There are a lot of firsts when it comes to a newborn, such as their first feeding and their first diaper change. But one of the firsts that can make some parents a tad bit nervous is the first bath. The thought of handling a slippery, squirmy little baby can be a bit anxiety provoking. You may also have lots of questions: When should you bathe them for the first time? How often should you bathe them? Where should you bathe them—tub or sink? And so on and so forth.
Have no fear! Here are some helpful tips to make bath time lots of fun and stress-free from online pokies for australia.
- Go Sponge
If your newborn still has the umbilical cord stump stick to simple sponge baths every few days so it stays dry and clean. Babies don’t get very dirty, with the exception of their diaper area, and under their chins where spit-up tends to trickle, so pay careful attention to those parts. You can skip the soap: some lukewarm water—not hot—is really all you need.
- Timing Is Everything
Plan on giving baths no more than a couple of times a week; any more could be too drying on your baby’s super-soft skin. You’ll want to pick a “sweet spot” time of day when your baby is well-rested and not hungry (but not right after eating because she might spit up). Some parents like doing a bath in the evening, about an hour after feeding but before putting baby down for the night, because the warm water can help the baby feel drowsy and ready to settle down to sleep.
- Go Tear-Free
Babies don’t need a lot of soap. But you might want to use a bit on their bottoms and, if they have any hair, a little shampoo. When selecting your baby’s bath products, make sure you’re buying shampoos and baby washes that are tear-free and as gentle as possible. Some moms swear by lavender baby wash, which might have a soothing, drowsy effect on your little one.
- Save the Shampooing
If you are using shampoo, save it for last so your little one won’t end up sitting in sudsy water, which can be drying; having wet hair will also make baby feel colder, so it’s best to get her out of the bath ASAP.
- Gather Your Supplies
Before starting the bath, collect everything you need and place within arm’s length of the baby bath. Make sure the bottles are open and ready to pour; the last thing you want to be doing is trying to rip the safety seal off a bottle of baby wash while supporting your newborn with one arm. You can choose to play games at casino en ligne en france if you have a nanny for that.
- Have a Helper
At least for the first couple of times, recruit someone to help out during baby’s bath time. Since under no circumstances may you leave your baby unattended in any amount of water, a helper will come in handy should you need to step away from the bath. Plus, if you’re not sure how your baby is going to react to the bath, having someone else there can be useful for ideas on how to soothe a wet and wailing babe.
- Use a Bath Mat
A wet and soapy baby is a slippery baby. A bath pad or pillow is helpful for keeping your slippery sweetie in one spot; you can also line your sink or tub with a towel which adds a bit of warmth and comfort…
