Safety Tips for Bathing Your Baby
Decide where you’ll feel comfortable working and gather supplies, such as diapers and clothes, ahead of time. Use the tips below as a guide to help keep your baby safe.
Caution
To avoid scalds, turn your hot water heater down to 120°F or lower.
|
1. Never Leave Your Baby Alone in a Bath
-
Even an inch of water can be deadly for a newborn.
-
If you must leave the room, always take the baby with you.
2. Put the Water into a Small Tub
-
This lets you control the water temperature for baby’s bath.
-
When adjusting your baby’s bath water, start with cool water and add hot water to it.
-
Mix the water until it feels warm but not hot.
-
Always test the water temperature with your elbow, or drop water onto the inside part of your arm. You can also buy a thermometer made for testing bath water.
|
 |
| Use your elbow to test the water temperature. |
|
3. Keep Your Baby Warm
-
The temperature of the room where you’re bathing your baby should be about 75°F.
-
Keep your baby out of drafts, especially when he or she is wet.
-
Pat your baby dry as soon as you’re done with the bath.
-
To keep your baby from getting a chill, cover baby’s head with a fresh dry towel.
-
Wash the head last.
4. Handle with Care
-
Clean only the parts of your baby that you can see.
-
Don’t poke cotton swabs into your baby’s ears or nose.
-
Wait until the umbilical cord falls off before bathing your baby in a tub. Once the bellybutton has healed, you can get baby’s entire stomach wet.
|
 |
| A hooded towel can keep baby warmer during drying. |
|
Date Last Reviewed:
1/15/2007
Date Last Modified:
11/15/2007