by Yvonne Griffie

Created on: July 08, 2009   Last Updated: July 13, 2009

Bathing your baby is an essential task for his health, and also serves as a bonding period for parent and baby. Bathing your baby can be very enjoyable for both you and baby, and by following these tips, you'll be a baby bathing pro in no time!

1. Figure out when bath time will be - Bath time usually relaxes your little one and can signal that bedtime is near. If this is the tone that you would like to set, make bath time in the early evening before a feeding. In some instances bath time can signal that it is morning and time to wake up. Find which works best for you and baby.

2. Determine which type of bath tub you will use. There are so very many to choose from and most are made of durable plastic and are quite affordable. Try Wal-Mart or Target for a variety of selections.

3. Check the water temperature- It is important that the water temperature is not too cold or too hot. For this reason there are also bath tubs that have a thermometer included that will alert you if the water in the tub is too hot by turning red. This can be a great asset in case you forget to check the water manually or just don't know how. To determine manually whether or not the water is too hot, run the water on the inside of your wrist. Is is too hot for you OR does is sting? If so , the water is too hot and needs to be adjusted. You can also use your elbow to test whether or not the water is too warm.

4. Have all supplies nearby making sure NEVER to leave baby alone- You have the bathtub with the warm water, in the sink. You will need: Tearless baby soap, a baby size washcloth, comb, brush, a hooded baby towel, and baby lotion along with a diaper and change of clothes within arms reach ( perhaps on a counter). Make sure to never fill the tub more than halfway as a baby can drown in less than a teaspoon of water.

5. Wash the baby- Start with a pea sized amount of baby soap and wash the baby's hair in a massage-like manner, but be gentle. You want to start at the top of the body because the dirtier parts and the bottom. You wouldn't want to wash the baby's bottom and then the face, for obvious reasons. After washing the hair, make sure to rinse.Proceed with washing the body, face first. To wash the face, do NOT use soap. Water is all that is necessary for such a a gentle face. Next, gently lift up the baby's chin to wash under the neck with a pea-sized amount of baby soap. Proceed with washing the baby's body being careful NOT to use soap inside of the female genitalia. For baby boys who are uncircumcised, gently pull back the foreskin of the genitalia and wash gently. Rinse well.

6. Rinse and dress baby- Once the baby is washed and rinsed, wrap the baby in the hooded towel and proceed to moisturize and diaper. You are done- Baby is clean and it's time for YOU to relax!

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