Mothercare buying guide - Bathing

Beginners guide to bathtime

The first time you undress your newborn for a bath, his tiny, naked, squirming form can seem so vulnerable, and you task so monumental, it’s well worth thinking about how you’ll tackle bathtime before you actually do so.

It’s not rocket science: Undress, support in warm water, wash, dry, re-clothes. But for a new mum, it’s one of the trickiest little juggling acts she’s yet had to face.

How do you hold baby gently yet firmly in one hand and lather soap, open the shampoo or spread a tower with the other? And what do you do if yours is one of those babies who really, really don’t want to be bathed?

Bathtime can be wonderful, you baby delighting in splashing in warm water. It can also be a time when he screams angrily and kicks hard, objecting to the feeling of air on his skin, the alien touch of a tower, the strangeness of water, the echo of the bathroom, the smell of soap…

If you baby really doesn’t like being bathed then simply don’t do it. Just ‘top and tail’. (click here to see our range of baths). Or try bringing him into your bath with you – you may need your partner to help. Make sure that the water is cooler than you would normally have, and undress yourself first, then your baby. Hold him close to you and step into the bath, gradually letting him feel the water on his skin as he lies safely against you with your hands supporting him.

Expert tips

    * Use liquid soap, it’s much easier than chasing a bar of soap around the tub.
    * Try to have bathtime when your partner is around – it’s much easier if someone else can hand you things. Better still, teach your partner how to do the bath routine – it’s great for bonding.
    * If the doorbell or phone rings, ignore it, or take your baby with you, wrapped in a towel.

Preparation: The key to a calmer bathtime
Choose a quiet time when your baby is neither hungry nor full, unplug the phone, and gather all you need before you begin.

Make sure the room is warm, then run the bath 2-3 inches (5-7cm) deep using first cold, then hot water. The ideal temperature is 36-38 °C (96-100 °F) – cooler than your own bath. If you put your elbow in, it shouldn’t be so hot you can’t keep it there for a few minutes.

Lay the baby on a change mat, and, before undressing him, dip cotton wool into cooled boiled water and wipe his face, behind his ears, and in the folds of his neck (use a new piece for each eye). You needn’t wash your baby’s hair every time you bathe him, but if you do, it’s best to do this when he’s still wearing a nappy, before the bath. Wrap him in a towel, hold him over the bath and dampen his head with a little water. Gently massage a drop of baby shampoo into the hair, rise using a beaker of warm water, then towel the hair dry.

Next, undress your baby and, holding firmly but gently, lower him into the bath. Never take your hand off your baby during bathtime in case he slips under the water.

Swish water over his skin, sing softly and smile (yes, really!) so he feels calm and happy too.

After a few minutes, lift baby out of the bath, place him straight on the towel, wrap him warmly and pat dry.

Beginners guide to nappies

Real nappies
Making the decision to try real nappies requires commitment, a belief that it’s worth protecting the environment, and an up-front investment in nappy paraphernalia.

You’ll be surprised how far things have come since the old days. You can forget squares of terry towelling, folded into impossible origami shapes, secured with a frightening pin, then rendered waterproof by crunchy plastic pants

Now, towelling squares have been replaced by washable nappies which behave just like disposables. With a flushable liner inside, you simply whip out the liner (and any contents), flush the lot down the loo and put the nappy in a bucket ready to wash.

Another washable option is ‘pre-folds’ (rectangles of absorbent fabric with a padded bit in the middle) with a shaped, waterproof but breathable ‘nappy wrap’ over the top, all secured with poppas or Velcro.

But remember that it needn’t be all or nothing. Why not use real nappies at home, and disposables when you’re out and about? Or real nappies during the day and disposables at night? Because every single real nappy you put on your baby is one less disposable nappy to clog up a landfill site.

Disposables
There’s no quicker, more convenient method of dealing with baby poo than disposables. But be prepared to see your housekeeping bill go up because they’re not cheap (from 13p to well over 20p each) and you’ll get through 30-50 a week.

There are many brands available and nappy companies continually fight for your custom by introducing some exciting new feature that your baby simply MUST have.

Certainly the really expensive brands look and feel nice (softer on the outside, with fabric-like touches), and some hi-cut ones give a ‘no-nappy’ silhouette. Cheaper brands can leak if you don’t change them as often as you should. But to be honest, you baby probably won’t notice the difference.

There are also different cuts (some suit babies with long bodies, others skinny babies, or chubby babies) so it’s worth experimenting to find a brand that suits your baby best. Keep an eye on sizings too – a couple of growth spurts can put your baby in a different six category, and a too-small nappy is more likely to leak.

