Bath Time Reassurances for New Parents
You’re going to love learning how to bathe your newborn. The smile your cutie has while splashing around will make your day, and the skin-to-skin contact is great for bonding.
Some lucky parents have newborns who enjoy being bathed from the word 'go'. If you’re not one of them, don’t take it personally. Bath time, like everything else, is a completely new experience for your little one. It may take some getting used to.
The key is not to tense up because they’ll feel it as you bathe them. Relax and take everything in stride. If they cry, try singing to them. If they squirm, leave them in the tub as you wash them. You don’t have to be holding them to give them a good clean. The calmer you are, the better the bath will be.
Here are a few other reassurances for first-time baby-bathers:
You don’t have to bathe them every day.
Other than diaper mess and spit up, both of which can be cleaned with baby wipes, your newborn won’t be getting that dirty. A bath every few days is more than enough. And you don’t have to shampoo them every bath either. Once a week should do the trick.
They may like a cooler bath, and that’s fine.
Health Canada recommends a baby’s bath water be no higher than 49˚C (120˚F). You can buy a tub thermometer to make sure. And if possible, you can set your hot water thermostat to that temperature.
If you find that your baby prefers a slightly cooler bath, listen to them. The more comfortable they are, the more they’ll grow to like bath time. Never go hotter, though. A baby can get third-degree burns pretty quickly in water that’s too hot.
A little elbow grease won’t break them.
Don’t be afraid to apply a bit of gentle pressure as you scrub your baby’s little body – especially around the folds in their necks where milk or formula can build up; and also around the diaper area.
The same applies to washing their genitals – you want those areas to be as clean as possible. You can be a bit more gentle down there, but put in enough muscle to get the job done. If your baby boy is uncircumcised, no need to pull back his foreskin; simply wipe his penis clean. Do the same if he's been circumcised, and then follow whatever directions your doctor has given you. If you have a girl, wipe the folds of her vagina and rinse thoroughly.
Keep at it.
Don’t let a few bad bathing experiences deter you from making it a highlight of your day for years to come. The more you do it, the more you’ll learn what your little one likes and doesn’t like; and the sooner it’ll start to get fun!