The Baby’s Bath Water

Create a warm environment without any air drafts for the baby. The ideal room temperature should be between 28 degrees C. and 30 degrees C. during the first three or four weeks, then it can be reduced between 26 degrees C. and 28 degrees C. Wash your hands with warm water and soap, and verify that they are not cold so that your baby does not feel a sudden temperature change.

Talk to the baby while bathing and tell him or her what it is that you are doing, repeat the same thing to the baby everyday, as babies need to be informed of what is going on. Besides when they are naked they feel unprotected and your voice and affection will provide security.

Fill the bathtub with ten centimeters in deepness at 26 degrees C. Test the temperature with the back of your hand and with the inside part of your wrist.

Do not put the baby in the bathtub back side first as this will disorient him or her and will scare the baby.

Hold on the baby firmly with one hand and keep him in a semi sitting position while you wash the baby with the other hand. First wash the baby’s face, then the body, and legs and arms and finally the baby’s genitals, the bottom and the head. Do not use Q-tips to clean the baby’s nose and ears, all you need is a little cloth wet on the tip of your finger, however do not stick it inside the baby’s ears or nose.

When taking the baby out of the bathtub, wrap him or her in a towel and dry the head first as this is the area that loses the most amount of heat. Pat dry the baby without rubbing on the skin as this could irritate the baby’s delicate skin. Make sure though to dry the neck, armpits and groin well. Dress the baby as you go drying him or her off.

Massages
The investigations done on premature babies show that massages stimulate the development of the brain, tone the muscles, increase circulation, reduce stress and calm the nervous system. Logically babies that are born full term can also benefit from massages.

Choose a moment of the day in which you are relaxed and play soft music. Give your baby three-minute massages. Open your baby’s hands, and massage the palms of the baby’s hand in circles, stretching out the fingers very carefully. Use a soft comb on the back of the baby’s hand so that the baby’s tendency to shut his or her fingers reduces. Stretch out the baby’s legs and arms, but keep in mind that the baby is used to being in the fetal position and that little by little he or she will need to learn to straighten their body out.