Using a bathtub and bathing tips
Using a bathtub
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Between three and six months old your baby will outgrow most small baths and you will have to start using an adult one. If you think that your baby may be frightened by the size of this new bath, you can continue to use the small bath but place it inside the large, empty one until she gets used to it.
It is much more awkward to wash a baby in a big bath, but you must still hold on to your baby's arm until she can support herself. Don't bend over the bath or you'll strain your back. Instead, kneel by the bath and have everything that you need next to you on the floor. Use a plastic suction mat on the bottom of the bath to prevent the baby sliding about and keep the water shallow (no deeper than 10-13cm/4-5in). It doesn't take much for a wriggly, kicking baby to slip under the water so you must be vigilant at all times. Never, ever, leave your baby alone in the bath, even for a moment; don't even turn away to attend to something else in the same room. If the phone rings, either ignore it or take your wet baby with you. Leaving your baby, even for a second, is just not worth the risk.
As your baby gets older she'll spend more and more time crawling about on the floor and, as a result, will need to be washed more often; baths will become a regular feature of the day. By this time she will no longer be scared of being undressed and will feel quite secure in the water. In fact, she will almost certainly have begun to enjoy bathtimes so it's your job to make them fun and as trouble-free as possible.
As soon as your baby can sit up, always have a period at the end of the bath when she can enjoy splashing and playing with toys. Have some boats, ducks, sponges or plastic cups on hand so that she can experiment with them and see what they do. If you have two children, try occasionally bathing them together so that your older child can share games and can teach your baby about the things that water does. It's exciting for your baby to see how containers can be filled and emptied or water poured from one to the other, and she'll love watching how some toys float and others sink slowly to the bottom of the bath.
Many household items can be adapted for bathtime. Babies love seeing water pour out of objects and this makes plastic fruit boxes with their airholes ideal. Other good toys include measuring spoons, small watering cans, ice cube trays and colanders.
Bathtub and bathing tips
- Always run the cold tap first, if you start with the hot tap, the bottom of the bath may be too hot and could burn the baby.
- Cover up hot taps with a flannel or towel so there's no risk of scalding.
- Don't pour more hot water into the bath when your baby is in it - she may get scalded.
- Make sure that you put your baby in the bath (and lift her out of the bath) with your back straight, taking the strain with your thighs.
- Don't let your baby stand up in the bath without your support - she could slip and fall.
- If your child starts to jump up and down in the bath - no doubt rejoicing in a newly found skill - be very firm about making her sit down again; she could easily topple over.
- Don't be tempted to see if your baby can sit unsupported. She could easily tumble under the water and get a bad fright - bad enough to put her off baths for a while.
- Never, ever, leave your baby alone in the bath. Watch your baby all the time; even if you turn around for a moment she could slip under the water and drown.
- Don't pull the plug out when your baby's in the bath. She may be frightened by both the disappearing water and the noise.
- Don't dust your baby with talcum powder after a bath - it's very drying to the skin and can cause irritation.
- If you're at work during the day, make the most of bathtime - it can be a great time to play and relax with your baby.
- Keep some toys exclusively for use in the bath to make bathtime a special treat.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 30.06.2010
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