Bathing Your Baby: Sponge vs Tub

For new parents, bath time can be a stressful ordeal. New parents are often worried about the correct methods for bathing infants, and about the ramifications of choosing sponge baths over tub baths. Whether you choose a sponge bath or tub bath for your baby, it is important to feel confident in your own skills as a parent, and to follow the proper procedures for bath time.

SPONGE BATHS

Most authorities agree that infants should be sponge bathed during their first few weeks of life. This is mostly to allow the cord time to heal and to fall off. After two or three weeks, it is the parents' decision as to which is better.

With a sponge bath, parents may feel that they have more control. Tubs are slippery and provide less maneuverability, while sponge bathing is more controlled. Sponge baths are needed more often than tub baths because it is not as thorough, though this also depends on the baby's skin, activity and the weather in your area.

When sponge bathing, make sure that you have a towel for the infant to lie on. I recommend a fluffy terry cloth towel laid over the sink counter or floor to prevent burns to the skin.

Run a lukewarm pail or bucket of water and make sure that it isn't too hot. If you have one, run the heater in the bathroom so that the child is comfortable during the entire bath. Use a soft, wet washcloth for the entire bath - not a sponge!

For all infants, wash the face and body before the bottom to prevent spreading of any germs. Do not use soap on the face or ears, and be sure that the water is as clean as possible. Use the washcloth to clean the eyelids and ears, but be sure not to press too hard.

For girls, wash the bottom with plain water and no soap. Be sure to wipe from front to back to avoid spreading germ's from the baby's rectum. You can use soap on the legs, arms and torso, but soap may irritate the baby's bottom. With boys, you can wash the bottom with a mild soap or with plain water, and be sure to lift up the scrotum and wash underneath it.

When you are completely finished, rinse the baby thoroughly with a clean washcloth and with clean, warm water, Make sure that no soap residue remains on the skin, as it can irritate infants' sensitive pores. Dry the baby with a large, soft towel, making sure to thoroughly dry all crevices, including between the toes, inside the ears and the bottom.

Never use lotion or baby powder on an infant, as either can irritate the baby's skin. You should also never use cotton swabs in an infant's ears, as it will simply push the wax back into the ear canal.

TUB BATHS

Safety is the most important thing when it comes to tub baths for an infant. Accidents can happen, and although parents should not be afraid to bathe their children, it should be done with a measure of control.

I would never recommend using an actual bathtub for any baby under eight months of age. Plastic baby bathtubs can be purchased at your local department store for less than $20.00, and plastic dishpans work just as well. Set the tub on the sink counter or other stable surface and fill with three or four inches of warm water.

Many infants resist having a bath at first, but if you make it a positive experience, your baby will eventually learn to enjoy being washed in a tub. Talk soothingly to your baby throughout the entire process, but do not end the bath because your infant cries.

Tub baths should be given from top to bottom, starting with the hair. A mild shampoo or even just a mild soap will work until the baby has reached nine months of age. Gently soap the baby's head, and avoid getting any soap into his or her eyes.

Never use a hose attachment to rinse your baby; a clean washcloth works just fine. You only need wash your baby's hair once or twice a week, though active babies might require baths ever day or every two days. Never leave your baby alone in the bath, and make sure that all of the soap has been rinsed off before toweling your baby dry.

Whether you use tub baths or sponge baths, make the experience a positive one. Be confident in your skills as a parent, and the process will go smoothly.