New parents are busy learning all of the tasks associated with caring for a baby. Feeding methods, sleeping routines and diaper changes may be new to the first-time parent. Giving a baby a bath is an early task for parents to learn that is not only important for health and cleanliness, but can become an enjoyable time between a parent and child.
Getting Clean
Although a baby does not do the same activities as older children or adults that may warrant daily bathing, she still needs a bath two to three times a week. Babies need regular baths to clean their skin and hair more consistently than being wiped with a cloth after eating or during a diaper change. Baths control excess oil in the hair, clean the baby's skin from too much moisture and dry the areas between skin folds.
Staying Healthy
Baths are important for babies to protect the health of their skin. A baby's skin can be fragile, and protecting it by using soap made specifically for babies instead of products designed for adults preserves the softness of skin. A bath is also a time to check the baby's body for rashes or areas of dry skin, and massaging her arms and legs while cleaning promotes circulation in her extremities.
Emotional Benefits
With a little practice, a bath can become a relaxing and comforting time between parents and their baby. Bathing a baby teaches her the importance of touch, and gives her the feeling of skin contact. Being face to face with a baby while bathing her promotes eye contact and provides a positive interaction between parent and child. Wrapping her in a soft towel and gently drying her after the bath allows her to feel warm and safe.
Play Time
Beyond the health and emotional benefits, bath time can also be a play time for babies. Splashing and playing allow the baby to learn about the consistency of water. Baby toys and bubbles teach hand-eye coordination and are fun to play with in the tub. Singing songs and pointing out body parts are fun ways that babies can enjoy a bath while getting clean at the same time.
Potential Consequences
Avoiding regularly bathing a baby not only wastes opportunities for time together, it can also lead to health concerns. Bath time gives parents a chance to examine the skin of their baby. Rashes and bumps on the skin may otherwise go unnoticed during a busy daily routine. Babies who do not have clean hair can be prone to episodes of cradle cap, a condition that causes flaky and scaly skin on the hair and eyebrows. Cradle cap is caused from the excess work of sweat glands and can be minimized with regular shampooing. Consistently bathing a baby will not only reduce adverse health conditions, it will continue to provide a bonding period between a parent and child.
