First Time Parents Guide to Bathing Your Baby

You may give your newborn his first daily sponge bath when e is a few days old. It is best to bathe a very young infant before his morning feeding. As he grows older and becomes more active, you may wish to switch his bath time to the late afternoon. Never leave the baby alone in his bath. Be sure the room in which you bathe the baby is warm and free from drafts. Your hands and fingernails should be washed thoroughly before you begin. You may want to have an extra towel on hand to keep yourself dry.

The following items should be ready:

• Basin of warm (not hot) water
• Large bath towel
• Soft washcloth
• Mild baby soap
• Baby shampoo (if desired)
• Sterile cotton balls or swabs
• Baby lotion or oil
• Baby powder
• Clean diaper or clothing
• Large pins or diaper pins

Sponge bath

A sponge bath may be preferable to tub bathing during the baby's first few weeks. This time allows for the healing of your baby's navel, which at birth may have the remains of the umbilical cord attached to it. Withing the first few weeks following birth any remnant if the cord will wither and become detached. The navel will be raw and tender and should consequently be kept as dry as possible to encourage scab formation and healing. Complete healing usually takes a few weeks.

The sponge bath will also give you the confidence you need to handle and maneuver your baby comfortably and effectively. Place your infant on a table covered with a large towel or pad. Never leave him alone on a table or high surface. Remove his clothing or diaper and cleanse his genital area carefully. If your baby boy is circumcised, his penis should be protected with petroleum jelly and a gauze bandage until the wound has completely healed (usually within a week or two).

Cover the baby with a large towel. Clean his nose and outer ears with a dampened cotton ball or swab, never inserting its tip farther than you can see. Wash his face with a soft washcloth and clear water. Avoid using soap on a baby's face for the first three months. Wipe each eyelid with sterilized cotton, moving from the inside corner outwards. Clean the outside of his mouth thoroughly but avoid washing the inside. Pat his face dry.

With your arm under the baby's back and your hand supporting his head, you can wash his scalp using very mild soap and water or baby shampoo. Lather his head using gentle circular motions. His head should be held back to prevent soap and water from dripping down his face or into his eyes. Rinse the baby's scalp with clear water.

Tub bath

Giving your infant a tub bath can be quite an adventure for a new parent. Your doctor will advise you as to when you may begin tub bathing your child.

The bath can be given in a basin, tub, baby bath, or even the kitchen sink. Have available all the necessary articles that were required for a sponge bath. Fill the tub or basin with about three inches (8 cm) of warm water. Test its temperature using your elbow to make sure it is not too hot. A rubber mat or towel may be placed on the bottom of the tub to prevent the baby from slipping.

At first, you may want to wash the baby's face and head as you would during a sponge bath. Then lower him into the tub, supporting his head and back with one arm and his buttocks with the other. As you gain experience or when your child is old enough to sit up, it may be simpler to wash his face and scalp while he sits in the tub. Soap and rinse the front of his body thoroughly, all the while supporting his back firmly. Then, shifting his weight forward and supporting him under the chin with one hand, you can wash and rinse his back. Pay special attention to the creases and folds of his skin.

When you are finished, lift the baby carefully onto a table, again supporting his head and back with one hand and his buttocks with the other. Dry him thoroughly and apply lotion and a light dusting of powder to those parts of his body most subject to chafing and irritation, especially his thighs and buttocks.

Dressing

You may find that dressing your baby is not the easiest job in the world. Most infants, when being changed, will attempt to roll over, twist around or put up some sort of struggle. It may be helpful to distract your baby with a favorite toy or plaything while you dress him, using this time as a play period

First Time Parents Guide on Diapering and Diapers

Diapers should be changed when wet to soiled to prevent skin rashes. You may find that changing your baby just before or after each feeding will probably be sufficient to keep him comfortable and prevent diaper rash. Some babies have particularly sensitive skin and may require more frequent changes.

Place the baby on a towel and remove his diaper. Using warm water, wash the genital area gently from front to back, then pat dry with a towel. If the baby has had a bowel movement, fold the soiled portion of the diaper under and wipe the buttocks with cotton or toilet tissue. The baby's behind should then be washed with mid soap and water, rinsed and patted dry. You can apply lotion or oil to the area with cotton, being attentive to skin folds and creases.

Holding his ankles between your thumbs and middle finger (with your index finger between his ankles), raise his hips and slide a clean, folder diaper under hum. The diaper should be folded so that there is an area of extra thickness where it can absorb the most urine -  in front for boys and in back for girls. Then pull the diaper between baby's legs and pin it on each other side. Remember to keep your finger between the pin and the baby to avoid pricking him. Plastic or rubber pants may be put on over the diaper to keep outer clothing and bedding dry. However, they may lead to diaper rash or other skin irritations in sensitive babies, and therefore it may be better to use them only when going out.

