Bath Tips For Baby

Bath Tips For Baby

What You'll Need.

• Bathe your newborn using a small tub or the kitchen sink. This will save new parents the pain of a sore back and knees. Your baby will also be able to sit more comfortably in this size tub.

How Often?

• Until your baby is more active, you need only bathe her two or three times a week. Once she's more energetic, she'll likely get herself into more sticky situations; now you'll need to wash her once or twice a day. Using a soft cloth, wash your newborn's face frequently and clean the genital area after every diaper change.

Proper Procedure.

• Assemble everything you’ll need for this bath—gather soft towels and have mild soap on hand. Fill the tub with 2-3 inches of warm water; test the water with your elbow to make sure it’s not too warm. Room temperature should also be comfortable so that your baby doesn’t catch a cold.
• Now you’re ready to ease your child into the water. Use one hand to support her neck and head. Use mild soap sparingly as it will easily dry out delicate baby skin.
• Wash from head to toe, front and back, using your hand or a soft washcloth. Use a moistened cotton ball to wash the face and eyes. Rinse your baby with a wet washcloth thoroughly.
• Wash her scalp twice a week, using a damp soapy cloth, and rinse well. Be careful not to get any soap in her little eyes!

Wrapping Up.

• Finally, wrap her up in a warm, soft towel and gently pat her dry. Make sure the genital area is completely dry to avoid a diaper rash.

Note: You don't want to make the bath water too hot, as a baby's skin is very delicate, and may get burnt easily.

Soothing a Crying Baby

Soothing a Crying Baby

Sometimes the solution to your baby’s crying is quite obvious. She’s hungry so you feed her. Perhaps her diaper is soiled so you put a fresh one on. But what about those times when you’re not so sure?

Gas Time

It’s common for many newborns to suffer from uncomfortable gas. Although they usually outgrow their difficulties by three or four months, you’ll probably need to help them get relief once or twice before then.

To relieve the gas (and stop those tears), try laying them on their back and gently pumping their legs. If that doesn’t work, then lightly rub their stomach in a downward motion, as though you were digging in the ground. Try this two or three times and then gently bring their knees up to their chest. Hopefully, this will do the trick, but if it doesn’t then softly rub their stomach in a clockwise motion two or three times. Bring their knees up to their chest again to help them pass the gas.

If you breastfeed, try adjusting your feeding routine so that you can help prevent the gas in the first place. Avoid switching breasts during the meal. Also, keep your little one’s head above her stomach. This will help to slow down the flow of milk, which will keep her from swallowing too much air.

Your baby might be crying if he's cold or if he's too warm. Try adding or taking away a layer of clothing.

Tired of Being a Celebrity

Perhaps your baby just wants some attention; the easiest solution is to pick her up and hold her. Perhaps you’ve just spent the evening at a family function where everyone was "oohhing" and "aahhing" over your little one. Then your baby is probably sick of the limelight and would like to spend some quiet time away from everyone. Find a quite place and sit with your baby until the tears stop.

Sometimes, though, babies cry for reasons that parents just can’t identify. If you’re not sure what is causing your baby’s tears, then try some of these tried and tested methods.

Good Vibrations

Put your baby in his car seat and place him on top of the washer or dryer while it’s running. Many babies love the constant vibration. Just make sure you hold on to that seat the entire time.

Another method thousands of parents swear by is the car ride. Whether it’s the movement or the change of scenery, car rides have stopped the tears of many babies. Try to find a route with a lot of right turns so that your little one doesn’t start crying again at every stop.

The Power of Touch

It is amazing how touch and skin-to-skin contact can calm a crying baby. Try giving your baby a gentle massage to ease their tears. You might also want to lay her on her back and move her legs in a bicycling motion.

One popular method of stopping a baby’s tears is to put him in a front carry pack and walk around with him. Sing, talk and hum to him while you go about your day. The close contact to your body will let your little one feel safe and warm. In fact, a study done in Montreal, Canada found that babies who were carried around by their mothers often cried less than babies who weren’t carried. So strap him into that front pack and do your chores!

Get Moving

Movement is a great baby soother. Pick your baby up in your arms and gently dance and sway with her in front of a mirror. She’ll enjoy the movement and being able to see herself.

Just like us, babies can get bored with their surroundings. So if you’ve been inside all day, take a stroll outside. If you’ve been outside all day, head inside.

If you have a bouncy chair, place your baby in it and swing a receiving blanket or burp cloth in front of his face. Play peek-a-boo with him.

