How to Give Your Baby A Sponge Bath

Giving a sponge bath is the preferred way of bathing a baby in the first to fourth week of life. This is due to the baby's umbilical stump. It must be kept as dry as possible, and this article will teach you how to accomplish that while giving your baby a sponge bath.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two medium sized bowls
• A blanket or large towel
• Cotton balls
• Alcohol swab pad
• A sponge or wash cloth
• Baby soap
• Baby lotion
• Baby powders
• After bath clothing

1. Find a suitable room with a comfortable temperature and stable surface. Fill bowls with luke warm water(one for washing and one for rinsing). To test the temperature of the water, dip the under side of your wrist into the bowl (this area is more sensitive to temperature of the water than your fingers or whole hand). Undress your baby and wrap him/her in a soft, warm blanket or towel (keep in mind that babies do not like their skin exposed to the air).

2. You will generally clean your baby from top to bottom. Begin by wiping your baby's eyes with damp cotton balls. Use a clean cotton ball for each eye and wipe the eyes from the inside corner to the outside corner. Discard the cotton balls. Now dip the sponge or washcloth in the luke warm water, gently wipe your baby's face (do not apply pressure when wiping your baby's face as you could strip his/her face of the natural oils,leaving it too dry and possibly scaly).

3. Dabbing the washcloth or sponge with a few drops of soap, begin washing your baby's hair or scalp. Gently make small circular motions covering the entire head. If your baby has cradle cap, use a soft bristled baby's brush to stimulate the scalp and to remove the dry skin. Rinse the hair using the warm water from the rinsing bowl. Re-cover baby's head with the blanket or towel.

4. Wipe behind and inside the the outer with lightly soaped washcloth or sponge.
   Wipe the neck.
   Wipe the shoulders and arms.
   Wipe the chest, back and tummy (excluding the umbilical stump).
   Rinse and re-cover baby's upper body.

5. Getting into all of baby's skin folds and creases, wipe your baby's legs, feet and toes.
   Rinse and re-cover.
   Gently clean your baby's genitals. There is no need to use soap for baby girls in this area. Dont forget that baby bum! Rinse and re-cover.

6. Perhaps the most important step of all, take an alcohol swab pad and gently wipe baby's umbilical cord stump and let air dry. Lotion, powder and dress your baby. Congratulations--you have just finished cleaning your squirmy, maybe crying little bundle of joy!

Tips & Warnings

• Keep baby as warm as possible.
• Don't worry about crying, it's normal.
• Sponge baths should be as quick as possible.
• Never leave baby unattended.
• Do not use soapy water to clean umbiblical cord stump.
• Do not remove umbilical cord stump.