Baby Care Basics - Bathing a Baby & Navel Care

Before we had our first son, we really didn't have any prior experience caring for babies. So before I was discharged from the hospital, my husband and I took the opportunity to go to the nursery and see for ourselves how they were bathing the newborn babies.

I remember it was about 3 o'clock in the morning that they were doing it. They didn't say to bathe babies at that time. They just do it at that time because it was the most convenient time.

The kind nurse gladly demonstrated to us how to bathe the baby.

• First, prepare the things needed like the towel, baby bath lotion and the water bath.
• Second, clean the face and ears with moistened cotton wool.
• Third, remove the diaper and clean the nappy area.
• Fourth, undress the baby, hold him using a football hold, wash his head and pat dry.
• Fifth, undress the baby. Gently put the baby in the bath keeping one hand under the head and shoulders with the fingers tucked under the baby's armpit.
• Sixth, wash the baby's body using the free hand.
• Lastly, when the baby is clean and well rinsed, lift him gently on to a towel and dry well.

Watch this demo how to bathe a baby:


She also gave some instructions as to how to care for the baby's navel. The baby's umbilical stump dries, shrivels and drops off a few days after birth. The baby can be bathed before the stump has healed, as long as it is kept dry afterwards. Applying 1-2 drops of 70% isopropyl alcohol to the wound and allowing the area to stay open to air will help it clean and dry faster.

Here's a video on additional tips on taking care of the belly button: