Giving your baby a bath can be one of the most enjoyable things to do. Between the warm water and your soothing touches, for a baby, bath time is a fun time. Once the umbilical cord stump has fallen off and that area has healed completely, you can begin bathing your baby and actually let the baby get wet from head to toe.
The bath water should only be a few inches deep, and the temperature should be somewhere between 90°F and 100°F. You can test the water temperature by putting your elbow or wrist into the water, as these are much more sensitive areas than the skin on your hand.
Always take care to protect your baby's head from the sides of the tub. Even babies with great head control might accidentally bang themselves against the sides if they are enthusiastic splashers. Sponge pads or rolled-up towels are great for preventing your baby from sliding around and potentially hurting themselves.
A word of caution -- if you do choose to use sponge pads, make sure to dry them out completely after each use. They can quickly get nasty if water is allowed to sit between uses.
(Click Newborn Baby Bath to learn about some of the best practices for bathing your baby.)
Friendly and Unfriendly Baby Advice
From the moment you announced your pregnancy, you probably noticed that it became open season for advice. Now that your baby is here and you have seen several family members, friends, and many other people, you have probably noticed that the
baby advice is still free-flowing. Handling the tidal wave of unsolicited suggestions can be quite the challenge!
Although you may have asked for some of the advice, most might be best forgotten as quickly as possible. Remember that you know your baby best and, when in doubt, ask your pediatrician.
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