All the White Sounds

White noise can be especially soothing for many babies. Try running the vacuum, the dishwasher or a hair dryer. You can also tune the radio to a static station and let your baby listen to that. Just be sure to keep the volume low.

When all else fails, then try setting a calming mood. Dim the lights, put on some white noise, wrap your baby up in some warm blankets and just let her enjoy the mellow atmosphere.

If none of these tips seem to help, you may want to consider asking your doctor or midwife about colic. Colic can really fray a parents nerves, so it's important to learn how to cope with a colicky baby.

Swaddling

Swaddling is another soothing technique first-time parents should learn. Swaddling keeps a baby's arms close to the body and legs snuggled together. Not only does this keep a baby warm, but the surrounding pressure seems to give most newborns a sense of security and comfort. Swaddling works well for some babies during their first few weeks.

Here's how to swaddle a baby:

• Spread out the receiving blanket, with one corner folded over slightly.
• Lay the baby face-up on the blanket with his or her head above the folded corner.
• Wrap the left corner over the body and tuck it beneath the back of the baby, going under the right arm.
• Bring the bottom corner up over the baby's feet and pull it toward the head, folding the fabric down if it gets close to the face.
• Wrap the right corner around the baby, and tuck it under the baby's back on the left side, leaving only the neck and head exposed.

The first Few Hours After Birth

Caring For Your New Born Baby

The first Few Hours After Birth

The first few hours after your baby's birth will be an exciting, awesome and exhilarating experience. In these moments, with your baby close to you, all your dreams, hopes and plans come together.

Many Mothers ask their Health care provider or Midwife to let them have the first few hours after the birth of their baby to be left to them, undisturbed. This is a very important and amazing time, as after a long nine months your little miricale has finally arrived, and lying in your arms.

After the birth, your newborn should be thoroughly dried with warm towels so as not to lose heat. Once it's clear that he has good color and is active and normal, he can be placed between your breasts, on your abdomen or right next to you as the two of you and your partner rest together.

The time spent together will have a huge impact on both you and your newborn. Not only will it put you at ease, your baby will feel so much more secure in it;'s new surroundings with the comfort and warmth of your body warming his/her body. it is often also thought that a newborn will recognise it;s mothers voice and smell, and therefore feel more safe and comforterd and rest easier.

Comforting a crying Baby

We all know that all babies cry, and at about two weeks of age, it is not unusual for babies to develop a difficult period in the evening that can last many hours. You might also be worried about colic.

It's a difficult period, as you will be wanting to comfort your baby, and try to find out what is wrong with him/her. All your efforts may end in more crying or no solution. Here are a few different suggestions we think you might find easy and effective in comforting your baby.

New Positions

• Hold your baby facedown over your forearm with his head at your elbow and your thumb and fingers wrapped around his thigh.
• Hold your baby seated in your hand with his back to your chest and your other hand across his chest, wrapping your thumb and fingers around his upper arm.
• Hold your baby high over your shoulder so his stomach is being pressed into your shoulder bone.
• Cradle your baby in your arms, holding him tummy-to-tummy tightly against you.

Rhythmic Motion

• Walking around
• Rocking vertically by doing deep-knee bends.
• Swaying side to side or back and forth while standing up
• Rocking back and forth in a comfortable rocking chair

Warmth

• Swaddle your baby tightly in a receiving blanket.
• Hold your baby close to you so she can receive your warmth.
• Put a heating pad in your baby's sleep area to warm the sheets before putting her down. Take out the heating pad and check the temperature of the sheets to be sure they're comfortably warm.
• Lay your baby facedown over a wrapped hot-water bottle on your lap.

Soothing Sounds

• Speak reassuring words in a soft, low voice.
• Hum and sing familiar songs you enjoy.
• Make a tape recording of a dishwasher, washing machine, vacuum cleaner or clothes dryer to let your baby hear repeated swooshing sounds. A fan or humidifier in the baby's room can sometimes do the trick, as can a radio tuned to the static between stations.
• Play classical, new age, soft rock or soft jazz music. No heavy metal, please! It makes babies nervous

Touch

• Firmly but gently massage your baby's back from the neck down to his bottom.
• Firmly pat or rub your baby on his back and bottom.In a warm room, lay your baby on a firm surface and gently massage his tummy with clockwise strokes.
• If you think his discomfort may be resulting from gas, this can help move down the gas. Then gently press his knees into his abdomen to push out the gas.

Recommended Link
Caring for a newborn is often an experience few woman (or men) are properly prepared for. Help other new moms know what to expect by visitng Pregnancy Stories and telling your story about taking care of your baby.