Bath Time

Cleaning Baby’s Face

1. Line a changing table, sink counter or floor with bath towel. Soak six pieces of cotton wool in a small bowl of cooled boiled water. Lay baby down and undress her.Wrap her up snugly in the bath towel. Using one piece of soaked cotton wool, wipe each eye from the nose outwards. Use a fresh piece of cotton for each eye.
2. Use another piece of cotton wool to wipe baby’s forehead and cheeks.
3. Use another fresh cotton wool to wipe over and behind baby’s ear. Remember to use fresh cotton wool for each ear.
4. Clean baby’s face of milk and dribble by wiping around her mouth and nose.

Tub Baths

1. Get ready with a clean washcloth, mild baby soap, mild baby shampoo and a drying towel. Fill the tub with cold water and then hot water until it feels lukewarm to your elbow.
2. Line a changing table, sink counter or floor with bath towel. Lay baby down and undress her.Wrap her up snugly in the bath towel.
3. Cradle baby’s head in one hand, her back along your forearm, and tuck her legs under your elbow. Gently pour water over her head with your other hand. Avoid splashing her face with water. If you get some soap into her eyes, wipe them with lots of water until she opens her eyes again.
4. Cradle baby and gently pat her head dry with the top of the bath towel.
5. Unwrap baby on your lap, then lift her into the tub.Your forearm should support her head and neck, while your other hand is under her bottom and thighs.
6. While still supporting her neck and shoulders with your forearm, use your other hand to splash water over her body.
7. Lift baby out of the water; hold her firmly as she will be slippery. Wrap baby in the drying towel and pat her dry.

BATHTIME TIPS

Keep bathtime brief to prevent baby from catching a chill. When baby is three months or older, line the tub with a non-slip mat. Never leave baby alone and unattended in the bath; take her out, wrap her up and take her with you if you need to attend to something that crops up. In uncircumcised boys, do not try to pull the foreskin back to wash the head of the penis. It might take years before the foreskin can be readily and safely retracted.