Bathing a newborn baby can be a traumatic event for a first time Mom. Newborns can seem so fragile, and wet, slippery ones downright frightening. But, don’t fear; once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel like a pro. Newborns only need to be bathed two or three times a week – bathing more often can result in dry skin.

First of all, it’s important not to put your newborn in any sort of bathtub until her umbilical cord has fallen off. If your baby is circumcised, you need to wait until this has healed, as well. Until then, give your baby a sponge bath.

When it’s time to put baby in the tabletop tub, give her your undivided attention. Leaving her for even a minute can literally be fatal. Turn the answering machine on and ignore the doorbell. Never run the bath water with the baby in the tub. Fill the tub and check the temperature before you add the baby.

Be prepared for the fact that your baby will not like the bath. There may be a lot of crying, so plan to make it as short as possible. Also, the bath water gets cold to the baby rather quickly; another reason to make it quick. One trick to help keep the water warm is to soak a towel in very warm water and lay it in the bottom of the tub. This keeps the water warmer, provides a nice cushion for baby, and keeps her from slipping around. Keep one hand under her head to support her neck, and keep her from slipping into the tub. Speak to her in soft soothing tones, reassuring her that everything is ok.

Use lukewarm water on your baby’s tender skin, and only soaps and shampoos designed for babies. In fact, during the first few weeks of life, until you’ve determined if your baby has any skin allergies, it might be wise to bathe her using only water, especially on her face. Have a towel and diaper ready to wrap her in immediately when you’re finished, to avoid her getting chilled.

As your baby gets older, bath time will probably become a favorite part of the day for your baby.

New parents face many problems and issues that they are expected to know and deal with immediately. Unfortunately, newborns do not come with an instruction book so here are a few topics that you may need to know about.

Bathing your baby: Until your baby’s umbilical cord falls off one to two weeks after their birth, only give her sponge baths. A cotton ball or cotton swab dampened with alcohol can help to dry the umbilical stump or follow your pediatrician’s directions. After the stump falls off, you can give him a bath in a sink or shallow tub.

Caesarian delivery: A caesarian is usually performed to make delivery safer for you or your baby. C-sections can be done for many different reasons including stalled labor, complicated labor, problems with the baby that may make delivery hard, or other problems. It does not matter if you deliver vaginally or by a caesarian section, you are still a mother with a gorgeous new blessing.

Circumcision: Many doctors agree that there may be some benefit to circumcision, but it may not be absolutely necessary. It may help to lower the risk of urinary tract infections and eliminates just about any chance of penile cancer. Circumcision does not cause long-term emotional problems for your child.

Crib death (SIDS): Many studies have been done regarding SIDS. Although the cause of SIDS has not been certainly defined, there are some correlations that have been made between SIDS and the following things:

Male babies are more likely to die from SIDS than females

Prematurity makes it more likely

Minority children are affected by it more often than non-minorities

More children of young, single mothers die from it

Children who live in a home with one or more smokers are more likely to be affected

Some people say that sleeping with your baby can reduce the risk of SIDS, but the American Academy of Pediatrics disagree with this statement and go on to say that there is a greater risk of SIDS in babies who co-sleep.

Back sleeping is what most pediatricians recommend for babies to decrease the SIDS risk. The reason for this is widely debated between health experts. If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician.