Bathing a newborn

Warm water, gentle touch, smile and friendly words - these things make your baby love bathing. You can bathe him in the bathroom or, if you want, you can set the baby bath in the living room or kitchen. Bathe your baby at the same time every day (I like rituals and I get used to them easily), preferably an hour before night feeding. Don't bathe him right after eating, as he might bring it up, or when he's hungry.

It's important that the room temperature is a little bit higher than usually (it should be approximately 24C). You will need a baby bath, changing mat, a shelf or chair for clothes and necessary accessories - cotton wool, bowl with boiled but cool water, baby cleanser or mild soap and baby shampoo, soft towel or hooded bath towel, nappy, nappy rash cream, baby oil, hair brush, and clean clothes.

Put the baby bath on a special stand (you can also put it on a dresser or washing machine). Spread a non-slip mat on the bottom of the bath. Place the changing mat beside the bath, so you can lay the baby on it after bathing. Fill the bath with about 10 cm of water. The water temperature should be about 37C. You can check it with a special bath thermometer, or with your elbow (the water should feel nice and warm).

Facial hygiene

Before putting the baby in the bath, lay him on the changing mat (you can undress him first and cover him with a nappy, or leave his clothes on when you're cleaning his face) and begin with facial hygiene.
1. Wipe the baby's eyes with a piece of moist cotton wool, going from the temple to the corner of his eye, and dry it with a sterile piece of gauze in the same direction.
2. Use a moist cotton pad to clean the baby's nose on the outside. Don't put cotton buds or pads into his nose. If there is mucus in his nose that clearly makes his breathing difficult, you can remove it gently with a special nasal aspirator which has a soft, thin silicone ending.
3. Use a moist safety cotton bud or cotton pad to clean the baby's earlobes (don't put buds in his ear!), then pick a clean pad and clean the skin behind his ears. Dry both placesafter cleaning.
4. Even if the baby doesn't yet have teeth, it's good to start taking care of his oral cavity hygiene from his first months on. In the beginning, you can clean the gums with sterile, moist gauze wrapped around your finger. Some babies very much dislike cleaning their teeth. Wash the baby. Take a sponge, soap it and use it to gently wipe your baby - start with the head, then wash his hands, tummy and legs. Wash the bottom in the end. Rinse your baby thoroughly and turn him over on his tummy to wash his back.
5. Wash the head. Soap it gently with special shampoo or regular soap and rinse thoroughly. Be careful not to get soapy water into your baby's eyes (when your baby grows, you can use a special hairwash hoop).
6. If your baby feels comfortable in the water, let him play in the bath for a while - let him splash water with his legs and play with the rubber duck.

Time for a bath!

1. Undress your baby on the changing mat.
2. Grab him so that he can rest his head on your shoulder (keep one hand behind his back and support him under the arm). Slide the other hand under the baby's bottom.
3. Slip your baby into the bath - first legs, then bottom, and finally back and tummy - keep pouring him gently with water while you do it.
4. Wash the baby. Take a sponge, soap it and use it to gently wipe your baby - start with the head, then wash his hands, tummy and legs. Wash the bottom in the end. Rinse your baby thoroughly and turn him over on his tummy to wash his back.
5. Wash the head. Soap it gently with special shampoo or regular soap and rinse thoroughly. Be careful not to get soapy water into your baby's eyes (when your baby grows, you can use a special hairwash hoop).
6. If your baby feels comfortable in the water, let him play in the bath for a while - let him splash water with his legs and play with the rubber duck..

After bathing

1. Pick your baby up from the bath and immediately wrap him in a bath towel (for a newborn it's enough to wipe him dry with a muslin square) or a bath towel with a comfortable hood.
2. Gently dry the baby's body, rub in some baby oil (use nappy rash cream on his bottom) and put a nappy on.
3. Dress your baby and give the breast to your baby. For sure he'll eat with good appetite.
4. Remember not to overheat your baby. He only needs one layer of clothes more than you.

Brushing hair and head massage

Hair brushing is a very enjoyable care ritual for both you and your baby. Depending on your child's age, you can use various brushes made from soft natural bristles or soft nylon bristles. You can combine care ritual with having fun by choosing a brush which is decorated with interesting, colourful patterns and has a rattle which draws the baby's attention. Don't forget that hair brushing is a perfect head massage which stimulates blood circulation and thereby strengthens hair.