Baby Skincare
Daily nurturing and care of your baby is an integral part of your new life as a parent. However, many new parents have never dressed, fed or bathed a baby before. These special activities with your new baby will become second nature in no time! Here are a few tips to get you on your way.
Bathing Your Baby
You will probably feel all fingers and thumbs the first few times, but don’t worry your confidence will grow with practice. Bathing your little one is a very pleasurable experience and a lovely part of your baby/child’s daily routine.
A warm relaxing bath at the end of the day is a great cue that it is nearly time for bed.
Newborn babies up to one month of age don’t really need a bath every day, just a “top and tail’ is fine for the days in-between baths. This entails cleaning your babies face, neck and bottom. However if your baby loves the bath then feel free to enjoy one everyday.
Firstly Prepare The Environment
Gather all the necessary items before undressing or bathing your baby, as once you start you will need everything close at hand. Remember you should never leave a baby unattended in a bath, even if you are using a bath support. If you have forgotten something you will need to wrap your baby up and take him/her with you.
Some things you will need are – bath or basin, pouring jug or cup, baby wash and baby shampoo, soft wash cloth or cotton balls, towel, clean nappy and clothes.
Also warm the room if necessary as babies loose heat quickly, 20°C is a good room temperature.
How To Bath
- Fill the bath nice and deep. Babies have been in utero for 9 months and will love the memory of floating in warm water. To check the temperature, test the water with the inside of your wrist, your elbow or a bath thermometer. Remember too hot or too cold will upset bub, so aim for about 36°C. Put aside a jug/cup of warm bath water for rinsing at the end of the bath.
- Undress your baby and then wrap him/her in a towel so he/she doesn’t get cold. Hold baby just above the water in a ‘football carry’, so he lies along your arm and his head is supported with your hand. With your other hand gently wash his hair/head with bath water. Then dry with a soft towel.
- Next unwrap baby and put him/her in the bath. Babies like firm handling so they feel safe and secure. Hold your baby securely under his far armpit (by reaching around behind his neck allowing him to rest his head on your forearm) with your other arm under his bottom or holding his feet together. Also a good tip is to place a warm wet wash cloth over your baby’s chest to give that extra warmth and feeling of security.
- Without any bath wash start with your baby’s face. Using a soft wash cloth or cotton ball gently wipe each eye starting at the nose and wiping out towards the ear. Wipe your baby’s face and chin and the creases of his/her neck.
- Add a small amount of baby wash and move onto baby’s hands and feet, again softly wiping the creases and then the rest of the body from the neck down lastly washing the genital and bottom area. Always cleaning girls from front to back to prevent infection.
- Lastly rinse baby well with the jug of warm, clean water. Finally, gently dry baby in the towel and give a nice big cuddle.
- Drying – Pat baby dry and be particularly careful to dry his skin creases.
Lotions/Powders
Newborn skin doesn’t need much done to it. Some babies are a little ‘over cooked’ and have dry and sometimes cracked skin when they are born. In this case a gentle moisturiser may be applied to prevent further skin breakdown. However, any powders (talc or corn starch) are to be avoided <link> ingredients to avoid.
Umbilical Cord Care
Twice a day with clean hands, gently wipe around the base of the cord with a damp cotton tip or cotton bud, removing any excess moisture or discharge. Nothing should be applied to the area unless advised by a healthcare professional. The cord will dry and fall off in 7 to 15 days. If you are concerned about any swelling, redness or discharge then please see you health care provider i.e. Local Doctor or Community Nurse.
Allergy Tip - Rinse Your Baby Well
A good tip for children or babies with sensitive skin is to finish off their bath by rinsing them thoroughly with a jug of clean warm water to ensure you have removed any irritating residue.
The same goes for clothing. It is recommended that you don’t overload your washing machine so that garments can be rinsed thoroughly to remove all remnants of detergent.
If your child is especially prone to allergy then use a child friendly laundry detergent and put the clothes through an extra rinse cycle at the end of the wash.
Bubble Baths
At Binda we don’t recommend bubble baths. In fact anything that looks really colourful (ie artificial colours), with a strong artificial fragrance is a big No No. Sorry kids but it will have to be just bath toys for fun!