Putting on a triple-absorbent

Fold a day’s supply of clean cloth diapers ready for use, together with diaper liners. Liners help contain the main bulk of soiling, but they don’t prevent staining. Keep the folded diapers where you normally change your baby. At night use a double diaper with liner, which may save you a diaper change before morning. You should also keep a diaper pail on hand to throw in the soiled diaper.

Gum care

Make sure to rub his gums and any teeth he has, very gently. Use a pea-sized helping of fluoride toothpaste that hardens the enamel and protects against tooth decay. You can use this toothpaste on a handkerchief or a soft cloth. Baby teeth usually appear in an order. First teeth appear from the first year into the third year.

First teeth

Once your baby has two or more teeth, wipe them and the gums every evening with a damp handkerchief. Introduce a baby-sized toothbrush at 12 months. Clean his teeth for him after breakfast and lunch. But let him play with his toothbrush at bath time. This should take care of the first teeth. Add fun and games to brushing teeth, especially by brushing your own teeth at the same time. This will encourage your baby into the habit over time.

Trimming baby’s first nails

For the first two weeks the nails are so soft that you can bite them off gently yourself. Or you can try baby nail clippers or scissors. Use whichever technique makes you less nervous. With an older baby, sit him facing forward. Hold one finger at a time and cut the nails with the scissors or clippers, following the shape of the fingertip. Cut the nail straight across for the toes. It is always preferable to use scissors with rounded ends for the purpose.

Sponge usage

Remember to wear an apron to protect your clothes, before giving a sponge bath for your baby. Take off his top clothes. Wet and squeeze a sponge and wash his neck. Dry it well. Wet and squeeze the sponge again for his chest and tummy. Hold the arms of your baby up to flatten out skin creases. When sponging the lower half, place a towel on your lap before you start, for easy drying. Put on a clean undershirt for his washed top half, and take off his pants and socks. Wash his feet, toes and legs, and dry off thoroughly with a towel. When you start giving an underarm wash, hold his arms up to wash the underarms where sweat and fluff gather. Wash and dry his forearms also.

Giving a sponge bath

Many babies hate having a bath or hate having their hair washed even if they enjoy bath time. You can wash an older baby and avoid using a bathtub by sponge-bathing him on your lap. Start by dabbling his eyes, face, and ears with fresh, moist cotton balls. Use cool water for his face and warm water fro the other parts. Before you sit him on your lap, have everything within reach.

Bath time safety

The most important safety feature is that you never leave your baby alone in the tub and always hold onto a very small or young child. Remember to place a nonskid mat in the bottom of the tub to prevent slips and slides. Always check the water temperature first by putting to your elbow or inner side of your wrist. Turn off the water tightly. Even droplets can scald. Cover the hot tap with a cool washcloth. Never add hot water while baby is in the tub. Bathe your baby in a warm room and finally, make sure to keep the water heater thermostat at a moderate temperature.

Make sure of a gentle hair wash

Use one hand to hold his head above water. Wet his hair with gentle splashes. Slide the support hand forward and put shampoo on your palm. Swap the hand that is supporting your baby’s head and gently rub in shampoo until a rich lather forms. Wait for about 15 seconds. Swap hands again and rinse off the shampoo with a wet, squeezed-out sponge or washcloth. Wipe up and over his head, away from his eyes.

Hair washing without tears

You should wash your newborn baby’s hair everyday or two, or whenever it looks dirty. You will need hypoallergenic, no-tears baby shampoo, or extra mild bath lotion, a washcloth and a sponge. You can also buy a specially designed plastic “halo” that fits around the hairline and prevents suds from running down the face while you are rinsing the shampoo from baby’s hair.