How To Give Your Baby A Safe Bath

Bath time assumes great importance in an infant’s life, with it not only being a time for fun and quality time, but also one in which you need to be very careful to avoid accidents.

A few tips that would make bathing time safe:

a) The most important caution while bathing a baby is to not let the baby be unsupervised even for a single minute as babies could drown in less than one inch of water just in one minute. So you should gather all your supplies like soap, towel, clean diaper and clean clothes before you start to give your baby a bath. Ensure you hold the baby with one hand while he/she is in water.

 

b) Keeping your baby under your watchful eyes also means not to allow a doorbell or ringing of the phone to distract you; if you must go then make it a point to scoop the baby up in a towel and take him/her with you.

c) Young babies could catch a chill easily due to changes in the temperature in the room and bathroom; so make sure the bathroom is comfortably warm, say around 75 degrees F. Also set the water heater at 120 degrees F; a higher temperature could cause third degree burns. It would also be prudent to keep electric appliances like hair dryers and curling irons away from the tub.

d) The baby is to be given a bath in uniformly warm water, so never put your baby into the tub when the water is still running. The temperature of the water could change or the water could get too deep for the baby.

e) Don't allow your child to touch the faucet handles; he would eventually learn to move them and it could cause serious injury. It is best to put the baby in the tub with his/her back to the faucets.

f) The bath water should be comfortably warm; most babies and toddlers prefer a much cooler tub than adults. Ensure the temperature is not too hot by testing it on the inside of your elbow or on your wrist.

g) You could make your family tub safe for the baby by putting a rubber bath mat for more secure seating. A cushioned spout cover can protect your baby's head from painful bumps. In case of sliding shower doors ensure they are made of safety glass.

h) Ensure that you fill the tub with 2 to 4 inches of water and teach the child not to stand in the tub. Using a bath ring may provide you with an extra hand; however this cannot substitute for keeping an eye and hand on baby at all times.

i) Don't use bubble baths as it could irritate the urethra and increase the risk of UTI’s. Wash the baby preferably with plain water; it is best to use mild soaps and shampoos sparingly towards the end of the bath as they dry up the baby’s skin and cause rashes.

Have you given your baby a safe bath?