Most first-time mums face this scenario with monotonous regularity: Cranky, moody babies who know how to put you their moms off guard when they least expect it; dirty nappies that need to be changed more often than you can remember; and being so sleep-deprived that you wish you could just slip into a fifteen nap even during midnight.
Yes, that’s true. Keeping your baby clean takes both time and effort and you would do well to have just about enough energy to face the next day.
But it doesn’t have to be that way when you understand that baby hygiene plays an important part in maintaining their health.
You need to commence your little one’s day with a good hygiene routine because it is habits like these which would ensure the health and well being of your little angle, not to mention its happiness.
Cleanliness is as important as feeding because little babies are prone to developing infections from both internal and extraneous sources.
How to begin?
Before you begin, remind yourself that would pay a lot of importance to of-neglected parts like nose, ears and nails. While bathing a baby does assume great significance, bacteria and viruses find these spots an easy breeding ground to wreck havoc on your baby’s health.
Baby Bathing Essentials
Bathing your tiny baby is a fairly tedious job, so doing it 2-3 times a week would be just fine. Contrary to popular belief, Excessive bathing might makes their skin dry and rough, which why you should strictly consider giving him/her a sponge bath.
While doing that, remember the following considerations:
- The water used for baby bathing purpose should be between 90 and 100 degrees F.
- Use only mild baby soaps and gentle shampoos.
- Wipe your baby’s face and hair with soft cloth and ensure that you are supporting its head at all times.
- Immediately wrap the little one under a clean cloth or towel after bathing her.
- Fill the tub with no more than 2-3 inches of water even if your baby is more than six months old.
- Take special care to prevent water from entering your darling’s eyes.
- Remove the various electric appliances away from the tub.
Ear care:
- Mothers should never neglect their baby’s ears because they are the balancing centre of the body.
- Avoid using a cotton bud because it can cause more harm than good; remember that your baby’s ears are ultra sensitive.
- Ensure that you only use a soft cloth to cleanse your baby’s ears.
- Don’t hesitate to take your baby to a doctor if you find it difficult to do that at home.
Nail care:
- Always trim your baby nails so that he cannot scratch himself anywhere.
- Trim your child’s nails while he/she is sleeping.
- It is a good idea to use baby size clipper for that purpose.
Nose care:
- Use a clean and dry cloth to clean baby’s nose
- Use a nasal syringe to remove the mucus from baby’s nose to avoid breathing problem.
- Diapers Cloth diapers are always preferred over artificial diapers as they are much more hygienic.
- Cloth diapers prevent from scars and rashes and are easy to change and wash.
- Clean your baby’s bottom with cotton and not with tissues.
Regardless of how tiring and annoying it may seem initially, starting off the day by taking special care of your baby’s hygiene routine is a great way to ensure that it remains happy and cheerful some that would make your life a whole lot easier!
