Baby Sponge Bath: How Long Should You Give Them?
For any first-time parent, it is difficult to handle their baby. And bathing those little humans seems even more difficult. Numerous questions will pop into your mind.
Can you bathe your newborns the way you take a shower? Well, of course not. There are a lot of things that you have to take care of. All their essentials are different and you have to take special care of their delicate skin.
They need a baby sponge bath during this time. For the initial few weeks, you have to give them a sponge bath till their umbilical cord falls out.
What Is A Baby Sponge Bath? How Long Do You Have To Continue This?
It is essential during the newborn stage that you give them a sponge bath. During this time, the baby is not prepared to handle a regular bath. However, the process is not very different.
During a baby sponge bath, you have to clean them all over with a soft sponge. The difference is that you do not put your baby in a tub. You lay them on a towel and get them cleaned.
Moreover, here you wash and dry one part of the body at a time. The detailed procedure will be mentioned below. You have to continue this for at least two weeks.
How Long Do You Have To Continue This?
Sometimes, the cord takes a little more time to fall off, and sometimes it falls off early. Typically, it takes 5 to 15 days to happen.
Moreover, if your little precious has gone through some surgeries and has stitches, you might have to continue this, till the doctor asks you to stop.
How Often Should You Bathe Them?
Baby sponge baths do not have to be regular. You can bathe them once or twice a week and that would be enough.
However, you can increase the frequency when your baby is ready to have a regular bath. Babies enjoy their baths, and it will be a happy experience for all parents to see their little ones have fun, and kicking their legs in the water.
Preparing For a Baby Sponge Bath: What Will You Need?
When you are preparing a baby sponge bat, you will need a few supplies ready before you can start. Taking care of a newborn is no easy task. So, here is a list prepared for you, so you can focus on the other areas that need attention.
The list includes:
1. A big bowl of warm water
2. Two washcloths
3. Two towel
4. Cotton balls
5. Gentle baby soap
6. Clean diapers
7. Clean clothes
8. Baby wipes
Remember not to bathe them every day. This can dry out their skin, and cause baby dry their scalp. Two times is enough, or you can exceed it to three times a week, but not more than that. You can continue this schedule till your baby turns one.
Giving Your Newborn a Sponge Bath: A 10-Step Guide
Giving your newborn a bath is exciting. You can see the excitement in their eyes, you can see them getting relaxed as you clean them up. Make sure to keep things cozy for your little one. Here is a step-by-step guide to the sponge bath procedure.
- Spread a clean towel, get the little ones out of their clothes, and lay them on their back. Use the other towel to cover them up.
- Wet the cotton balls and wipe their eyes. Clean it from their nose and take it towards their outer eyes. Make sure you are not using the same cotton for cleaning both eyes.
- Wet one of the washcloths and wipe their little face and ears. Remember to clean behind their ears as well, to make sure there is no dried milk there from spit-ups.
- Then add a few drops of soap in the washcloth and wipe their neck and scalp. Do not leave the area wet. Pat it dry.
- Uncover one of their limbs, and clean it with the soapy washcloth. The creases need special attention. Clean the diaper area, under their arms, and do not forget the toes and spaces between their fingers.
- Not wet the other washcloth and rinse the soap off from one area at a time.
- Ensure to keep the umbilical cord area dry and clean. If there is dried blood or pus, use the washcloth to wipe it and dry it back immediately.
- You can take the other towel that you used to lay your baby down to pat them dry.
- If their skin is a bit dry or flaky, you can apply a mild moisturizer.
- Get them back in their diaper and dress them in soft clean clothes.
A few Safety Tips For a Baby Sponge Bath
Well, as a parent you develop these instincts on how to take care of them. Still, make sure you keep your eye on your baby all the time when you are giving them a sponge bath. More so, if you have laid them on a kitchen counter or a sofa.
Keep a hand on them even when you are trying to reach out for the supplies. Make sure they do not slip off at any time.
Also, ensure that all the supplies are clean. Keep the wet towels and the washcloths in a clean place and air-dry them.
Mistakes To Avoid While Giving a Sponge Bath
There are some common mistakes that you have to stay clear of during a baby sponge bath. Here are those mentioned.
- Do not use too much of water or too little of it. Do not get the washcloths too wet.
- Use mild gentle soap for your baby. Ensure that the soap is fragrant-free.
- Make sure, you are cleaning behind their ears and focusing on the skin folds.
- They are susceptible to cold, so make sure you keep them warm even while bathing them.
- Do not rub their skin too hard. Pat them dry.
When Should You Seek Medical Help?
Generally, there is nothing to worry about baby sponge baths. However, if there is any skin reaction after you give them a bath, or their skin turns red with some rashes and there is flaky skin, you can seek help from a doctor.
They often recommend a mild moisturizer, or some medicine to get the baby relief of their discomfort. Moreover, you will notice some red, itchy rash if they react to the soap.
Always, keep the cord clean and check for any signs of infection. Make sure to clean your hands before you touch them, and keep the area clean.
But, if you notice any foul smell coming, or there is some kind of yellow drainage, swelling, or tenderness, contact the doctor immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
When discussing baby sponge baths, some questions come up frequently. Here are the questions mentioned.
You can continue giving sponge baths till their umbilical cord falls off. This mostly takes 5 to 15 days. After that, you can give them regular tub baths.
You can use wipes in place of sponge baths. But this is a temporary solution and can try it when you are trying to clean one specific area.
Always use warm water when you are giving them a sponge bath. If possible keep the hot water running in the bathroom to make the air warm as well.
A newborn might hate sponge baths for various factors like water temperature, or if they do not like how the wet clothes feel against their skin. They calm them down, adjust the temperature, and make things more comfortable for them.
You can give your baby a sponge bath after vaccination. Just, try to avoid the vaccinated area. Moreover, this helps in getting the fever down.
Mornings are usually the best time to give them a sponge bath. This time, mostly, they are calm and relaxed. However, some prefer to make baths a bedtime routine. You can try that as well.
Conclusion
Baby sponge bath is a good idea to soothe them and most babies enjoy that a lot. Just make sure you are keeping the supplies clean, and do not take your hands off your baby.
You can bond with your baby during the procedure of sponge bath. Try to make it as playful as you can, so your baby looks up to this time.
Make sure you are taking care of the umbilical cord area and do not keep the area wet. Pat it dry. In case of any issue, always reach out to the pediatrician.
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