Bathing your baby can be a wonderful bonding opportunity. However, handling a soapy, slippery, squirmy infant in a tub of water can be a frightening experience if you don't know the ins and outs of bathing babies in bathtubs. Know the bathing options and follow a few basic measures to ensure that bath time is safe and comfortable for both you and your baby.
Bathtub Readiness
Your baby may not be ready to sit in an adult-sized bathtub until he can sit up on his own at around 6 months, according to BabyCenter.com. While you may enjoy the idea of getting into the tub with your baby, if you're both soapy he may accidentally slip out of your grasp and become submerged in water or hit his head on a hard surface. Consider other options before bathing him in an adult bathtub early on.
Infant Tubs
Infant tubs are generally safest and most comfortable you and your young baby. Look for an infant tub made of a thick plastic that won't cave under the weight of your baby and the water; make sure the tub doesn't have any rough edges that could injure your baby's delicate skin and consider getting a tub that has a plug so that it can easily drain into the sink. The most convenient tubs fold for easy storing and are adaptable to accommodate your baby as she grows, according to BabyCenter.com.
Baby Bath Seats
Once your baby can sit on his own, chances are he's too big for his baby tub. A step between an infant tub and an adult bathtub is a baby bath seat or bath ring, which help you keep your slippery baby upright. However, seats and rings are controversial because they can leave parents feeling falsely secure about leaving their baby unattended for a brief moment, according to BabyCenter.com. A baby can drown in a flash by slipping through a leg hole or tipping over in a seat.
Bathtub Safety
Set your home's water heater to reach a temperature of no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid scalding your baby's delicate skin, according to pediatric health website DrSpock.com. Other ways to protect your baby in the tub are to fill the tub before you place her in it, place soft insulating covers on the faucet and keep electrical devices such as dryers and razors far away from the tub. Finally, never leave your baby more than one arm's length away and don't leave her under the care of an older child.
Bathing Steps
Get all of your supplies together before you undress your baby for his bath. Fill the tub with just a couple inches of warm water and test the temperature with your elbow to be sure it's not too hot, according to American Baby online. Place him in the water feet-first, supporting his head and shoulder with one hand and his bottom and legs with your other. Hold his head with one arm and wash him with your free hand, starting at his head and working toward his bottom, and lift him out in the same way you put him in. Immediately wrap him in a towel and dry him thoroughly.
