We all know how important it is to take care of a new born. But if you don’t have the time, energy, or money for a professional service, then giving your new baby a sponge bath can be one of the most rewarding experiences that parents go through. In this article, we will talk about the step-by-step process on how to give your little one a safe and enjoyable bath at home with just water and soap!
1. What is a Sponge Bath?
A sponge bath is simply using a wet cloth to clean your baby’s body. It can be done in the sink, in a tub, or even outdoors if you’re careful. A sponge bath is especially useful for new born who are not yet ready for a full immersion bath.
Sponge baths should only be given when your baby is clean and dry. Never give a baby a sponge bath if he or she is dirty or has any open skin wounds.
If you’re giving your baby a sponge bath at home, make sure that the water temperature is comfortable – neither too hot nor too cold. Test it on your arm before bathing your child. If necessary, add cool water to bring down the temperature of the overall bath.
2. Why do you need to give your New Born a Sponge Bath?
New born are born with a sticky layer of vernix caseosa, which is what gives them their wrinkly appearance. It’s made up of sebum and lanugo hair, both remnants from fetal development. This substance protects the baby while it floats in amniotic fluid for nine months.
It usually takes about three to four days before your new born starts producing its body oils and shedding this coating. During that period, sponge baths can help keep an infant clean without stripping away so much skin oil as traditional washing would do.
When you take a full bath with soap products on such young skin, the result could be dryness or irritation later on down the line when your child becomes older because there aren’t enough skin oils to protect the skin.
Sponge baths are also recommended when your baby has a fever or diarrhoea because soap can irritate open wounds and sores.
A sponge bath can also be a great bonding experience for you and your baby! You’ll want to make sure that the bathing area is safe and you have everything ready before starting to wash your child.
3. Things Needed for Sponge Bath?
For Sponge Bath for New born, you will need a washcloth or sponge, baby shampoo, and water.
You can also add a few drops of lavender oil to your child’s bathwater to help keep them calm. It has been scientifically proven that the sense of smell is one of the most powerful emotionally triggering senses in humans! So this little trick might come in very handy when giving a Sponge bath.
If your new born likes it cold then make sure you use some lukewarm water because if you bathe with too iced water then it would give him/her shocks so try using warm water instead which is comfortable enough for babies skin not cold nor hot just normal temperature.
4. How to give your Little One Sponge Bath?
Steps to giving your little one a Sponge Bath are as follows:
- Remove your child’s clothing. Place them on their back on the towel. Cover them with the second towel.
- Place two cotton balls in water and clean each of your baby’s eyes, beginning at the bridge of their nose and moving outward, with a different cotton ball for each eye.
- Wipe your baby’s face and ears with a washcloth dipped in water. Wipe the crease behind their ears thoroughly—spit-up milk may have gathered here and dried.
- Squeeze a few droplets of soap onto the washcloth and massage your baby’s scalp and neck lightly. Dry the areas with a clean towel.
- Continue to clean the baby’s body. One limb at a time, rub with the soapy washcloth. Note the little creases under their armpits, in the diaper region, and between their fingers and toes.
- Wipe the soap away using a second clean washcloth, then moisten the second one and wipe off the soap in the same way that you did with the first.
- The best approach to keep the umbilical cord region clean and dry is to maintain it that way. If any dried blood or secretions are present, use a washcloth to softly wipe them away and then pat them dry.
- Pat your baby dry with the towel they’re resting on.
- If you detect that your child’s skin is flaky, apply a mild baby moisturizer.
- Diaper and dress your infant in clean clothing.
- Take your child in your arms and give them a big hug. You’ve done it! Now you can rest assured that they are clean, safe, comfortable & smell good like baby powder.
- You should also make sure to keep their nails trimmed because if not then there is a higher risk of infection or scratching themselves with long nails. It has been seen that babies tend to scratch more when the weather changes either it’s too hot outside or very cold inside so just be careful about these things which might hurt your kid accidentally.
5. How to Clean your Bathing Supplies?
After using any of your bathing supplies, it is important to clean them immediately. This will help prevent the spread of bacteria and other germs.
To clean a washcloth or sponge:
Soak in hot water and dish soap for several minutes. Rinse well. Squeeze out excess water. Air dry.
To clean baby shampoo:
Disperse into a large amount of hot water. Soak items for several minutes. Rinse well. Air dry. These simple steps will help keep you and your little one safe and healthy!
6. What Care should be taken while giving Sponge Bath?
While giving Sponge Bath, keep the following points in mind:
Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before and after bathing or touching your little one. Use a clean towel for drying yourself off. If possible, take a shower instead of just washing your face with water while getting ready to give them a sponge bath then use that same towel when done.
Your child’s skin is very sensitive so always try using a mild soap like baby soap avoiding harsh chemicals & sulfates which might irritate their delicate skin even more!
Avoid too hot or cold temperatures because they are not used to it yet and can make them feel uncomfortable during these months. Their body parts like fingers nails, toes, etc cannot fight against germs properly at this age so be extra careful while bathing them.
Lastly, make sure to have fun while bathing your little one and enjoy this wonderful time together!
7. How many times Sponge Bath should be given to New Born?
While there is no right or wrong answer, experts generally recommend sponge baths until the baby is about four to six months old. After that, you can begin giving them warm baths in the tub. Until your child can sit up on their own, you will need to continue bathing them yourself as long as your little one is still taking sponge baths, make sure to keep a close eye on them for any signs of rashes or other skin problems. If you notice anything unusual, consult with your paediatrician immediately.
8. When can your Baby be given a Regular Bath?
Babies should only be given a full bath when they are six months old, or until their umbilical cord falls off. You will need to use warm water and make sure the temperature is comfortable for your new born during this time.
After that point in time, you can begin giving them regular baths with no sponge involved which might feel good & relaxing for both of you!
Conclusion
Sponge baths are a great way to bond with your new little ones and help keep them clean and healthy! These are some basic tips that every parent should keep in mind while giving their new born a sponge bath. Following these simple steps can help ensure a safe and healthy experience for both you and your child. Thanks for reading! You can visit our site kindmommy.com for more such informative blogs and articles.
