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How to bathe the BabyBathing a baby is very essential because besides maintaining cleanliness, it relaxes the baby and gives her a sense of well-being. Bathing is great fun both for the baby and the parents. The baby will love the smiling and happy faces of her parents and the parents will simply adore the baby's gurgling and splashing. The most convenient time for baby's bath is before the 10 a.m. feed. You can bathe the baby in the kitchen or the bathroom sink or a large plastic dishpan, but would recommend bathing the baby in a tub or a basin. Remember, before starting the bath, you must have close at hand:
Close the doors and windows before giving her a bath, this is to prevent drafts. Wear a rubber apron to keep your own clothes dry. Also remove rings, bracelets and watch or anything which have sharp surfaces and which are likely to hurt the baby. Until you are accustomed to handling a wet, squirming baby prepare a shallow bath, you can increase the amount of water as the baby grows bigger and you become an expert in handling her. Before giving the baby bath, it is always wise to massage the baby with baby oil in soft, feathery, up and down strokes with your hands. The massage helps to improve the circulation of blood and makes the baby healthy and strong. An oil massage is a must for every baby. Half-an-hour after the massage, give her bath. Start by washing her hair and scalp. Pour a little baby shampoo into your palm, work it into lather in your hand and then gently but firmly rub her head. Remove the soap with a freshly wetted cloth. Be sure to use a motion away from the forehead towards the nape of the neck to avoid getting soap in her eyes. This can frighten the child. Next, wash her face and neck with a soaped sponge. Then lower her into the tub supporting her head with your wrist to keep the face and ears above water. Make sure to clean between the folds and creases of neck, arms, legs, buttocks and genitals. Let the baby splash a bit while you rinse her with water to make sure all the soap has been removed. Lift her out of the water and dry her thoroughly, paying special attention to the creases in the body. Now sprinkle some powder on your hand first before rubbing it on the body to avoid the possibility of her breathing it in. In hot weather, besides powder, apply eau-de-cologne on the baby's body and scalp. Clean the eyelids with moist cotton buds and the nose also with a wet cotton bud. Never put oil in baby's nose for this causes oil pneumonia and do not put oil in her ears too because this will give rise to accumulation of wax in the ear. Also do not put any kajaal in the eyes of the baby. This gives rise to anaemia in the eyes and most often these have been found to contain poisonous substances which can do irreparable damage to your baby's eyes. You may prefer to give the baby sponge baths until you feel more confident about handling her, or they have been recommended by your doctor. Baby's sponge bath Before giving the sponge bath make sure you have everything within your reach. If you are using the hard surface of a table, place her on a folded blanket to keep her comfortable and secure and to prevent her from rolling off the table. Wash the scalp and face with lukewarm water. Soap it twice a week. Lightly soap the body and face with a soaped sponge, then wipe off the soap with a rinsed sponge. Be certain that all the soap is removed, especially in the folds and creases of the skin. Substituting a sponge bath for a tub bath is often necessary when the child is sick. |
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