Bathing your growing baby

Your baby will be able to sit up in the water with your help. If you would like your hands to be free, you could use a special support that allows him/her to remain upright. A rubber bath mat is always a good idea too, as it helps to stop your little one slipping around in the bath. Be prepared to get yourself a little wet because, as our baby grows, it will begin to splash a little more. The squeals of delight are more than enough to compensate for a damp mom or dad. 

Here are a few helpful hints during bath time:

• Warm water won’t be enough to clean your baby when they are a little older. You can use a gentle baby wash or even a moist facecloth.
• Bubbles can be a great treat and a fascinating ‘bath toy’ for your little one.
• Be careful about hot taps. When babies are a little more mobile, there’s a greater chance that they could touch the tap and hurt themselves. Remember to run cold water through the tap last to prevent scalding.
• Has the bath gone cold? It’s safer to have a jug you can fill from the basin tap, and then pour into the bath. Remember to mix it with your hand as you do it.
• A bath is a useful part of a regular evening routine for an older baby. It can help your baby wind down and can act as a marker to the end of the day, so try to have the bath at about the same time each evening. Follow the bath with the last milk feed and a cuddle.