensitive than yours and may require a completely different type of soap.

Where to Find Baby Soaps:

Most department stores sell popular baby soaps from well known brands such a Johnson and Johnson. If… Read the rest

The last thing any parent or caregiver wants to do is cause pain for their baby, even the smallest discomfort. That’s why tearless shampoo is so great. This type of shampoo is capable of cleaning baby’s hair — sometimes baby’s entire body, as some are shampoo and soap combinations — with fewer of the irritants of adult shampoos, like sulfate. Baby can get a bath without that painful, burning sensation that all adults know too well.

Bathing an infant can be intimidating to new parents or caregivers not familiar with the process. Being faced with a tiny body to be washed thoroughly, but gently can be daunting, and it can be more so to try to avoid getting shampoo in baby’s eyes. This is a process that doesn’t get much easier as they get older and begin to squirm and play or fight whenever it is time for them to get a bath.

Tearless shampoo doesn’t erase all need for care since some brands can still sting just a bit, though nothing in comparison to their traditional counterparts. They do, however, ease the guilt for parents and discomfort for the child when the soap, despite best efforts to shield it from the child’s face, slides down over the brow and into the eyes. Keeping baby’s head reclined and using a cup or cupped hand to rinse the shampoo from his hair can give more control over the flow of the water. A washcloth or hand at the forehead can… Read the rest

Hooded baby towels are very versatile and should be a part of every new mother’s layette. Baby towels are square-shaped, and they have a small hood on one corner. This makes it easy to wrap your baby from head to toe. You can even find them in designs that coordinate with your nursery décor. Baby towels are much lighter than regular towels, and they are nice and soft against your baby’s delicate skin. Hooded towels are also perfect for keeping your baby warm after a bath.

Newborns have trouble regulating their body temperature, so you’ll want to wrap your new baby in a hooded towel during sponge baths to prevent him from getting chilled. First, carefully wipe his head and then cover it back up with the hood. Continue to bathe him, one part at a time, while you keep the rest of him covered. After the umbilical cord falls off, and your baby is able to use the infant tub, you’ll want to keep the towel nearby. As soon as the bath is over, place the hood over your baby’s head and wrap him up snugly in the rest of the towel.

Place a dry towel on the changing table so you can lay your baby down and then take off the wet towel before applying lotion and diapering him. You can also keep a towel on the changing table to protect the cover during changes. Some babies spit up a bit when you first lay them down,… Read the rest

The easiest way to bathe a newborn that cannot hold its own head up yet is in a baby bathtub purchased at the store. Fill it about a quarter to half full with warm water. You don’t want it hot, luke warm is fine. Undress the baby once the tub is ready.

Set the baby down slowly and easily in the water, keeping one of your hands/arms under the baby’s head to support it and keep it above the water. Using your other hand, gently wash the baby with a very soft cloth and a small amount of baby soap if you like. Start with the feet and work your way up, washing the head last. Body heat is lost through the head quicker than anywhere else, so always do baby’s head last to prevent it from becoming chilled.

Once your baby has been washed and rinsed off, carefully lift it from the tub with both hands, and lay into a soft towel and pat the skin dry. Baby skin can be very delicate and soft, so don’t rub vigorously, soft patting works just fine. Using a lotion specially made for baby’s sensitive skin is a good idea to keep their skin soft and moisturized and prevent it from drying and becoming itchy. Dress the baby immediately, or swaddle tightly to keep warm!

You can find many baby bathing products in lavender scents especially for bedtime. Lavender is known to be a very calming and soothing scent for babies,… Read the rest