A New Beginning

Bathing Your Baby

Caring For Your Baby

Bath time is a great opportunity for your baby to learn your touch. It’s also a great time to assess your baby’s skin, rashes, healing of the umbilical area, and overall general appearance. Follow the advice of your baby’s health care provider about tub baths. Once you’re home, it may be easier to give your baby sponge baths at first. Simply use a warm, damp washcloth to clean and dry their face, body, and diaper area — in that order.

SCAN + PLAY

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THE ORDER OF WASHING BABY

Eyes and Face Begin with the eyes washing from the inner to the outer corner and continue to the rest of the face.

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Hair No need to avoid the soft spots. Rinse well.

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Nose and Ears Do not insert a cotton swab into either.

Genitals • Baby girls – Always wash

from front to back to prevent an infection. • Circumcised baby boys – Follow the instructions of your baby’s health care provider. • Uncircumcised baby boys –

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Body Get into all the creases, especially under the neck.

Do not force the foreskin back to clean the penis.

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Umbilical Cord Clean around the area but not the stump area. Do not get this area wet until the cord has fallen off and the site is fully healed a few days later.

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Chapter 8: Caring for Your Baby Chapter 8: Caring for Your Baby

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