To do your bit for the environment, why not try biodegradable nappies? For their full eco-benefits, they would need to be properly composted, but at least they are usually made without damaging chemicals.

A guide to toilet training

Some helpful tips, good advice, and a few essential items to help you get your little one out of nappies

Toilet training is a major milestone for all children. Dealing calmly with the transition from nappies to using the toilet independently is vital to building your child’s confidence.

What you may need
    * Potty
    * Re-useable pants (plastic pants with terry lining) x 4
    * Packet of disposable trainer pants
    * Step-up stool so your child can reach the toilet or wash basin
    * Toilet training seat for the loo
    * Mattress protectors x 2
    * Change bag with plenty of spare pants, clothes, wipes and nappy sacks for wet clothing etc.
    * Travel potty

When to start
Take the lead from your child - if he or she starts to show an interest and an awareness of what's happening to his or her body try introducing a potty - this maybe when your child is around 2 years old. But remember every child is different and there is no need to rush.

By 3 years of age most children have fairly reliable bladder and bowel control, but some aren’t ready to start toilet training until they are 4; this is nothing to worry about. Most children follow this sequence: night time bowel control, daytime bowel control, daytime bladder control and finally, night time bladder control.

Handy tips

    * If you’re planning to start, always have a potty around so your little one can get used to sitting on it.
    * Dress your child in easy to manage clothing - summer is a great time to start.
    * Try to establish a daily routine. Sitting your child on his or her potty at certain times during the day may help e.g. after meal times. But always give your child plenty of encouragement and never force your child - always go at your child’s pace.
    * It is very important not to put your child under any pressure - knowing a nappy is going back on at bedtime can be very comforting for your child.
    * Once your child uses the potty regularly during the day, you can then move onto the real toilet.
    * Being able to control the bladder at night is the final stage for your child. Remember a child of 2 to 3 can’t hold urine for much longer than four to five hours.
    * Bed-wetting is very common up to the age of 7 and boys are especially prone. It can be hereditary - check this out with your family.
    * If training twins try not to compare them.
    * Let your child’s nursery, nanny or childminder know that you have started toilet training.

Find out more www.healthvisitors.com

Baby bathtime

Newborn babies do not get very dirty. Provided their nappy area, hands, face, neck and creases are kept clean there is no need to bath a very young baby every day. You may find, however, that your baby enjoys having a bath, in which case you can give her a bath every day.

There are some babies who really do not like being put into water when you first try to bathe them and they will scream until the whole event is over. For these babies there is really need no to worry. Simply 'top and tail' them every day and try bathing them a few weeks later, by which time they may have forgotten their dislike for water. If they still object in a few weeks, just carry on cleaning them every day and try a bath at a later date. Most babies do eventually learn to enjoy having a bath, especially once they can play with buckets, squeeze toys and splash around.

Topping and tailing
Try to make cleaning your baby a routine part of your day. Choose a time when your baby is awake, but not irritable because she is hungry, for example. It's a good idea to top and tail your baby on something that is waterproof - a changing mat is ideal - in case water drips off her.

You will need cotton wool, baby cream, a bowl of warm water, a towel, a clean nappy and clean clothes. Start by washing your baby's face. Use a separate piece of cotton wool for each eye and wipe the eyes from the inside of the eye outwards. In the first month of life, use sterile water around the eye area (a good way of getting sterile water is to boil a kettle and let it cool down). Use a clean piece of cotton wool to wash other parts of the face, including the mouth, nostrils and behind the ears. Don't forget the creases in the neck as these can often hold dirt and become red and irritated if not cleaned. Don't clean inside the ears because they are very delicate and do not get very dirty anyway. When you have finished, pat the skin dry with a soft towel. You can then wipe the arms and hands with a facecloth.

Once you have finished this area you can put a vest on your baby, but leave it undone to allow you to clean your baby's bottom. Try not to remove more clothing than is necessary at each stage so your baby doesn't get cold.

With a clean piece of cotton wool wipe around the genital area, paying particular attention to the creases in the groin and upper legs and then dry thoroughly with a towel. The foreskin in a baby boy usually cannot be pulled back over the head of the penis; pulling it by force may result in damage to the tissues. As a result it is often better to not to wash under the foreskin in a baby boy and it is not necessary to wash inside the labia in a baby girl. Lastly wash your baby's bottom and dry it thoroughly. If the skin is at all red you can rub in some cream at this stage before putting on a nappy.

