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Whether or not to bathe a baby daily is a very common question among new mothers. The answer to this is very simple – your little one will not need a bath everyday, because she does not get dirty as such. Moreover, your new born also won’t really enjoy being bathed everyday, and daily bathing can also dry his sensitive and super soft skin – especially if you live in areas where there is supply of hard water. Also, new mothers can find holding tiny wriggly slippery newborns to bathe as a huge scary task- and you might as well need some help there for a short while, till you and your baby get used to bath times. But hygiene is important, and thus it is suggested that you clean your baby’s face, and his genitals after every nappy change. Plus, you should not let sweat and grim accumulate in the folds of skin like underarms and legs.
If you are an attentive mother and cater to your baby’s hygiene needs very attentively and promptly, like changing his diapers at the earliest and wiping off his burps, then you are already cleaning up those parts some way or the other. So, separately making the routine to bath your baby everyday is not necessary. Many times, newborns seem to develop rashes and skin infections because they are bathed daily. Because a baby’s skin is thin and does not hold a lot of moisture, a daily bathing ritual is not at all recommended. Keeping your baby clean is a top priority, and should not be neglected, but the same can be taken care of through some simple tips.
It entirely depends on you but choose a time when you can focus on giving the bath and not simply rush through it. It is a very unique experience for your baby so it is important to take it slow and make sure your baby is comfortable.
While some mothers prefer to bathe their babies in the morning time so that he feels fresh for the whole day, there are yet other mothers who prefer to bathe their babies just before bed time with lukewarm water so that the warm bath soothes the baby into deep sleep. If you decide to bathe your baby post feeding him, give the little one some tummy 2time to settle down.
Most of the doctors will suggest you to give you baby a sponge bath until his Umbilical Cord stump settles down. This can be up to three to four weeks after birth. Giving your baby a sponge bath is quite easy and though you will be a bit nervous at the few initial times, you will gain confidence very soon. So, the very first step is not to panic. Follow these directions and you will be doing it the right way.
Read more on sponge bathing your baby here
Safety should be the priority and not the type of the tub. You have a varied choice when it comes to choose a baby bath tub. You could opt for free standing plastic tubs designed for newborns, foldable tubs, tubs with slings that make sure that infants are held in place, inflatable tubs, or tubs that have a soft, sponge interior. A sink or a basin is just as fine. Whatever you choose to bathe your baby in, make sure that he doesn’t bang his head on the hard surface, and doesn’t make it difficult for you to hold the baby.
The baby can be slippery and bathing a wriggly body can sound scary, to say the least. When you bathe your baby, make sure you hold him securely and comfortably too. With one of your hands , support your baby’s head. Use your other hand to firmly hold and gently guide your baby’s body into the water tub, feet first. Support your baby’s head and torso with your arm and hand. Grasp your baby firmly under the armpit by wrapping your arm under the baby’s back. When you clean your baby’s back and buttocks, lean him or her forward on your arm. Continue to grasp your baby under the armpit.
If your baby has developed scaly patches on the scalp- called the cradle cap, you may wash your baby’s hair. Using just a small drop of a mild baby shampoo, massage your baby’s scalp. Rinse the shampoo making sure the water drops do not get into the baby’s eyes. You could use a washcloth or wash the baby’s head under the faucet.
Your baby’s skin is very thin and very sensitive. So it is natural for it to dry up after every bath. Also at the same time, it is important to keep the baths short. Though your baby must be giving you all kinds of signs that he is enjoying his bath and giggling all the way, you should cut down on the duration as well as on the number of times you are bathing him in a week. Restrict it to 3-4 times in a week. The below tips will help:
Bathing at the right intervals, keeping the process short and moisturizing after bath can help you avoid dryness of skin in your baby.
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