Tips to safely bathe your baby

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Doan Ngoc Quynh Tram- Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Bath time can be a fun time, especially to share with your child. This is also a time to be cautious. Remember these bath tips to keep your child safe.

The first and foremost rule is: Never leave your infant, 0-1 year old or toddler unattended, even for a minute. Children can drown in less than one centimeter of water. So, before you start, gather all the supplies (soap, towels, clean diapers, clean clothes, etc.) Always hold at least one of your baby's hands when he's in the water. If the doorbell or phone rings and you feel you have to answer, wrap your baby in a towel and take her with you.
Do not put your baby or toddler in the tub while the water is still running. (The water temperature may change or the water may be too deep. Also, the sound of rushing water may be too intense for some babies.)

Make sure your baby's bathroom is safe and comfortably warm (about 75 degrees F or 25 degrees C), as little ones can get cold quickly.
Make the home bath safe. Bathtubs are extremely slippery, so equip yourself with a rubber bath mat for a safer seat. A padded faucet cap or strategically wrapped handkerchief can protect from painful bumps. Also, make sure any sliding glass shower doors are made from safety glass.
Make the bath water comfortably warm. Test it with your wrist or the inside of your elbow to make sure it's not too hot. Babies and toddlers often prefer a cooler bath much more than you do.
Fill the tub only 2 to 4 cm with water for infants and no more than waist (when seated) for toddlers and older children.

Teach your child not to stand in the tub.
If you want, bathe and clean your newborn with plain water, as long as you clean the diaper area and skin folds. Soaps and shampoos can dry out a baby's tender skin and can cause a rash. If you use soap, choose a gentle one designed for babies or toddlers and use sparingly. To avoid letting your child sit too long in soapy water, play at the start of the bath and save soap and shampoo for the end.
Avoid bathing with saliva as it can irritate the urethra and increase the risk of urinary tract infections.

Set your water heater to 120 degrees F (50 degrees C). It takes just two seconds for a child to get a third degree burn from 150 degrees (65 degrees Celsius) water, and five seconds if it's 140 degrees (60 degrees Celsius), the temperature a water heater normally leaves the machine at. Do not allow your child to touch the handle of the faucet. Even if your baby is too small to move them right now, he'll eventually be strong enough to do so - and that could lead to serious injury. (You can try putting your baby in the tub with his back to the faucet.)
Keep electrical appliances (like hair dryers and curling irons) away from the tub when giving your baby a bath.
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