Complete bath time guide for newborns to 2 years old - no worries about bathing alone after your baby has graduated!
This article will teach parents who have children in the developmental stages from when they graduated from bath time to when they are 2 years old how to safely spend bath time alone. Let's make daily bath time with your baby a safe and wonderful time.
Basic steps for bathing alone after graduating from bathing
Adjust the temperature in your room and bathroom
Adjusting the temperature of the room and bathroom is especially important to prevent newborns and infants, whose thermoregulatory functions are immature, from catching a cold after a bath. It is ideal to set the temperature at 20-25°C in winter and 4-5°C lower than the outside temperature in summer. Proper temperature control will reduce the risk of your baby catching a cold or catching a chill after a bath.
Prepare the things you need for the bath
After giving your baby a bath, you will need to immediately wipe his or her body, give him or her skin care, and change into clean underwear, so prepare the necessary items before bathing.
What you need
- Baby bath towel [Large size to wrap your baby]
- Clean underwear
- Baby Wear
- New diapers
- Baby skin care products
- Change of clothes for yourself
- Personal towel
By preparing these items in advance, you can efficiently care for your baby after bath time, allowing both baby and parent to enjoy an enjoyable bath time without stress.
How you make your baby wait is important - ensure a safe place to wait
Having a safe place for your baby to wait is essential to ensure that your baby stays safe while you wash them.
for example,
- Leave the bathroom door open and create a place for the child to lie down on a bath towel or something similar in a place where you can keep an eye on them.
- If there is space, put your child in a high chair or bouncer and have them wait in the changing room.
- If possible, keep your baby in sight during bath time to make bath time safer.
Wash your hair and body
When washing your hair and body, you do not need to bathe your baby first. By having your baby wait in the changing room, you will not leave your baby wet while you wash yourself. Keep your baby warm by covering him with a towel so that he does not get cold, and continue to talk to him so that he feels reassured.
Washing your baby's body
Sponges and other items can damage your baby's skin, so when washing your baby's delicate skin, be gentle and use your hands. Washing gently with your palms and fingers will help keep your baby's skin clean and avoid skin problems.
How to wash your face
When washing your baby's face, it is important to use a body wash and thoroughly wash the T-zone of the face (particularly since dirt tends to accumulate in this area).
How to wash your head
The head has a higher concentration of sebaceous glands than other parts of the body, so it is easy for sebum to accumulate there, so use a shampoo specifically designed for this purpose. You may be worried about water getting into the ears, but blocking the ears will put more strain on the eardrums, so be careful not to let water get into the ears, and gently rinse the shampoo out.
Reference: Journal of the Japanese Cosmetics Society Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 93–96 (2016)
How to wash your body
Be sure to wash not only your stomach and back, but also areas where skin is stuck together, such as the back of your neck, between your thighs, and the creases of your wrists, stretching the skin thoroughly.
Taking a bath with your baby
When bathing your baby, set the water temperature to a slightly warmer temperature of 37 to 39 degrees Celsius. Aim to keep your baby's bath time to within 5 minutes. This is to prevent your baby from becoming exhausted and tired if he or she stays in the bath for a long time.
Baby Skin Care
Babies' skin is thinner than adults', and its thin and delicate skin does not have a well-developed barrier function to prevent moisture from escaping from the skin or to protect against external stimuli. Therefore, after getting out of the bath, it is important to use skin care products to properly replenish the moisture and oils that baby's skin needs.
Reference: Skin thickness in young infants and adolescents: Applications for intradermal vaccination
Reference: Journal of the Japanese Cosmetics Society Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 28–36 (2014)
Changing baby's clothes
If it takes a long time to change your baby's clothes, do it in a heated room to prevent them from catching a cold after the bath. Keeping the room moderately warm will keep your baby comfortable while you change them safely. This simple measure will help protect your baby from catching a cold after the bath and helping them stay healthy.
What should I be careful about when bathing my child alone from the time he or she graduates from bath time to around age 2?
How to bathe your baby alone from 1 month old to when they can sit up (1 month old to 3 months old)
How to bathe your baby by yourself from 1 month old to when he/she can hold his/her head up
When bathing a baby from about one month old until they can hold their head up, please refer to the basic steps for bathing alone. Babies at this age are still very small and cannot support their necks on their own, so it is important to bathe them safely.
Things to note when bathing your baby alone from 1 month old until they can sit up
It is important to always support the back of the baby's neck firmly. At this stage, the muscles of the baby's body are not yet fully developed, and they are unable to support their heavy head firmly on their own. Therefore, in order to bathe the baby safely, it is important for the parent to support and stabilize the baby's neck and head with their hands.
Tips for bathing your baby alone when he/she can hold his/her head up, roll over, and sit up (around 3 months to 6 months old)
How to bathe your baby alone when he can hold his head up, roll over and sit up
Once your child is able to hold up their head, roll over, and sit up, parents will likely start taking a bath with them instead of making them wait in the dressing room.