Bathing your baby
As with topping and tailing choose a time when your baby is likely to enjoy a bath. Bathing can be quite an activity for a young baby, after which they will enjoy a long sleep. But it can also stimulate and wake a baby up. Find out how your baby responds to a bath and then fit it in to suit their routine. For example, if a baby seems to wake up after a bath you may like to bath them in the morning. But if they are sleepy afterwards, choose a time close to bedtime.

Tips for bathtime

    * Firstly, it is very important to never leave your baby alone in the bath - even for a second.
    * Make sure the water is warm, but not hot enough to scald your baby. About 32ºC is ideal. If you can dip your elbow in and it does not feel hot this is about right.
    * Make sure the room is warm, about 20°C.
    * Soap is not really necessary as it dries the skin, but you can squeeze a few drops of liquid baby soap into the bath if you wish. If your baby's skin is dry try a few drops of pure almond oil to moisturise it.
    * Have your baby's clean clothes, nappy and a large soft towel ready.
    * Support your baby's head with your forearm and her bottom with your other hand as you lower her into the baby bath.
    * Having the baby in the bath with you can also be enjoyable, but you will probably need help to get the baby in and out of the bath. If you are trying this for the first time, wait until someone is with you.

Toilet training

There is a very broad age spectrum of when children are out of nappies and these days it really doesn't matter if your child is not 'dry' before 3 years. It is up to you and your child to decide when to start toilet-training. However, the actual transition from nappies to pants can be traumatic for a child and it is important you do not become impatient with your child.

Many nurseries and playgroups insist your child is dry during the day before he is offered a place, although some daycare nurseries are more flexible.

It is now known that babies are unable to control their bowel and bladder before 18 to 24 months, and often it can be much later.

"It is not neurologically possible for a child to make the connection between having a full bladder and going to the toilet until he is about 2 years," says Mary Slevin, professional adviser at the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association. "Children under 2 years lack the maturity in their nervous systems. Having said that, it is possible to induce a reflex action by sitting a child on a cold potty".

These days the common view is very much that we should take our lead from our child as to when to begin potty training.

Some signs that your child may be ready for potty training are that:

    * He takes increasing interest in your going to the toilet and indicates in some way that he understands what you are doing by pointing to his nappy.
    * He removes his nappy himself.
    * He has a dry nappy immediately after his daytime nap.
    * He appears to indicate wanting to sit on the potty and uses it appropriately.

When he reaches this stage, if the weather is warm you could try leaving him without a nappy for his daytime nap (but remember to use a waterproof sheet) or during a quiet afternoon when you are not out and about. If, as is most likely for the first few days or weeks, he has an 'accident', don't make a fuss, just take him to the potty and let him sit on it for a while so he can make a connection. It might be an idea to buy a few potties and have one in the bathroom, one downstairs and one in the garden. If your child can see these potties everywhere, and knows when they should be used, he may be more inclined to actually make use of them.

Most children are able to control their bowels before their bladders so if he has a bowel movement at a certain time of day or starts his routine of grunting and facial grimaces which tell you what is about to happen, try to pre-empt him by sitting him on the potty.

Above all, do not get cross, even if he has accidents when using the potty. It's not his fault. If he does manage to use the potty, reward him with hugs and smiles. He will soon get the message. If, when he first starts going nappy-less you have days of problems, then perhaps you have started too early. Take a break of a few weeks, then try again. It may seem like it is taking forever, but bear in mind that they all get there finally.

Control over the bladder is much more problematic and even four-year-olds who have been without nappies for years still have the odd mishap, especially if they are involved in something exciting that they don't want to leave. Always take a spare pair (or three!) of pants and trousers with when going out. Relapses in toddlers who have been dry for several months are also common, particularly if they have just had a traumatic experience, such as the birth of a baby brother or sister, or started at nursery. It is important not to revert to nappies, but continue with a bag-full of spare pants and a reward for the times he is dry; things will right themselves eventually.

The final hurdle in this long drawn-out process is being dry at night. It is not unusual for children to still be in night-time trainer pants by their fifth birthday. In fact some children seem perfectly happy to be dry all day but go to bed in a trainer nappy. Again, take your time and wait until he seems to be in a settled, happy patch. Suggest he tries going to bed without his trainer and see how he reacts. Many parents start off efforts at night-time dryness by taking their child to the loo last thing at night when they themselves go to bed. This is a useful stop-gap but shouldn't be practised too long or he will never learn to get out of bed to do it himself. Once he seems to have mastered the art of getting out of bed and going straight to the loo first thing in the morning, rather than wait for you to remind him, then you can drop the night-time wakings.

Try to be patient with your child, and not to make a fuss. He will eventually succeed in being dry; it is just a matter of time.

For all your bathtime essentials, visit www.mothercare.com

Last Modified: 08/03/2010