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It's time for some good, clean fun
There's nothing sweeter than a freshly bathed baby swaddled in a cozy, cotton towel. But if you're a rookie parent suffering from the first-bath jitters, the whole thing can feel a little intimidating. Take heart. While it might seem scary at first, bath time can very quickly become a favorite time for both you and your bouncing bundle of joy.
So roll up your sleeves and get your rubber ducks in a row. It's time to get that baby squeaky clean.
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Slippery When Wet
There's no doubt about it: a wet baby is a slippery baby. And probably a little squirmy as well. So a good firm grip is important. Place one arm behind your baby's back, with the head supported by the bend of your elbow and your hand grasping the baby's arm. This leaves you with one hand to wash and support the baby's legs and bottom.
Baby's First Bath
There's no need to launch into a bathing routine in the first days or even weeks home from the hospital. Wait two to three weeks for the baby's navel to heal or for the umbilical cord to fall off; it should be kept clean and dry to prevent infection. Until then -- and even after, if your baby prefers it -- just a sponge bath will do the job nicely.
- Choose a flat surface and cover it with a waterproof pad and thick towel.
- Keep all your supplies within reach so you never have to leave the baby unattended:
- Baby soap and baby shampoo
- Two washcloths
- Towel
- Clean diaper and clothing
- Ointment for diaper rash, if necessary
- Maintain a comfortable water temperature, testing that it feels warm -- but not too hot -- on your inner wrist or elbow. You don't need to use soap unless your baby has diaper rash.
- Start by washing the cleanest areas first, moving on to the diaper area last. This helps prevent the spread of infection from one part of the body to another.
- Try to keep your baby as clothed as possible at each stage.
- Wash the head first, using soap or shampoo just once or twice a week. Rinse thoroughly and dry the hair before proceeding.
- Avoid using soap on the baby's face. You may use a sterile cotton ball dipped in warm water to clean each eye, if necessary. Wipe around the ears, not in them.
- Wash the neck, chest, arms, back, hands, and legs, paying special attention to cleaning -- and drying -- all those little creases and wrinkles. Press the baby's hands open to clean them thoroughly.
- Use a separate washcloth for the diaper area, washing from front to back. Do not wash under the foreskin of a boy or inside the labia of a girl; this can induce infection and cause more harm than good.
- Dry carefully and thoroughly before wrapping your baby in a soft towel.
Rub a Dub Dub, into the Tub
Look for a baby tub with a semi-reclined seat, slip-resistant backing, and a drain hole with an attached plug. The tub should have a foam liner, but make sure that it cannot be torn into pieces or swallowed. If there's no liner, place a towel or washcloth on the bottom. This will help to keep your baby in a comfortable position during bathing, but remember to still keep one hand on at all times. And never ever leave your child unattended.
By the time your baby reaches around age 6 months, bath time can be in a regular bathtub filled with about four inches of water. Keep a firm grip and a watchful eye to keep things fun and safe.
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Conditioners
Conditioners are often found in hair care products. Conditioners are fat-like chemicals (or actual fats and oils), proteins, humectants, or vitamins. They work by clinging to hair and coating the damaged sections of the cuticle. They coat your baby's already soft hair, adding a layer of protection and softness. Conditioners, however, are not absorbed by hair and cannot restore damage.
Emollients
Emollients work by forming a protective layer over your baby's skin, keeping in the moisture. They are all oily or fat-like chemicals. In fact, olive oil and other plant oils are very effective emollients, along with mineral and silicon oils. They can be very water-repellant like petrolatum and lanolin, which is good, because if they keep moisture out, they also keep moisture in your baby's skin. Different emollients have different effects on the skin. Generally, they soften skin and ease the pain associated with dryness.
Humectants
Novel chemicals that are in soaps, hair care products, and lotions, humectants help your baby's skin feel soft and relieve dryness. Unlike emollients, which moisturize by trapping water in your skin, humectants actually attract moisture from the air onto your skin or hair, increasing water concentrations in those regions. For this reason, they are moisturizers. But they do not have the lasting power of emollients, because they can be washed off very easily. It's best to get a product with both an emollient and a humectant.
Surfactants
Surfactants are a group containing emulsifiers, cleaning agents, and foam producers, in addition to other types of chemicals. Getting dirt and oil off your baby's skin would be quite hard without surfactants. Surfactants mix equally well in oily or watery substances or in mixtures containing both types of substances. They are the sudsy agents in soap and help to get your baby clean. They are also used to ensure that all the various ingredients in products stay mixed together. You can think of surfactants as having two parts. One part likes to be nestled in oil and the other part prefers water. The net result: when you wash away the surfactant with water, the watery portion goes first, dragging with it the oil-like half, which brings the dirt with it. However, a lot of skin and scalp irritations are caused by these chemicals.