Wet diapers should be rinsed immediately and placed in a covered pail containing water. A mild soap thoroughly dissolved in the water will help remove stains. Diapers must be washed each day, separately from all other clothes. They should be rinsed thoroughly in at least four changes of clear water to make sure all traces of soap or detergent have been removed. If your baby is subject to diaper rash or has particularly sensitive skin, it may be necessary to boil his diapers to kill any stubborn bacteria. You can also sterilize diapers by adding a diaper antiseptic to the final water rinse. Your doctor may be able to recommend such an antiseptic. If possible, it is best to dry your baby's diapers in the sun, since sunlight destroys many bacteria. 

Today, more and more parents use disposable diapers for convenience. Available in a number of sizes and thicknesses, disposable diapers require no safety pins or rubber pants. Although more expensive than cloth diapers, they require no washing and are particularly handy when you travel with your baby.

Newbie Parents Guide on What To Do When Your Baby Cries

The only way Baby can tell you he is hungry or uncomfortable is by crying. You'll learn soon enough to distinguish his hunger cry from the cry of discomfort or pain.

To be sure, always make Baby comfortable. Sometimes all the air he has sucked while feeding is not brought out so try bubbling him. Perhaps he may feel too warm, so take off some of his clothes or cover. Or perhaps he may feel cold - his flesh will feel cold to your touch so put on more clothes or cover. If he is wet or has a soiled diaper, change to a fresh one. If he has skin irritation or diaper rash, bring him to the doctor. If he seem to be hungry, give him his bottle. If there seems to be no reason at all for his crying, he may just want to be cuddled for a few minutes. See that he gets enough attention and tender snuggling when you feed him.

How To Take Care of Your Baby's Diapers

Use a 2 gallon covered plastic pail half filled with water. After changing Baby, rinse the wet diaper in clean water and drop it in the pail.

Rinse soiled diapers or scrape the contents off into the toilet before you flush and drop the diaper in the pail. Diapers should be washed each day. They should be rinsed thoroughly, at least four rinses in clear water.

A Guide on Diapering Your Baby

Various ways of folding Baby's diaper, whether oblong or square make it possible to have just one size that will fit Baby at every stage of his development. If rubber panties used over regular diapers chafe your baby's skin, they should not be used except for outings. To make trips and outing easier, there are fitted ones which fasten with tapes and also several types of disposable ones.

Place your Baby on a quilted pad and remove the soiled diaper. Wash genitals from front to back with moistened cotton and pat dry with a towel. If Baby has had a bowel movement, do not remove diaper at once but fold the soiled portion under. This procedure can protect the quilt if Baby wiggles around. Wipe his buttocks with moistened cotton and wash with soap and water, rinse and pat dry.

Apply lotion or oil to the genital area and buttocks with a piece of cotton, making certain to apply it in the creases and folds of the skin, then powder lightly.

Holding the Baby's ankles between your thumb and middle finger, with your index finger between his ankles, raise his ankles high enough to slide a clean folded diaper under him. Pull the diaper up between the legs, with extra thickness in back for girls and in front for boys.

With the back overlapping the front, pin the diaper on each side, being careful to keep your finger next to Baby to avoid pricking him. You may pin the shirt between the front and back fold of the diaper at the sides, but fold the shirt up in back to keep it dry.

Tips For Preventing Diaper Rash

A diaper rash refers to rashes in baby's diaper area caused by skin disorders, organisms or irritants. Dampness in the diaper area contributes to the rash, leading to bacterial or fungal infections. Other kinds of rashes are seborrheic dermatitis, which shows up as oily, thick, yellowish scales in the inguinal folds, and atopic dermatitis (eczema), which is due to an allergic reaction.

You can apply over the counter diaper creams on the area. Petroleum jelly or zinc oxide based ointments and, in extreme cases, anti fungal creams may also be used. If the rash persists and becomes beefy in appearance, consult a pediatrician.

Here are more tip for preventing diaper rash.

1. Change soiled diapers immediately
2. Slightly wet diapers do not need to be replaced at once. Urine itself is not irritating.
3. Carefully clean baby's bottom between diaper changes. Use plain warm (not hot) water, with or without a very mild soap.
4. Make sure baby's skin is completely dry before putting on another diaper.
5. Don't apply unnecessary products on baby's bottom.

Practical Guide on your Baby's First Outing

While lolo or lola will tell you that baby should not be brought to the mall until he turns 1, a short trip for Sunday lunch won't do much harm to most babies. While lugging baby supplies is important, bring only the essentials - you'll need your hands free to tend to baby.

