Step-By-Step Instructions For Sponge-Bathing Your Baby
Step-By-Step Instructions For Sponge-Bathing Your Baby
Newborns don't require the kind of vigorous cleaning that older children and adults do. Tub baths are not recommended until the umbilical cord has fallen off and healed, and the circumcision incision has healed.
Sponge baths two or three times a week are enough for one-month-olds. But wash face, hands and neck daily or a couple times a day, such as after feedings, with a washcloth. Wash the "diaper area" after every diaper change.
Bathing a baby right after she eats runs the risk of spitting up or defecating (or both) during the bath. A calm time, when the baby's not hungry or fussy, might be nicest. Sponge baths can be given anywhere it's convenient - on a waterproof pad or towel in the crib, changing table, kitchen table, counter top. Usually it's most convenient to be near a water source. It's important to be in a warm room without drafts. If it's winter and the heat has been turned down, consider warming the room where the bath will be given up to above 70 degrees.
Bathe only half the baby at a time, keeping the shirt or pants on while the other half is being washed and dried. For a sponge bath, get all of this together first:
1. Two containers of warm water, one for washing, one for rinsing (test on your wrist or with your elbow).
2. Two washcloths, preferably baby-sized, one for washing, one for rinsing. 3. Clean clothes.
4. Clean diaper. 5. Towel or waterproof pad under baby.
6. Towel or two to dry off.
7. Hooded receiving blanket.
8. Sterile cotton balls and swabs.
9. Rubbing alcohol for cleaning the umbilical cord.
10. Petroleum jelly (or prescribed ointment and gauze/bandage) for circumcision care.
11. Non-irritating, non-drying soap or shampoo (optional).
12. Undress baby only half-way at a time for two reasons: babies cool off quickly, and some really don't like being undressed.
13. Have all the products within reach. If you don't, carry the baby with you when going to get them.
14. Talk to your baby while you bathe him or her.
15. Pat all areas dry right after washing. Pay special attention to folds of skin.
16. Lower your water heater to 130 or even 120 degrees. (Scalds account for 75 percent of burns in children under age 4.)
17. Start at the head (supposedly the cleanest area) and work toward the dirtiest (you know where). 18. Wet a cotton ball and wipe out one of baby's eyes, starting at the inside corner by the nose and ending outside. Discard the cotton ball and use a new one for the other eye (so as not to spread infection, if there is any).
19. With the washcloth, moisten the hair and rub the scalp. (If you are using shampoo or soap, squeeze very little on with your hand and massage.) Don't be afraid of the soft spot ("fontanel"), but be gentle. 20. From the rinse water, use a wet washcloth to rinse. Immediately, gently pat to towel dry. Cover the baby's head with a hooded receiving blanket or dry towel to avoid heat loss.
21. Rinse out the washcloth, sponge off the face, ears and neck, including all the folds. Pat dry and rinse out the washcloth.
22. Remove the shirt. With the washcloth, wash the chest and tummy, under the arms, down the arms, the hands and the back. Pat dry. Rinse out the washcloth.
23. Put on the clean shirt.
24. Remove pants or leggings. With the washcloth, wash the feet and legs, again getting into all the folds. Pat dry and rinse out the washcloth. 25. Clean the umbilical cord with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or swab, or as directed by your doctor.
26. Remove the diaper (not one second sooner than you have to).
27. With the washcloth, wash front to back (especially important with girls). Make sure to gently separate the labia (a vaginal discharge the first few days is normal; do not scrub vigorously) or wash the entire scrotum (do not pull back the foreskin of the penis). If the boy has been circumcised, wash the area and apply petroleum jelly or gauze bandage as directed. Pat dry.
28. Put on a clean diaper (if you dare chance it, leave this off for awhile to facilitate air drying and reducing chances of diaper rash) and finish dressing the baby.