The Basics: Sponge Bathing and Diapering
By: Maya N Sophia
Tags: Diapering, Motherhood, Mother And Baby, Baby Care, Baby Products

Keeping your baby clean is a must for him to grow healthy and happy. But exactly how soon can he be given a bath? Is there a difference when diapering a male baby from a female baby? Can diaper rash be prevented? Read on to answer these questions.

Navel Healing

Before you get too excited about giving your newborn a bath, allow the umbilical cord and navel the chance to heal first. Your baby’s navel shouldn’t be submerged in water until the cord dries up. It will take about 10 days to 3 weeks before it actually does. Until then, sponge bathing your baby is recommended.

The cord will turn from yellow, brown to black before it falls off on its own. And this is normal.

Some doctors suggest the gentle application of rubbing alcohol on the surrounding area of the navel until the cord dries up. Some doctors prefer to leave it alone. Call your doctor for the best recommendation. Consult your doctor too if instead of drying up, the navel looks inflamed or if there is discharge.

How to Sponge Bathe Your Baby

Before you sponge bathe your baby, prepare the towel, mild soap, shampoo, 3 washcloths and your baby’s change of clothes. Choose a warm room where you can bathe him. Have a flat surface where your baby can lie on his back. The bed, floor, counter or changing table should work. There should also be space for a bowl or a sink filled with warm water.

Begin by undressing your baby and wrapping him in a towel. You can leave the diapers on and deal with it later. With a damp washcloth, wipe your baby’s eyes, starting from the inner corner to the outer corner. Clean his face, nose and behind the ears with a dampened washcloth. Gently dry your baby’s face with another washcloth. With another damp washcloth, wipe your baby’s body, making sure you get the creases. Dry your baby’s skin with a dry washcloth. After this, you can proceed to changing his diapers.

It is normal for your baby to cry as you wipe him down. Soothe him by talking to him or singing to him. This is just part of his adjustment to the new process. It is best to sponge bathe your baby before feeding.

Should you want to shampoo his hair, support his head with your hand over the bowl filled with warm water. With your other hand, gently cup water and wet his scalp. Lather shampoo on his scalp and rinse with warm water. Dry his head immediately to keep him from feeling cold. Remember, you can ask your family members for help.

Diapering

Just like sponge bathing your baby, it is best to prepare everything you need before you begin changing his nappies. Doing this will keep your full attention on your baby as you change him. Having a baby bed organizer will make things easier for you to keep diapers, fasteners, diaper ointments and diaper wipes within your reach.

On average, your baby will need 70 diapers per week. Whether you choose cloth or disposable diapers, prepare this much ahead of time.

To change soiled diapers, lay your baby on his changing table. Remove the dirty diapers and wipe his genitals clean. You may use a washcloth for this or water and cotton balls.

If your baby is male, be careful when you remove his diapers. Do it carefully because sudden exposure to air will make him pee. If he was circumcised, apply petroleum jelly to the tip of his penis and cover with gauze. This will prevent the wound from being irritated by the diaper. This should heal in a week or two, so spongebath him until then. If it swells or if blisters form, call your doctor immediately.

If your baby is a girl, wipe from the bottom to the back. Doing so will prevent her from contracting urinary tract infection. Make sure that you wash your hands properly after changing diapers.

If diaper rash is a concern, you can prevent it by changing nappies often. Wipes may be irritating to your baby’s sensitive skin. You can try cleaning the area with gentle soap and water. You can also apply creams with zinc oxide which are barrier creams against moisture.

If you use cloth diapers, make sure it is washed in dye and fragrance-free soap. Allow your baby’s skin to breathe by leaving him in his birthday suit for a few hours. If the diaper rash continues for more than three days, call your doctor to consult.

With this information, you do not just equip yourself in keeping your baby clean, you also give yourself the confidence to enjoy your journey with him. As your baby adjusts to the outside world, you, too, adjust to his needs. Enjoy the constant adjustment, after all, they grow in the blink of an eye.

This article is originally published at www.mayansophia.com