How to Bathe Your Child in a Spica Cast

The thought of bathing a child in a spica cast can be intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. When he wears a cast for weeks or months on end it is important to keep up on personal hygiene. A daily sponge bath is most suitable and fairly easy to manage. Read on to learn how to bathe your child in a spica cast.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two infant washcloths
• Gentle liquid body soap
• Shampoo
• Two large bowls or buckets
• Water
• Two body towels
• Two hand towels

1. You can bathe your child in his bed, a beanbag or the kitchen counter, depending on where you and he are most comfortable. Before you begin, get your supplies ready. Fill the large bowls or buckets with warm water. Pour a few drops of gentle liquid body soap in one of the water bowls. The less you use, the better. You should not get lots of foam and bubbles. Set out your infant washcloth. An infant cloth is preferred because it is smaller and more pliable than standard sized.

2. Position a body size towel for him to lie on. You will use the other body size towel to cover him. This will offer him some dignity, privacy and warmth. Roll one of the hand towels and place under his neck for support. The other hand towel is for drying him.

3. Lay him down on the towel and help him undress. Cover him and make sure he’s comfortable. Start with his exposed skin. Wet one cloth in the soapy water. Ring it out so it is not dripping. Rub his skin gently and do not wet the cast. Be sure to get in all creases and crevices to clean him well and avoid skin break down. When cleaning the areas near the cast opening, carefully reach in as far as you can without getting the cast wet.

4. To rinse, wet the other cloth in the clean water and ring it out so it is not dripping. Gently rub his skin. Dry each area immediately so he does not get cold.

5. You do not have to wash his hair every day, but every other or every third is fine. Do this last when you bath him. This is easiest done over the kitchen sink with him lying on the counter, but if that is not possible, use the soapy water to get his hair damp. Add a small drop of his shampoo, if you like, and work it through his hair. Have him sit up as much as possible and drape the drying hand towel over his shoulders. With his head tilted back over the soapy water bowl, carefully pour the rinse water over his hair so it lands in the soapy bowl. An alternative to this is use dry powdered shampoo. It is effective and easy to use.

Tips & Warnings

• If sand, plaster pieces or food crumbs get in the cast, use a damp cloth to reach under the edges and wipe away.
• Use a cotton ball to wipe rubbing alcohol on his skin near the cast edges to prevent skin breakdown, but do not use powders.