Bathing an Infant - Sponge Bath

Material needed:

• Basin or Bathinette with water comfortably warm to the elbow
• Washcloth
• Towels (2)
• Hooded bath towel or receiving cloth
• Sterile cotton balls
• Rubbing alcohol wipes for cleaning umbilical cord stump
• Vaseline if needed circumcision
• Mild soap
• Disposable gloves
• Waste basket
• Clean clothing
• Toilet paper or tissue

Procedure:

1. Wash your hands
2. Obtain material listed above
3. Place material in easy reach. Spread hooded towel or receiving blanket on a flat surface near where you will bathe the baby
4. Place baby on receiving blanket or hooded towel next to basin of warm water. Always keep one hand on baby. Never leave baby unattended. If you have forgotten something, take the baby with you!!
5. Begin with the head:
   1. Wet cotton ball with plain water and gently clean eye by wiping from inner corner to outer corner. Discard cotton ball and use a new one for the other eye
   2. Wet washcloth and sponge face, ears, and folds in the neck. Pat dry. Do not use cotton swabs to clean nostrils or ears, this could damage delicate tissue
   3. Pick up baby, holding in the football style hold, facing upright. Hold head over basin. With free hand, wet washcloth and wring out over baby's scalp. Put a small amount of soap in the palm of your hand. Rub gently by wringing wet washcloth over head. Dry gently. Cover head with hooded towel or receiving blanket

6. Remove shirt. Wash chest, upper abdomen, arms, and hands. Pat dry. Turn baby, wash and dry back
7. Put on clean shift
8. Clean umbilical cord with alcohol according to care plan
9. Remove lower clothing. Wash legs and feet. Dry.
10. Put on gloves
11. Remove diaper. Wipe any feces away with tissue and clean perineal area. Discard diaper and set aside for laundry. Wash perineum:
    1. Girls - wash from front to back, rinse thoroughly. Gently pat dry
    2. Boys - wash entire scrotum. Care for circumcision according to care plan

12. Put on dry diaper
13. Remove and discard gloves
14. Finish dressing baby. Wrap in receiving blanket
15. Place baby in a safe and comfortable position
16. Clean material and return to proper location
17. Record what you have done. Report any abnormal conditions to the mother or nurse