Washing the Baby

It's good to have a regular time for bathing your baby. The room should be warm, with no drafts. Keep the bathing supplies together to save yourself extra steps. Until the navel and circumcision heal, do not give the baby a full bath; sponge only. After healing you can use a tub or bassinet. When you wash the baby, wash really well, getting into all creases and folds.

Face - Wash with water and soft cloth. If soap is used, be careful not to get it in the baby's eyes.

Eyes - To clean eyes, use cotton dipped in warm water.

Nose and Ears - Clean outer areas only with a moist washcloth or cotton ball. Do not attempt to clean the inside of either the nose or ears. Never use Q-tips.

Mouth - Do not cleanse inside; start cleaning teeth at 10 months with cloth or soft tooth brush. Brush teeth at one year.

Head - Baby's head should be lathered gently (work from front to back to keep soap out of eyes). Do not hesitate to rub the scalp overlying the soft spot. Brush hair with a soft brush.

Body - Use a mild soap. Wash and rinse well. Be sure to wash in the creases.

Skin Protection

Use as little baby lotion as possible, and only if the baby's skin is exceedingly dry. Avoid excess in the creases. Insect repellant using DEET is approved for infants over 2 months of age; sun screen at 6 months.

Skin Rash

Use Desitin ointment or A&D ointment for diaper rashes unless otherwise indicated.

Navel

Keep it clean and dry. Do this until the cord is completely healed. Sometimes after the cord falls off, there may be a few drops of blood. The cord will fall off in 5 to 10 days. REMEMBER: DO NOT give the baby a full bath until the cord falls off. If the cord is not off by your two-week visit, I will remove it then. Call the office if the skin surrounding the cord becomes red and swollen, or if the cord starts to smell bad.

Circumcision

After the initial oozing of tissue fluid stops, it is not necessary to use Vaseline, gauze, or ointments. Wash the penis with soap and water daily. Beginning at 2 weeks of age, or at the time of tub bathing, gently push back the foreskin of the uncircumcised male while bathing. Continue to do this until the child is old enough to be taught to do it himself (usually around 4 years), so that the stegma secretion will not build up under the foreskin, which could cause infection. Circumcised infants will also need to have the penis skin pushed back daily to prevent adhesions and infection.

Care of the Diaper Area

Change your baby's diapers as soon as possible after each bowel movement or urination. Always change before feeding so that the baby is dry and comfortable while eating. After each bowel movement and urination, clean the diaper area. Water is fine and pre-moistened wipes are also useful. Keeping a baby's bottom clean and changed often will prevent most diaper rashes and cure most of the ones that do occur. Infant girls need to have their vaginal areas cleaned front to back with cotton balls wet with water. Remove all stool and some of the white discharge present.

Stools and Hygiene

Your baby may have a bowel movement after each feeding or may only have one or two stools a day. Some babies may go 72 hours without a bowel movement and be normal. Your baby may strain and turn red when he has a stool. This is normal! Unless the stools are hard and pellet-like, he is not constipated. If the stools are excessively watery or contain blood, call me. Breast-fed babies typically will have a stool after each feeding which may be all liquid or often just a large stain on the diaper.

Cradle Cap

This is an accumulation of dandruff and oil. Wash head daily with a baby shampoo or Cetaphil shampoo and scrub with a soft brush. If the crusts are too thick to be removed in this manner, then rub one tablespoon of warm baby oil into the scalp. After 20 minutes, shampoo with Cetaphil and scrub. Do this daily until the crusts are removed and then shampoo daily to prevent recurrence.

Washing Diapers

Use normal washing procedures with either soap or detergent in an automatic washing machine. Diapers should then be rewashed without soap and one cup of white vinegar added to the final rinsing cycle. This washing technique will eliminate the odor of ammonia in the diapers.

Room Temperature

Try to keep an even temperature in the baby's room. On hot days provide sufficient ventilation to prevent the room from feeling stuffy. On cold days check your baby occasionally to see that he's covered enough to be warm and comfortable. Make sure there are no drafts. The house should be kept at a temperature that is also comfortable for other members of the family, usually 68' in winter to 78' in summer.

Bassinet or Bed

The baby's crib mattress should be firm and flat. No pillow should be used. Protect the mattress with a waterproof cover.

Infant Sleeping Position

Studies throughout the world have indicated that the incident of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was decreased 40% when infants were placed on their backs to sleep. It has been the custom in the United States to place babies on their stomachs so that they do not vomit and aspirate. The American Academy of Pediatrics, in reviewing the data, has recommended that infants be placed either on their sides or on their backs rather than on their stomachs until 6 month of age.

Tummy Time

Allow 10 minutes of time on their stomachs 3-4 times a day (awake time) to prevent a flat head.

Clothing

Your baby does not require any more clothing than an adult, so never overdress him. Dress him according to the temperature and what you would wear yourself.

Outdoors

A fairly good rule to follow is to take your baby out whenever the weather is pleasant. Babies born in summertime may be taken out on a nice day after they are 1 week old. Babies born during other seasons should be taken outdoors when weather permits.

KISS (Kids in Safe Seats)

It is mandatory (Texas state law) that all infants ride in a suitable car seat beginning with their first ride home from the hospital. Children over 40 pounds and 40 inches tall may use the seat belt type restraints. Choose a safety-approved car seat, sized according to the weight and age of the child. A properly used restraint affords at least 90% protection during a motor vehicle accident.

Infant Sleep