What to Expect for Baby’s First Bath Time

November 29th, 2009 |

Author:

Don Pinder asked:

Having a baby is a time when you begin to look after another human. Babies are fragile and tiny, with little faces, hands and feet that need your loving care and affection. Bath time is a special part of looking after your baby that allows you to bond. It can also be a challenge for a first time mom or dad, and even a second time parent. The intricacies of washing your little baby with soap and water may not sound too difficult, but babies do not just lie there like still dolls. They are floppy when very young, may wriggle or scream the house down. The best advice to give a nervous mom is to detach yourself from the situation. Now, it may sound cruel, but by blocking out the babies screaming so that it won’t affect you emotionally, you are able to get on with the job at hand much more effectively and make the process quicker and less traumatic for your baby. Remember though, that crying is healthy for the baby and it does not make you a bad parent if they do – babies cannot be silent all the time; they need to exercise their lungs.

Here are some things to remember when it is bath time to make the entire experience as easy as possible. Make sure that you have everything you need at hand. It is recommended for the first few months of a baby’s life to use a small plastic bath tub. You can place it inside your normal bath or it can be set on a changing table or compactum. Keep soaps, cloths and shampoo right next to you, so that you do not have to look away from your baby. Keeping eye contact is very important and it lets them know that they are safe. Babies have spent most of their lives in water up to the point when they are born, so bathing should calm and relax them.

If they are not calm and relaxed, it can mean that there is something else wrong. In order to make bath time and relaxing time, put on some soothing music and close the windows so that there is no draft on the baby’s cold body, even if you are hot. A baby cannot regulate its body temperature that well, so any changes in temperature for them will be huge. Check that the water is not too hot or too cold. You can find testers and bath thermometers to help you check the water, otherwise feel it with your elbow. You can find plenty of books that will guide you further about bathing your baby for the first time. Ebaymaternity.co.uk has a wide selection for you to choose from.