Bathing a new-born can prove a bit tricky. But, if you pay attention to what you’re supposed to, it becomes a lot easier and less complicated than it seems. Because they are fragile, extra attention has to be paid when cleaning young ones. It doesn’t take much for your baby to come to harm, especially during bath time. There are a few things you need to always keep in mind when it comes to baby bath time. Sometimes you might forget. So, to help you with that, here are the 10 things you should avoid when it comes to baby baths.
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Excessively Hot Water
You should avoid using hot water for your baby’s bath. This seems simple enough, but, for a baby, there’s a thin line between warm and too hot. You might hardly notice the difference. But the baby’s skin is fragile and can easily get scald injuries from hot water. You should consider using a thermometer to check the temperature of the water before using it to bath your child. You should also get a feel of the water with your hand. The water temperature should be between 96° F and 100 °F. It is recommended that you reduce the temperature of your water heater to avoid scalding temperatures.
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Too Much Water
Do not draw too much water for a baby’s bath. When the water is in excess, it might get in the baby’s nose and ears. The lather might also end up being too much. So, for a proper bath, you want the bathing water to be only about 2 inches. If you need any more water, maybe for rinsing the washcloth, you should get a separate basin by the side. A child can easily drown in 2 inches of water so it is important that their head is supported and kept out of the water. This will also help avoid them splashing water into their own face.
Leaving Your Baby Alone
It is advisable that you ensure all the things you need for a baby’s bath are ready and within your reach. Preferable by the bathtub. You shouldn’t have to leave the baby to get anything. In the case where you forgot to get something you need or a visitor comes knocking, whatever the case may be, by all means, avoid leaving your child alone, even for a minute. If you have to go get something, take your child with you. It is never okay to leave your child when bathing them. Avoid distractions as well such as a cell phone or TV program.
Exposing Your Baby To Danger
There are many ways you can expose your baby to danger. When you bathe your child, you shouldn’t wear bracelets, rings, or anything that could scratch your baby or snag their hair. In general, you should avoid any form of jewelry. You should also wear clothes without a zipper during bath time. Jewelry could pierce your baby’s skin. Also, if you drop an earring in the tub, your child may put it in their mouth. Of course, this depends on the age of your child and whether they have started picking things up or not. But, you don’t want to find that out this way. So, avoid exposing your baby to unnecessary danger.
Triggering Allergies
Some people have had allergies since childhood. Chances are that if mom or dad have allergies or sensitive skin, the baby may also. Ensure to find out if your baby has an allergic reaction to any substance. In the caseof trying a new shampoo or baby wash, place a small amount on the baby’s arm and see if there is a bad reaction before using it all over the baby. You should pay close attention and see if you spot any. Once you find one out, you need to stop using it immediately. There’s no need for you to try again and see. Don’t take any chances.
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Transferring Dirt From One Part To Another
The goal of a bath is to clean dirt and bacteria from the body. When you bathe your baby, you should be careful not to transfer some of these bacteria from one part to another. How can you transfer bacteria? Some parts are dirtier than others. So when you wash, you should start from the cleaner parts to the dirtier ones. Start from the head, face and legs, and finish with the private parts. Do not go the other way round. The same rule applies to topping-n-tailing. You should also remove your child from the water quickly after you finish because you don’t want any dirt or bacteria to resettle on their skin.
Turning Off The Cold Tap Before The Hot One
When drawing water for your baby’s bath, first, turn on the cold water tap. Use a thermometer to check if the water is warm enough. Once it reaches the adequate temperature turn off the taps. But, first, turn off the hot water tap, then turn off the cold water tap. The main reason for this is that the metal of the faucet retains the heat from the water and if your child accidently touches the hot faucet they could sustain a burn. Remember, it only takes a little excess heat for your baby to sustain a scald injury. Sometimes hot water comes out of the cold faucet. You can’t afford to make that mistake.
Putting Things In Your Baby’s Ears Or Nostrils
You should avoid putting anything in your baby’s nose or ears. Especially the ears. Never put anything in your baby’s ears. When washing, use a ball of cotton wool to clean the back of the ear. Then, gently wipe over the surface of the ear. Don’t let water get into either the ear or nostrils. Pat them dry as soon as you wash them to avoid drops going in. Don’t let lather get into the baby’s eyes, ears, or nostrils. If you are topping and tailing, you should use a different ball of cotton wool to clean each ear, nose, and each eye.
Bathing Too Often
For new mothers, bathing too often sounds strange. Yes, you could actually bathe your baby too often. You shouldn’t bath your baby every day. Some days you could opt for a top and tail. What is topping-n-tailing? It’s simply giving your baby a squeaky clean without pouring water all over them. You should bath your baby 2-3 times a week. The rest of the time you can clean them. If, however, you insist on giving your angel a full water bath every day, then you should know that you run the risk of giving your baby dry skin because of removing all the natural oils.
Using A Big Bathtub
If you don’t have a thermometer, it might be of use to use a small bathtub. Using a big bathtub makes it difficult to check the temperature of the water with your hands. So, you might consider getting a baby bathtub or using the sink top. This also helps you balance the baby. The edges can help support the baby and prevent them from sliding about during a bath. Though you can check the water temperature well with a small tub you should get a thermometer as soon as you can. You shouldn’t rely on your hands to check the water temperature for a baby bath. Your skin can perceive heat very differently from a baby.
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