Keep Your Baby Safe During Bath Time
For first time mothers, bath time is a really traumatizing experience. The baby is very small and most mothers are worried about accidentally hurting him or her. Adding salt to the injury, wet babies are very slippery. However, this should not be the case. Bath time should always be a special time for you and your little one. It should be fun! In fact, you should be singing and marveling at how your baby is growing each day.
Simple Ideas to Keep Baby Safe During Bath Time
No. 1 – Ensure everything you need is within your arm’s reach.
When it comes to infant’s bath time, the secret is preparation. Before commencing, Come up with a checklist of everything you will need during the bath and have them at your arms reach. This list should include soap, shampoo, towel, diaper and some change of clothes for your baby. In case you need one item and it’s out of reach, it is advisable to bring the baby with you when getting it. A split second can make a huge difference in your child’s life.
No. 2 – Do not leave your baby unsupervised
According to a study done by Stanford Children’s health, drowning is among the leading causes of children’s death. This is mainly because children easily drown in less than an inch of water. In most cases, drowning is often silent and can happen in seconds. Always keep one hand on your child while he or she is in water. If you need to attend to an urgent matter away from the bathing area, scoop up the child in a towel and take him or her with you. In addition never rely on your other child to look after the baby in water.
No. 3 – check the water temperature 
Your child’s skin is very sensitive and burns quicker than an adult’s skin. Therefore, make sure that you fill the baby’s bathtub with water having the recommended temperature before placing him or her in. The recommended water temperature should be around 25 degrees C or 75 degrees F. You should also swirl the water with your hands to avert hot pockets from forming.
No. 4 – Do not forget baby’s tub safe features
Bathtubs are slippery in nature, so you should consider fitting yours with a rubber bath mat to make it more secure. In addition, you can also cushioned spouts to protect against painful bumps. I also recommend other products such as the tap-guards, which prevent babies from turning on hot water on their own.
No. 5 – Always use plain water or mild infant soap to clean your baby
It is advisable to avoid bubble baths because it irritates the urethra and may cause UTI’s. If you must wash your child with soap, always get the child friendly soap. In addition, avoid seating the child long in soapy water. Play at the beginning of the bath and save shampoo and soap for the end.
No. 6 – Keep away electric appliances
If you are using the same bathroom with your child, it is advisable to unplug and store all the electrical items, particularly razors and dryers in closed cabinets during your child’s bath time. This lessens the likelihood of electric injury when one of the appliances falls in the bathwater.
No. 7 – Getting dried off
When drying your baby after bath time, it is very common to place him or her on elevated surfaces. However, falls from such heights often result to serious injuries or even death. Therefore, another important baby bath time tip is to never leave him or her on such surfaces after the bath. If you need to get something from another room, make sure your baby is secured well where he/she is laying, or even go with him or her.
No. 8 – Stay dry during bath time
With all the playing, splashing and pouring, it is inexorable that some water ends on the floor when washing your baby. Prevent your own falls and slips by wiping up these spills with a towel or by using a non-slip mat on the floor.
Keep Safe Mama!
As we wrap up, we have clearly seen that bath time doesn’t have to be that stressful to new mothers. By simply following the above tips, bath time will become more relaxing, fun and a safe experience for you and your child.
Until Next Time,
Amanda Maxwell