Baby Bath Time

Some parents are afraid to bathe their babies too frequently, but it is good practice to bathe them twice or thrice a week, according to physician Dr. Susan Echiverri.

Just like with adults, making baby feel fresh and clean can help send them on the road to a deep and fitful sleep.

Prepare all the bathtime materials for your child like a hooded towel, "tabo" or water scopper, face towel and a small bathtub filled with 2 to 3 inches of lukewarm water (90 degrees Fahrenheit/ 32 degrees Celsius).
Test the water's temperature with your elbow, not your palm, for a more accurate feel of whether the water is too hot or too cold for your baby.
Wipe your baby's face with a damp face towel or cotton from the inner part of the face, going outwards to push dirt away from the nose, eyes, and mouth. Do not use the same cotton ball or towel surface twice.
If a warm bath is not available, or if your baby is younger than 1 month, you may opt to just wipe the baby clean with a damp towel.
Gently slip your baby into the bathtub. If your child is still too small (below 6 months old) to sit up inside the bathtub, hold your baby with one hand firmly below the small of his or her back. Make sure your baby's head is also firmly supported. Even when the baby is seated in the tub, support his or her back. Slowly pour water over the crown of your child's head.
Avoid pouring water onto the child's face. Use soap or baby wash sparingly. Place a small amount on a damp face towel or on your palm and gently lather against the baby's skin, hair and genitals. If you want to put soap on the baby's back, you may flip them over gently and place a firm hold on their stomach and head. Pour water over parts of their body to rinse out the soap.
If your baby still has an umbilical cord stump attached to the belly button, it is safe to wet it. Expose the cord in the air to avoid infections, and wait until it falls off within 2 to 3 weeks.
Pat the baby's skin dry with a towel quickly so they won't feel cold. Wrap them in a hooded towel.

Tips For New Mom

One of the greatest milestones in a woman's life is becoming a mother. No other single event brings about as many changes and as much responsibility for her, as this one.

Having a baby gives a woman a sense of fulfillment and enormous joy. At the same time, it has been seen that first-time mothers get overwhelmed by the changes that take place in their life as well as their body, after the baby is born. The life of a woman changes completely with the arrival of the baby and the amount of work she has to cope up with leaves her completely exhausted. While nothing can equal the joy that motherhood brings, new mothers often find themselves in a demanding situation.

New mothers have the challenging task of caring for their baby, even as they have to care for themselves and ensure that they recuperate from the strains of delivery as soon as possible. After all, only a healthy mother will be able to ensure a healthy growth and development of his child. However, a huge responsibility, such as that of a child, can certainly baffle the new mother and make her feel anxious and frustrated. In order to help all the new moms out there, we have provided a number of tips in our related sections. These tips will prove extremely useful for all the women in the world, after the birth of their child.

Going Back To Work After Baby
Some new mothers will not be able to stay at home with their babies for long. They may have to return to their jobs after three or four months. However, you should try to stay at home for as long as you can. If you can work part-time or from home, nothing like it! The newborn needs your attention and care and a child minder is not going to give your baby the motherly care that only you can give.

Health Tips For New Moms
New mothers need to take special care of their health, along with attending to the needs of the new born. Since they have also gone through a lot during their pregnancy and delivery, physically as well as emotionally, it is important to give ample attention to the health front, so that recovery is quick and you are back to your normal healthy shape in just a matter of some days.

Marital Relations After Childbirth
With the arrival of the baby, the relationship between husband and wife will undergo a change. There maybe some initial strain and tensions in the relationship, though there is nothing that the two partners cannot solve by taking out time for each other and talking things out. After childbirth, each partner has his or her own expectations and apprehensions. Some of the things that men worry about after childbirth are earning enough for the family

Traveling With a Baby
Though you may be traveling less frequently, once you have a baby till he/she is a little old, it does not mean that you stop taking holidays because of the little ones. But, you will have to make elaborate plans well in advance. Being away from home is a big change in routine for both, you and your baby, so you will have to plan ahead even anticipate problems and be prepared to deal with them, so that the entire family enjoys a good holiday.

Bathing Your Baby

Preparing Your Baby's Bath

Plan for your baby's bath. Get everything ready before you start the bath. This makes bathing your baby easier and safer.

If you can, turn down your water heater to 120 degrees. Babies can get scalded easily. Fill the sink or tub you're going to bathe your baby in with warm water. Always test the water with your wrist or elbow. The water should be comfortably warm, not hot.

Make sure you have everything you need for the bath. You can keep mild soap, cotton balls and a clean diaper in a shoebox or other container. Then you can bring the box in with the towel and washcloth to the room where you bathe your baby. When everything is ready, get your baby.
If you forget an item, you will have to carry your baby with you. This is hard to do when the baby is wet and slippery.
Never leave your baby alone in water. It's best not to answer the phone or the doorbell during your baby's bath. If you do, pick up your baby and carry her with you. If your spouse, relatives or friends call you often, let them know when your baby's bath time is. Tell them you won't take phone calls at that time.
Bathing Your Baby

Your baby needs sponge baths at first. Give your baby a sponge bath until her umbilical cord or his circumcision, if any, is healed. After that, your baby can have a tub bath.
Fill a bowl or basin with warm water: Use your wrist or elbow to check the water to make sure it is just the right temperature. Be sure the water is not too cold or too hot. Very hot water can be dangerous.

Take the bowl of warm water and a soft washcloth to the place where you are going to bathe your baby.

Pick a place for bathing that is warm and not drafty. You don't want your baby to get chilled. You can put your baby on a bath towel in her crib or any other flat surface. If you put your baby on a table, make sure she cannot roll off. Do not leave your baby alone, not even for a few seconds.

Take your baby's clothes off. Put the washcloth in the warm water and squeeze it out until it is just damp. Use the washcloth to gently wipe your baby all over. Wipe her head and neck, behind her ears, and between her fingers and toes.

Your newborn does not need to have a bath every day. Just clean her face, neck and diaper area whenever they are dirty.

Be Gentle When Bathing Your Baby

You can use your bathtub, kitchen sink or a plastic baby tub. Use something to line the tub to keep your baby from slipping. If you use a foam liner for a tub, it needs to be dried out after each use. This prevents the growth of germs. Or you can line the tub with a bath towel. Be sure to wash and dry it after each use.

Use a clean, damp washcloth, without soap, to wash her face. Gently wash the outside and back of each ear and wash and dry under her neck.

Don't use bubble bath or detergents in the bathwater since these may cause rashes.
Use damp cotton balls or cotton pads to gently wipe your baby's eyes before you put her in the tub. Be sure to support your baby's head when she is in the tub.

Wash your baby's hair and scalp very gently, using soap or a baby shampoo. Do this only once or twice a week. Rinse with a damp cloth. Make sure that soapsuds don't get into her eyes. Wash her body, starting with the chest. After washing with a soapy washcloth, rinse the washcloth and rinse her off. Pat your baby dry with a bath towel. Always keep her covered and warm when she is wet.