Bathing Basics: print out guide

That first bath can come as a bit of a shock -- for parent and newborn. But before you know it, bath-time will be great fun for all of you. In the meantime, to help clean-ups go as smoothly as possible, print out this handy bath-time guide.

• Most experts say that newborns don't need daily baths. Two or three baths a week is usually sufficient.
• Until the umbilical cord falls off and the circumcision (if any) heals, stick with sponge baths to avoid infection.
• It's not really necessary to use soap on a newborn or young infant unless the weather has been very hot or he's gotten especially dirty from spitting-up or a bowel movement. When you do use soap, use it toward the end of the bath, so the baby doesn't sit too long in soapy water, which can dry out his skin.
• Baby's hair only needs to be washed once or twice a week. You can use mild baby soap or baby shampoo. If your baby doesn't have much hair, a washcloth will work fine. As hair grows, keep a cup close by for rinsing (cradle his head in your hand and tilt it back as your rinse so water doesn't run into his eyes).
• Make sure the room where you bathe the baby is warm and draft-free.
• If your baby hates being bathed in his tub, keep giving him sponge baths. But every few weeks be sure to try using the baby tub. If your baby dislikes being naked in the tub, try covering his back or belly with a wet washcloth as you bathe his other parts.
• A baby should not be bathed in an adult bathtub until he can sit up on his own, usually at about six months of age.

1. For safety's sake, gather all your supplies together before you begin: mild baby soap, cotton balls, 2 washcloths, towel, rubbing alcohol, a clean diaper, and clean clothes.
2. Fill the sink or a small bowl with tepid water.
3. Undress the baby and wrap him in a towel. Some babies are alarmed by being naked. If this is the case for your infant, expose only one section of skin at a time.
4. Dip a cotton ball in the water and wipe your baby's eyes, from the bridge of his nose outward. Use a fresh ball for each eye.
5. Always keeping one hand on the baby, dampen the washcloth in the sink. Keep the washcloth just damp, not soaking, to minimize drips and the possibility of getting soap into baby's eyes.
6. Wash his face and outer parts of his ears with the damp cloth. You don't need to use soap on his face
7. Lightly soap the washcloth if desired. Wash his neck and scalp, then work your way down the front of his body. Make sure to clean between folds of skin.
8. Rinse the soap off with a second damp cloth, drying and rewrapping your baby with a towel as you go. Do not wash the umbilical stump.
9. Place baby on his stomach with his head turned to one side. Repeat the washing, rinsing and drying. Wash his bottom and genitals last. If your son hasn't been circumcised, do not attempt to retract the foreskin.
10. Swipe around the base of the umbilical cord with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. (Do this at each diaper change, too).
11. Pat baby dry, then dress in a clean diaper and clothes.

Once the umbilical stump (belly button) and circumcision (if any) have healed, it's time to give baby his first real bath.

1. Bathe the baby in a place that's comfortable for you -- put a plastic baby tub on the kitchen floor, for example, or give the bath in a clean kitchen sink lined with a special baby-bathing liner (a big, molded sponge) or a thick towel.
2. For safety's sake, gather all your supplies before you begin: mild soap and shampoo, cotton balls, washcloth, a towel, a clean diaper, and clean clothes.
3. Put about 2 inches of warm water the tub or sink. The water should be 90°F to 100°F -- test it with a bath thermometer (an inexpensive item available in drugstores) or with your elbow.

4. Cradle your baby in one arm with his head resting on that arm and your hand grasping his thigh. Slowly lower him into the water.
5. Wash him just as you did when sponge bathing, starting with cleaning his eyes with cotton balls. Always keep him cradled with one arm and hand and keep his head out of the water.
6. Rinse soap and shampoo away promptly to avoid drying or irritating his skin.
7. Support his head and neck as you lift him onto a towel at the end of his bath. Wrap the baby up snugly in the towel, pat him dry, then diaper and dress.

01-01-2000