| Emollients | Ingredient | Description |
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| Fatty acids | ? | Stearic acid, lanolin acid, plasmatic acid, and oleic acid are a few emollient fatty acids that help to soften and maintain the skin's moisture. | | Fatty alcohols | ? | Cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and lauryl alcohol are emollient fatty alcohols that help soften and maintain the skin's moisture. | | Lanolin | ? | Derived from sheep wool, this helps prevent dehydration. It may cause skin irritation if your baby is allergic to it. | | Mineral oil | ? | Derived from crude petroleum and helps soften and protect skin. It can also clean the skin. | | Plant oils | ? | These oils come from various plants (olives, corn, sunflower). Like other emollients, they help maintain moisture and protect the skin. | | Humectants | Ingredient | Description |
|---|
| PEG-60 (polyethylene glycol) | ? | Used in many cosmetic products as a solvent, PEG-60 can be used as a humectant or base. This chemical does a good job attracting water. | | Aloe vera gel | ? | An extract from the leaves of aloe plants, aloe vera gel contains 99.5% water, as well as polysaccharides and proteins. It is an effective moisturizer, but also has antimicrobial activities. It is excellent on dry or sun-damaged skin. | | Water | ? | Water is not actually a humectant, but humectants want to keep it nearby to moisten and soften your baby's skin. | | Propylene glycol | ? | This small chemical is found in many cosmetic products as a base, preservative, humectant, and vehicle. It does a good job of attracting water to skin and will not irritate skin in concentrations lower than 5%. It can penetrate the skin, allowing moisture to reach the tissues. | | Surfactants | Ingredient | Description |
|---|
| Disodium cocoamphodiacetae | ? | By dissolving dirt and oil, this cleanses the skin. It is also very fatty and helps all the chemicals stay mixed together. |
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Appropriate Uses
Baby bath cleanser
Cleans dirt from skin.
Baby lotion
Gently moisturizes and protects skin against drying, cracking, and irritation. It also reduces the friction and rubbing caused by diapers touching skin.
Baby oil
Helps skin retain moisture.
Common Misconceptions
Baby bath cleanser
Claims to clean so gently that it does not cause irritation or an allergic reaction. Some babies, though, may experience an allergic reaction.
Baby lotion
Claims to clean so gently that it does not cause irritation or an allergic reaction. Some babies, though, may experience an allergic reaction.
Baby oil
Claims to clean so gently that it does not cause irritation or an allergic reaction. Some babies, though, may experience an allergic reaction.
Give Your Baby Your Undivided Attention
- Never leave your baby alone in the bath. Let the phone ring, leave the pizza guy at the door, let the casserole burn.
- Have all the necessary supplies nearby before starting the bath.
- Do not bathe your baby often until the umbilical cord falls off or the navel heals. Instead, use a damp cloth, cotton balls, and swabs to clean your baby.
- Be careful in girls' diaper areas to wipe from front to back (i.e., from the vagina to the anus).
- When the umbilical cord is healed, you can bathe your baby.
- Fill the bath with about three inches of warm water (no more than 96?F). Be sure to test the temperature to avoid scalds and burns.
- First use cold water, then warm it with hotter water.
- Cradle the baby's head with your arm as you gently lower your baby into the water.
- Cup your hand under your baby's head to support it above the water.
- With a soft cloth, clean the hands, body folds, creases, and face carefully.
- Soap is not necessary unless your baby is dirty.
- Avoid washing the baby's face with soap and rinse shampoo suds carefully from the baby's hair due to the sensitive eyes, nostrils, mouth, and ears.
- When finished, sit down, place the baby in your lap and pat dry with a soft towel.
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Many More Tears
The perfumes, deodorants, and antibacterial agents in soaps and shampoos may cause skin or eye irritations. Avoid washing the baby's face with soap and rinse shampoo suds carefully from the baby's hair due to the sensitive eyes, nostrils, mouth, and ears.
Cleanliness Is Good, but Don't Overdo It
When applying talcum powder or cornstarch powder after the bath, use it sparingly and gently as breathing in the powder may be harmful to the baby. To clean ears, do not use cotton swabs, as you could rupture the eardrum. Use a cotton ball to carefully wipe the exterior surfaces only.
Safety First When Bathing Baby
- Never leave your baby alone.
- Place a rubber antislip mat in the bottom of the bath.
- The volume of water should never be more than 4 inches.
- Provide firm support to keep your baby's head above water at all times.
- Avoid using foam flotation cushions or sponges. Your baby could choke on them if they fall apart.
- Avoid using suctioned seats. The suction cups may suddenly release, tipping the seat over and trapping the baby under the seat.
- Avoid using bath rings or baby flotation devices that can flip over and create a drowning risk.
Avoid Scalding Accidents
- Test bath water temperature on the inside of your wrist before placing the baby in the water. The water should feel warm, no more than 96?F.
- Put cold water into the bath first, then mix hot and cold water.
- Never add more hot water when your baby is in the tub.
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Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
- 1. Jones, S; W Freitag. Guide to Baby Products, 5th ed. Consumer Reports Books, Yonkers, NY, 1996.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
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