Tips for safely bathing your infant

Bath time is a special time to enjoy bonding with your baby. It can be a fun, special time and also a time for caution. Keep these bathing tips in mind so your little one stays safe as you enjoy the experience daily.

• The first and most important rule is this: Never, ever leave your baby unsupervised, even for a minute. Children can drown in less than an inch of water. So gather all the supplies (soap, towel, clean diaper, clean clothes, etc.) you’ll need ahead of time, and keep at least one hand on your baby while he’s in the water. If the doorbell or phone rings and you feel you must answer it, scoop up your baby in a towel and take him with you.

• Make sure the bathroom is comfortably warm. Babies can get chilled quickly.
• Don’t put your baby into a tub when the water is still running. (The water temperature could change or the water could get too deep.)

• Make the bathwater comfortably warm (test it with your wrist or the inside of your elbow to make sure it’s not too hot). Babies and toddlers generally prefer a much cooler tub than you probably do.

• Fill the tub with only 2 to 4 inches of water for babies.

• Wash your baby in plain water if you want to, as long as you clean the diaper zone and skin folds well. Soaps and shampoos can dry your baby’s skin and may cause rashes. If you do use soap, choose a mild one designed for babies and use it sparingly. To avoid having your baby sit too long in soapy water, play at the beginning of the bath and save the soap and shampoo for the end.

• Don’t use bubble baths. They may be irritating to the urethra, which in turn might increase the risk of urinary tract infections.

• Keep electric appliances (like hair dryers and curling irons) away from the tub.