How Do I Bathe My Baby?

In the early days of bathing your baby, you will be doing sponge bathes until the umbilical cord falls out and then you can move on to submersion baths. I like to think of sponge bathes as less is more- after all, the baby (s) are not outside running around and getting dirty! So, to do a sponge bath, I take a baby washcloth, run it under warm water, squeeze out excess water and then wipe down from head to toe.

A submersion bath is a little bit more involved, so I like to make sure my supplies are all setup first!

Supplies:

Soap/Shampoo

2 washclothes

2 cotton balls if you have

Receiving blanket if you have

Towel

Process:

-Fill tub with as much water as you would like baby in

-test temperature to make sure warm

-begin by washing each eye with a moist cotton ball starting from the inside corners outward

-Use damp washcloth with soap to wash baby's scalp and rinse with washcloth

-Wash baby's arms and armpits and rinse

-Wash baby's legs and feet and rinse

-Support baby with hand to lean forward to wash back and bottom, then rinse

-Be sure to wash all folds and creases in neck, arms and legs

-Wash genitals last

Extra's:

Talk or sing to baby while in bath and lay warm wet washcloth on chest/stomach area when not using it to keep baby warm

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