Make no mistake,
babies are precious. With their
cute little noses, teeny tiny toes, eyes full of wonder, and infectious
giggles, these little bundles can bring you hours of joy and entertainment. But for a new parent, bringing home a
baby can be the scariest day of his or her life.
It doesn’t have
to be.
Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions is a truly useful how-to that will have nervous new moms and sleep-deprived dads feeling confident
about their parenting skills. Blythe
Lipman has devoted her life to the gentle art of infant care and offers wise
and witty practical advice in this parent-tested, expert-approved book. Rest easy, new parents, help is here.
Take a look:
Slip and Slide
The safe, fun way to bathe your baby
Bathing can be very scary for your new baby. Once the water hits her
little body, it is a whole new experience of slipping, sliding, and squirming. Here
are a few tips to make Bath Time 101 a bit easier.
-Before you fill up any kind of tub, have the baby’s towel (and all
other supplies you might need) next to the tub.
-Fill the tub or sink with enough water to cover the baby’s tummy. Before
you put your baby in the water, test the water temperature with your elbow. It
should be warm to the touch.
-Make sure all the windows are closed and fans are turned off. The room
should be free of drafts.
-Take the baby’s diaper off last. Naked babies (as you will learn
probably sooner than later) go to the bathroom anyplace. Don’t be alarmed if
she goes in the bath. This is very natural but sometimes frustrating when you
have to start all over.
-Wash from the bottom of the toes up to the head. Some babies don’t like
having their hair washed. Starting with tears is not fun.
-Buy Summer Comfy Baby’s Safety Foam Bath Sponge, by Summer Infant, a
rectangular sponge with indentations that look like the baby’s body. This
sponge will fit in the bathtub or a large sink. Fill the tub or sink with
enough water to cover three-fourths of the sponge. Put the baby on her back so
you have both hands free to soap, wash, and play. You can find this sponge at
Babies “R” Us, Target, and Walmart, as well as online.
-Use a small plastic baby tub that will fit into your large tub. They
make these tubs with fabric attached to the top (like a hammock), extending from
top to bottom on a slant. The baby’s bottom is submerged in the water and the
rest of her body is partially covered. You still need to support the baby with
one hand, but you don’t have to worry that her head will go under the water.
-Or put a large towel in the bottom of the sink and fill it with a
few inches of water. While you support the baby’s head and body with your hand,
the towel will prevent her from sliding.
-When the baby can sit up, purchase a plastic bath chair. This seat attaches
to the bottom of the tub with suction cups.
-When washing the baby’s hair, hold a washcloth in front of her eyes while
you rinse, to keep them dry and shampoo-free. Gently tilt the baby’s head back
and rinse using a plastic cup filled with warm water.
-There’s even a product that looks like a circle of soft plastic,
almost like a sun visor, that attaches around the back of the baby’s head with Velcro.
This hat fits on top of the baby’s head so you can pour water to rinse the
shampoo away without it getting into her eyes.
-Picking baby shampoos or bath products is personal. Some contain aloe,
lavender, roses, and conditioner together with shampoo, baby wash to relax the
baby, and so on. Try them all until you find one that you and she like.
-Bubble bath sometimes irritates the baby’s skin. As an alternative,
if you want to make bubbles, pour a small capful of shampoo under the running
water.
-The bathtub is a great place to blow bubbles with a wand, for the
baby to play with.
-Take the baby out and put her onto a big towel, wrap her up, and
give her a kiss.
-If you use powder, pour it into your hand first, then rub it on the
baby. Never shake it directly on her body, as it could get into her eyes, nose,
mouth, and lungs.
-Don’t forget to have fun washing, singing, and playing. There is nothing
cuter than a squeaky-clean baby to make you smile.
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