While some babies love bath time, others find the experience uncomfortable and tend to cry. However, if done with care, it can be something that they begin to look forward to. Here's how you can make bath time a more relaxed experience for the little one.
To bathe or not
A new parent is often faced with the question of how often to bathe the child. While a couple of times a week is ideal for a new born, it’s better to give the older ones a bath more regularly. For a baby that is a few months old, cleaning the diaper area and the hands and face is more important than the entire body.
Best time for a bath
For a new born the best time is before a meal provided he's not too hungry. He might bring out the food if he is bathed right after eating. If the season's not cold, then for older babies, the best time is just before bed.Whatever the time, do set a routine so that the child begins to get used to it.
To bathe or not
A new parent is often faced with the question of how often to bathe the child. While a couple of times a week is ideal for a new born, it’s better to give the older ones a bath more regularly. For a baby that is a few months old, cleaning the diaper area and the hands and face is more important than the entire body.
Best time for a bath
For a new born the best time is before a meal provided he's not too hungry. He might bring out the food if he is bathed right after eating. If the season's not cold, then for older babies, the best time is just before bed.Whatever the time, do set a routine so that the child begins to get used to it.
How to Bathe
For a child whose umbilical cord stump hasn't yet fallen off, avoid a full-fledged bath. This will prevent the stump from getting wet. Instead, to bathe a new born, lay him on a towel and cover him with another one. Now expose one leg and hand at a time and sponge it lightly.
Once the stump goes baby bath tubs or a bath seat can be used. You can place a bath seat in the tub during bathing. However do hold your baby firmly and use the other hand to wash him. Take help from another adult especially with the little ones whose heads are still wobbly because cradling his head in your hands and simultaneously washing might be a little tough.
While traditionally, babies in India are bathed by placing them on one’s stretched out legs, this can be difficult in modern bathrooms in most apartments. Baby bath tubs are therefore a convenient accessory.
Play time
Make it play time for him. You could buy baby bath accessories such as bath toys, bubble blowers andbath crayons, or just sing to him during bath time.
Things you will need
Before you begin the bathing schedule assemble everything near the baby bath tub so that you don't go hunting during the bath. A few must buy baby bath accessories area bath seat,towels, bath wash, baby shampoo and a comb.
Must wash areas
While giving your baby a bath, pay special attention to:
- The diaper region
- In between the fingers and toes
- The neck
- The area near the eyes (wipe this with a cotton ball)
- The folds at the backs of the knees
- The region behind the ears.
Shampooing
All babies won't have a head full of hair. However, whatever little that he has, it needs to be shampooed once in a while. Use only a small drop of the shampoo for washing though. Gently massage and then rinse it off. Leave the shampooing for last so that he doesn't have to sit in a tub full of dirty soap water.
Temperature of the water
Before children are put into baby bath tubs do check the temperature of the bath water. This is especially because a baby's skin is much more sensitive than an adult's;so what might feel alright for you will be too hot for her. Test the water temperature with the back of your wrist or your elbow as these are most sensitive to temperature. You can also buy a baby bath thermometer.
Water play and safety
Never leave your little one alone during bath time. Make sure that adult supervision is always there, even if it is a paddling pool. Little babies can drown even in water that is just inches deep. If there is something that you have to attend to during the kid's bath time then get him out of the water, wrap him up and take him with you. Leaving the child near the water is as dangerous as keeping him inside it is.
Surfaces around the baby bath tubs
It is advisable to hold the child tightly when taking him out of the tub. Surfaces around the tub are bound to get slippery; hold them so that they don't slip.
Despite all your preparations don't be surprised if your baby cries during bath time occasionally. It happens because bathing is an unfamiliar concept for them. Maintain your cool and things will smoothen out soon.
All babies won't have a head full of hair. However, whatever little that he has, it needs to be shampooed once in a while. Use only a small drop of the shampoo for washing though. Gently massage and then rinse it off. Leave the shampooing for last so that he doesn't have to sit in a tub full of dirty soap water.
Temperature of the water
Before children are put into baby bath tubs do check the temperature of the bath water. This is especially because a baby's skin is much more sensitive than an adult's;so what might feel alright for you will be too hot for her. Test the water temperature with the back of your wrist or your elbow as these are most sensitive to temperature. You can also buy a baby bath thermometer.
Water play and safety
Never leave your little one alone during bath time. Make sure that adult supervision is always there, even if it is a paddling pool. Little babies can drown even in water that is just inches deep. If there is something that you have to attend to during the kid's bath time then get him out of the water, wrap him up and take him with you. Leaving the child near the water is as dangerous as keeping him inside it is.
Surfaces around the baby bath tubs
It is advisable to hold the child tightly when taking him out of the tub. Surfaces around the tub are bound to get slippery; hold them so that they don't slip.
Despite all your preparations don't be surprised if your baby cries during bath time occasionally. It happens because bathing is an unfamiliar concept for them. Maintain your cool and things will smoothen out soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment