Tips for bathing babies
When your baby is small, bathe her in the kitchen sink or a special baby tub. But as she gets bigger, you may need to move her into the big bathtub.
Here are a few things you can try to make the move to a big bathtub easier for you and your baby:
- If you use a baby tub, try putting it into the bathtub for a few days and bathing baby inside it. The bath water should not be hotter than 100 degrees F. Set the water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent hot-water burns.
- Take a bath with baby. Don't hold your baby in your arms when you get in or out; you could slip and fall. Instead, first put baby on the floor on a towel.
- Keep the water shallow. A baby can drown in less than two inches of water.
- Bathe baby slowly and gently until he gets used to it.
- Put a towel in the bottom of the tub to reduce slipping. And never leave your baby alone in a bathtub, even for a minute. If the phone rings, wrap her in a towel and take her along, or just let it ring.
Washing baby in a big tub can be hard on your back, so:
- Bend from your knees, not from your hips.
- Use your stronger leg muscles to help when you lift baby.
- Hold heavy objects, like baby, close to your body.
- Don't lift and twist at the same time.
- Lift first, then turn.
- When you can, rest lying down with your knees bent and your feet up.