What to bring:

1. Extra diapers
2. Alcohol free wipes
3. Changing mat
4. Extra outfits
5. Burp cloth

Notice no bottles? We encourage you to breast feed.

Practical Guide on your Baby's First Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is very common but should never be ignored as it can be quite painful. Wetness, irritation from urine and stool, or allergy to specific diapers can be some of the trigger factors.

What you can do:

1. Expose baby's bottom to air as much as possible.
2. Use plain water to clean his bottom especially when at home; reserve alcohol free wipes for trips.
3. Apply diaper rash cream but don't pile it on; it can affect the absorbency of disposables.
4. If a rash does not improve in two to three days, call your pediatrician.

Facts about Diaper Rash

Here are 4 important things you should know about diaper rash.

1. It can be caused by leaving a wet or soiled diaper on too long. The moisture can result in chafed skin. The urine absorbed by the diaper eventually decomposes and forms chemicals that can irritate baby's skin.

2. It can occur when baby starts to eat solid food, due to changes in the digestive process and the introduction of acidic foods.

3. It can be prevented by changing the diaper as soon as possible after a bowel movement. Change wet diaper frequently. Expose baby's diaper area regularly.

4. A rash usually improves within 48 to 72 hours. It can be treated using a diaper ointment. If it doesn't improve within this time, consult your physician.

Must haves when on the go

Here are list of things to bring whenever you have plans to go out with your baby or just going to the clinic for your baby regular checkup. Make sure you have these on your diaper bag.

• Extra Clothes

• Extra Diapers

• Milk and Milk bottles (make sure they are sterilized)

• Your breast pump and cooler

• Towels or washcloths

• Baby wipes

• Water

• Blanket and other items to keep your baby warm like bonnet, mittens and booties.
  

3 Easy To Follow Cloth Diaper Steps

Cloth diapers are best used for your newborn because these allow her skin to breathe.

1. Gently lift your baby's legs to slide the cloth diaper behind her.

2. Slightly spread her legs as you twist the front of the diaper.

3. Clip the left and right sides of the diaper to twisted portion using diaper clamps, not safety pins!

If you've got a baby poop situation:

for a baby boy - simply clean the anal area.

for a baby girl - clean downward from urethra to the vagina then the anal area.

How to Hold a Baby

Being a first time parent was a whole lot of experience for me, especially the first time I held my baby girl. I just don't know how to hold her hehehehe, although after a few days i got the hold of it. So for those first time parents, I found an article that might help you, in how to hold your baby.

MAKE HOLDING EASIER

Get a sling-type carrier and wear your baby several hours a day( oh i have one like this, I bought it when she was about4 months I think? my baby loves it.) Wear him/her while you work or shop, or take a walk for two. Because "sling babies" are intimately involved in the world of the wearer, they see what you see, hear what you say, and go where you go. Babies learn a lot in the arms of a busy caregiver.

MAKE HOLDING FUN

Carried babies are more content and cry less. Infants and parents direct the energy they would have wasted on managing fussing into growing and interacting. Dance with your baby while holding your baby and swaying back and forth( Doing this with my baby girl result in a rewarding toothless smile from her and a little giggle). Some babies associate motion and holding with sucking, so they like to feed while on the move.

MAKE HOLDING COMFORTING

Carrying calms colicky babies. Here are some time tested carries.

• The colic curl: Slide baby's back down you chest and encircle your arms under her bottom. Curl baby facing forward with her head and back resting against your chest.

• The magic mirror: Hold your baby in the curl position in front of a mirror and let her witness her own drama. Place her hand or bare foot against the image on the mirror surface and watch the intrigued baby grow silent.
  

• The arm drape( call it the "football hold" ) Rest baby's head in the crook of your elbow. Drape baby's stomach along your forearm and grasp the diaper area firmly with your hand. Press your wrist against baby's tense tummy.

• The neck nestle: While walking , dancing, or lying with your baby on your chest, snuggle her head against the front of your neck and drape your chin over baby's head. Then hum or sing a low pitched melody, while swaying from side to side. Since babies hear with the vibration of their skull bones in addition to their eardrums, the vibration of the deeper male voice box and jaw against baby's sensitive skull can often lull the tense baby right to sleep.
  

• The warm fuzzy: Dads, lie down and drape baby skin-to-skin over your chest, placing baby's ear over your heart. As baby senses the rhythm of your heartbeat plus the up-and-down motion of your breathing, you'll feel the tense baby relax.

Besides being calming infants, frequent holding helps parents get bonded to their baby. holding your baby close to your heart helps your heart get close to your baby.