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Most
babies love their bath. They coo and giggle, kick and splash. Some babies,
however, fear water. If your little one is afraid, don't he alarmed. Take extra
care, though, that bath time doesn't become even more frightening to him by
keeping his head above water always. Be especially careful that you don't get
soap and water into his eyes.
Is it necessary to give Baby a sponge bath until the cord falls off and the
navel heals? Ask your doctor about this. Some doctors prefer a sponge bath for
babies at this age while others feel you can give a tub bath.
A plastic tub works as well as the specially designed bath tables, is easy to
keep clean. If there is an adjoining counter, a thoroughly clean kitchen sink is
also satisfactory.
Many physicians are now recommending soap containing hexachlorophene which is
helpful in destroying harmful skin bacteria. Most babies' skin will tolerate the
hexachlorophene soap well without very great incidence of sensitivity and
allergy.
If a hexachlorophene soap is not used, a mild soap or any one of the soaps
specially prepared for babies is perfectly all right.
HOW OFTEN DOES BABY NEED BATHING?
The
weather and the season determine how often the baby needs bathing. In warm
localities, most babies can be bathed every day without drying the skin. On
excessively hot days, you can give the baby a sponge bath several times a day to
keep him comfortable.
During the winter, when the heat is turned on in a home, the humidity falls.
With this low humidity, daily bathing often dries and chafes the baby's delicate
skin. If the humidity is low in your home, a bath every other, or every third
day is sufficient.
A good rule to follow: if Baby's skin is dry, skip a bath. If his skin is nice
and soft, bathe him every day. Although you don't give Baby a daily bath, you
can certainly wash his face, hands, and diaper area whenever necessary.
HEAT RASH
The
best way to treat heat rash is to prevent it. Overdressing the baby is the
surest way to start it. If Baby does develop heat rash, cooling sponge baths
with lukewarm water, several times a day, will help to make the baby more
comfortable.
Cornstarch or commercial products containing cornstarch and menthol are also
soothing treatment for heat rash.
OIL AND POWDER
Today,
most physicians are advising parents to use baby lotion or cream rather than oil
if the baby's skin is dry. Oil plugs up the skin pores and is the source of many
rashes.
Cornstarch is one of the best preparations which you can use as a powder
substitute. It is soft and nonirritating to Baby's skin.
If a little cornstarch gets into the baby's eyes or if he accidentally breathes
it into his lungs, no serious damage will result.
A number of baby powders now available have cornstarch as their base. Check the
ingredient information on the can.
If plain cornstarch is used, a kitchen salt shaker is a handy container.
Powder made of talcum powder is harsh and frequently responsible for skin
rashes. Inhalation of it is dangerous. |