Bath time is a special time for the mum and the child. The baby gets to know and trust the mother, and the mother can bond with a newborn in a better way.
In fact, baths are the next best thing to bond over after breastfeeding. But, bathing a newborn is not very easy. One of the main reasons for it is his inability to hold the neck. And if it is your first child, the apprehension to bathe the baby is high!
When my son arrived, my wife and I were scared to hold him, let alone bathe him! But, the climate warranted a bath, and so we started the ritual! It was crazy at first with the umbilical stump still there, but the nurse at the hospital where we delivered had given us good tips.
Let me share those with you.
1# Prepare for the bath
Make the room warm and toasty. Decide on the way in which you want to bathe the baby. You can use a tub or you can bathe him on your lap. Either way, the safety instructions remain the same!
Remember, it requires at least two people to bathe a newborn. Don't attempt to do it alone!
Keep these things handy before you begin the bath
- 2 towels
- 1 change of clothes
- 1 dry diaper
- wipes
- cotton balls for cleaning the face and umbilical stump
- a bottle of distilled water
To distill water, boil water for about five minutes and allow it to cool completely with a partial lid on. Transfer it to a clean container and you can use it for many days. It is to be used to clean the umbilical stump, the eyes, the face and the front and back of the neck.
2# Drawing a bath
It is recommended that you bathe the baby at body temperature (37-40 degrees Celsus) for the first few days. Fill the tub with about 4-5 cms of water, not more. Check the temperature with the wrist or your elbow, and it should neither feel hot or cold.
A word about maalish: There is no scientific evidence that tel maalish, or an oil massage helps strengthen the muscles. But then, there is no evidence that it will harm your baby as well.
Due to the lack of evidence, I would suggest you decide based on the tolerance of the baby. If he develops a reaction to the oil, please stop the practice. Same goes with uttan and other unguents. The safety of the baby is more important than the looks.
3# Bathing the baby
Once everything is set, remove the diaper and clean the private area.
If you are using a tub, hold the baby in this manner. With the baby lying face up, place one hand below the shoulder and another hand below the buttocks. With your thumb and the index finger, grab the opposite arm by one hand and the opposite thigh by other. This will ensure that the baby will not slip and fall, even if he wiggles.
Place the baby carefully in the tub, taking care that the ears are well above the water level.
If you are planning to bathe him on your lap, make sure that his head is higher than his body.
Use a soap if you want and gently wash the front and the back of the baby by splashing some water.
Avoid washing the face, head and the umbilicus just yet. That would come later.
Take the baby out of the tub and wrap him in a towel. Clean him gently by dabbing him with another soft towel.
Read on for the next steps to bathe your newborn safely
4# Cleaning the umbilical stump and the face
Take the cooled distilled water in a bowl. Place the baby on his back. Take a ball of cotton dipped in distilled water in one hand and hold the umbilical stump in another. This is the most important step as proper care of the stump is critical.
Clean the base of the stump clockwise. Don't go back with the same ball of cotton.
Later, clean the stump with another ball of cotton starting from the base and gently going away from the tummy.
Repeat it till you feel it is clean enough. There should be no blood residue left by the end of the bath.
In a similar fashion, clean each eye from the nose out, with a separate ball of cotton ball soaked in distilled water.
After the eyes, clean the face, the throat and the neck. Dab with a soft cloth and cover.
5# Cleaning the head
Lastly, take the baby back to the bath tub. With the thumb and index fingers, close each ear. Water should not enter the ears as it will cause infection.
With the baby facing up, gently wash the hair. Take care not to hurt the fontanelle (the soft area on the skull of the baby) as it has not closed yet.
Dab with a soft cloth and cover.
After the bath
You can now apply a moisturising lotion or oil to keep the skin moist. Dry the privates before applying anything. This will prevent water from being locked in and thus prevent rashes.
Cover the umbilical stump with a dry piece of gauze or a clean cloth to keep it dry.
Do remember to inspect the baby for any rashes or skin eruptions.
Dress up the baby and you are good to go!
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(Image courtesy: The Wall Street Journal)