Babies at this developmental stage become more active and will start rolling over and crawling, so keep an eye on them in the bathroom by placing a bath mat or something similar within reach. If they are able to sit up, you can use a bath chair or other bathing aid to bathe with them, or you can have them wait in a bouncer in the changing room.
Things to be aware of when bathing alone when your baby can hold their head up, roll over, and sit up
When a baby is 4 to 5 months old, it is generally time to start preparing for solid food. During this time, babies start to have strong curiosity and want to put anything they touch into their mouths. For this reason, it is important to be careful not to put soap or other items in their mouths in the bath.
Tips for bathing your baby alone when they can sit up or stand up (around 6 months to 1 year old)
How to bathe your baby alone when he/she is able to sit up or stand up
Once your baby is able to sit up, bath aids (Hug Bear or bath chair) can be very useful, as they make it easier for parents to support the baby, making bath time safer and more enjoyable.
Things to note when bathing your child alone when they are starting to sit up or stand up
The most slippery and slippery place in the house is the bathroom. Safety measures in the bathroom, such as using anti-slip mats, are effective. This will prevent falls in the bathroom and allow you to enjoy bath time safely.
Tips for bathing your child alone after they start walking (around 1 to 2 years old)
How to bathe your baby alone after he/she starts to stand and walk
Once your baby is able to hold on to the bathtub and support himself, bath time alone can become a little easier, depending on your baby's personality. Your baby will be more independent and mobile, so you'll need to support him less, leaving your hands free to wash him more easily.
However, if your baby moves around too much, it may be difficult to wash them, or they may move around while you are waiting, so you will need to take precautions with overly active babies. There is also a risk of them falling over, so you should still be careful when bathing them, even at this stage.
Things to note when bathing alone after your child has started to stand and walk
Just like when your child is learning to stand, now that they can walk, it is even more important to take safety precautions in the bathroom. This will prevent falls and allow you to enjoy bath time safely.
Tips for bathing two people alone
The washing order is "older child → adult → younger child"
If you are bathing two children alone, depending on the age difference, it is recommended that you wash them in the following order: older child → adult → younger child.
Once you've finished washing your older child, have him wait in the bath and then, after you've washed him, wash your younger child, who has been waiting in a safe place!
The order of ascending is younger children and adults → older children
By having the younger child and the adult get out first, you can quickly give the younger child any care he or she needs, while the adult can dry and get changed. Meanwhile, the older child can play in the bath for a little longer, or have the older child dry themselves off.
What are some useful items for solo bathing?
HUGBEAR | Hug Bear
HUGBEAR is a convenient item that makes bath time more comfortable for single parent bath time. It is especially useful for stabilizing your baby in the bath. With HUGBEAR, your baby will feel supported and comfortable and safe in the bath.
HUGBEAR | Hug Bear Baby Bath Bath Aids
Large bath towels and bathrobes
It is important to pay attention to the material because it fits the whole body of the baby and touches the baby's skin directly. A large towel can wrap the whole body of the baby after bathing and remove moisture from the whole body. Poled's large hooded bath towel is made of non-twisted yarn and 100% natural cotton fibers, and is made with the baby's skin in mind.
Reference: Poled | Hooded bath towel, large size, easy to put on and take off
Shampoo Hat
A shampoo hat is a convenient item that makes bath time more comfortable for your baby. Many babies hate getting water in their eyes, but a shampoo hat can reduce this discomfort and make bath time more comfortable for your baby without crying.
Poled's shampoo hat is designed not to block your child's vision, but to fit snugly against the skin and prevent shampoo and water from getting into their eyes, making bath time a breeze.
Reference: Poled | Shampoo hat, adjustable size, TPE material
Mats and cushions
Mats and cushions are versatile and useful in many situations around the house, thanks to their flexibility and convenience. They are useful not only for laying your baby down safely before turning over in the bath, but also when changing diapers and when taking a nap.
Kuhan
The cradle is very useful as a portable, safe baby bed for your baby to sleep in. By using the cradle immediately after washing your baby in the baby bath, you don't have to move your baby around multiple times.
Source: amazon.co.jp
High Chair
A high chair is mobile and can be used in place of a baby's bed, so your baby can always be close by, even during bath time.
Source: amazon.co.jp
Bouncer
Once your baby gets used to sitting in the bouncer, he or she will start bouncing up and down like on a swing, allowing you and your baby to play on their own, giving you free time to relax.
Source: amazon.co.jp
Bath chair
A bath stool is a very useful item for letting your baby wait safely in the bath. You can sit and wait while washing your baby with both hands.
Source: amazon.co.jp
summary
In order to ensure that your baby can enjoy bath time alone without worry even after they have graduated from bathing, advance preparation and proper care for your baby are the keys.
In particular, you should understand how to bathe your baby and the precautions to take according to the developmental stage of your baby from newborn to around 2 years old, and provide a bath time that your baby can enjoy safely at each age. In addition, by using convenient items, you can reduce the burden of managing bath time alone and create a safer and more comfortable environment.
Use this guide to help you enjoy bath time with your baby and strengthen your bond with him or her. Make bath time a loving and enjoyable time for both you and your child.