Baby Bath Accessories

Bath time with baby

Bath time can be a little daunting with your newborn.  You’re never quite sure where to hold the baby and what to do really, so hopefully this article will go some way to explaining how you can make bath time easier and lots of fun.

Bathing your baby when they’re newly born is an absolute pleasure.  Babies usually have a natural affinity with the water and even if they cry when they are initially placed in the water (assuming the water is the right temperature – we’ll come to that) they will no doubt eventually begin to enjoy the sensation of kicking their legs and moving their arms in the water.

Safety

To begin with you need to make sure that the bath is run in plenty of time before you bring your baby in the room.  If you have your baby undressed while you wait for the bath to fill then they are likely to get cold.  Make sure the windows and doors are closed and that there are no cold breezes that can come into the room.

Test the water with the tip of your elbow.  If it feels just warm on your elbow (which is a sensitive part of your body) then it will be alright for your baby to enter the water.  If you are uncertain about the temperature of the water or want to be more accurate, then simply consult with your health visitor about it; they should be able to give you some good advice.

When you put the baby in the water do it gradually and keep your arm under the baby’s head, supporting the neck so that the baby can feel the water on their body but be perfectly safe in your arms.  You may want to invest in a bath seat to allow you a little more freedom to wash the baby more effectively and without hurting your back. 

Important Note:

Never leave a child unattended in a bath, no matter how little water there is in there or whether or not you have a bath chair.  It is not safe. 

Cleaning

Generally a baby doesn’t get too dirty.  At least not so dirty that you’re likely to need soaps etc to get them clean.  You must understand that your newborn baby has very delicate skin and many parents opt to simply wash their baby with water alone.  This is more than adequate as long as you get in all the hard to reach places.

Ensure that you get the dried up milk from the folds beneath their chin.  All you have to do is gently lift their head and wash it all away with water.  Spread their fingers and toes gently and wash in between them.  When it comes to washing hair, simply use a cup or a jug, or whatever else you have as a receptacle in the bathroom and pour the water over the baby’s head.

If you do choose to use soaps on your baby please ensure that they are suitable for a baby and do not contain anything that could be harmful.  It is not alright to use the products you use in the bath or on your hair, your baby simply will not tolerate them and may come out in a rash.

Toys

Bath toys can be lots of fun if you are able to let go of your baby.  You can let go of your baby if you have a bath chair to sit them in.  These are pretty useful if you suffer with a bit of a bad back because you don’t have to be bent over all the time with weight on your arm supporting the baby’s head.

Your baby needs to know that bath time is a positive experience so getting some brightly coloured bath toys that they can grip and interact with is a very good idea; they also allow you and the rest of your family (especially other children in the house)to do some valuable bonding with your baby and help out a little.