1. The First Baths
The first few baths with your baby should be sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off. After that, any sink or small bath tub is good for a bath. Use only a little water, soap and a damp washcloth to clean your baby. Start with the face and finish with the bottom and the genital area. Remember, babies only need bathing two or three times a week. Any more can dry out their skin. When bathing your child, keep one hand on him until he can sit up by himself in the bath. Make sure the environment is warm to prevent your infant from catching a chill.
2. Products to Help You Bathe a Baby
Before your child can sit up, you'll need a small bath basin in which to bathe the child. After your baby can sit, you can use a bath ring or a bath seat. Bath toys are great to teach babies about the properties of water. Parents should talk to their pediatrician about shampoos and soaps, since some soaps can produce allergic reactions and eczema.
3. Bathing a Child
Often toddlers and preschoolers develop a fear of baths. If your child's scared to take a bath, give her bath toys or get into the bath with them. Don't let your child watch the water go down the drain since some children will think they can go down the drain with the water. Always sit with your child in the bath to prevent drowning or slips and falls. Depending on the child's age, you can let her wash herself and shampoo her hair. However, watch that the shampoo doesn't go into her eyes since this can traumatize small children. Use specially formulated children's shampoo which won't sting her eyes.
4. Fun with Bath Toys
Bath toys turn bath time into fun time. You can purchase toys that squirt, boats, fish and other toys that float, and arty sponge shapes. Make sure any toys you choose are age appropriate and don't pose a choking risk. Rinse toys and let them dry outside the bath or in a net to prevent mold and mildew from forming.
5. Bath Safety
No matter what the age of the child, make sure you have everything you need prior to putting him into the bath. Never leave your child alone in a bathtub. There's not only a drowning risk, but a risk of a slip and fall. Always test your bath water by running your hand through it. You can purchase thermometers or bath mats that let you know when the water's too hot. Bath mats also help prevent slips, and you can insert anti-scald devices onto faucets to prevent burns. Finally, clean up any puddles of water that your children splash onto the floor.
