Tips for bathing babies (1082)

When your baby is small, bathe her in the kitchen sink or a special baby tub. But as she gets bigger, you may need to move her into the big bathtub.

Here are a few things you can try to make the move to a big bathtub easier for you and your baby:

If you use a baby tub, try putting it into the bathtub for a few days and bathing baby inside it. The bath water should not be hotter than 100 degrees F. Set the water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent hot-water burns.

Take a bath with baby. Don't hold your baby in your arms when you get in or out; you could slip and fall. Instead, first put baby on the floor on a towel.

Keep the water shallow. A baby can drown in less than two inches of water.

Bathe baby slowly and gently until he gets used to it.

Put a towel in the bottom of the tub to reduce slipping. And never leave your baby alone in a bathtub, even for a minute. If the phone rings, wrap her in a towel and take her along, or just let it ring.

Washing baby in a big tub can be hard on your back, so:

Bend from your knees, not from your hips. Use your stronger leg muscles to help when you lift baby. Hold heavy objects, like baby, close to your body. Don't lift and twist at the same time. Lift first, then turn. When you can, rest lying down with your knees bent and your feet up.

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